Beyond Fest 2026 eyes 37,000 fans across Los Angeles run

Beyond Fest is on course for about 37,000 admissions by the close of its 2026 run on 5 October, after opening on 23 September across Los Angeles, according to Variety.

The genre festival, which focuses on horror, science fiction, thriller and other fan-driven cinema, is staged in partnership with the American Cinematheque. It began 14 years before this year's edition, Variety reported.

The founders include Christian Parkes and Grant Moninger, the Cinematheque's artistic director, with Evrim Ersoy leading programming. The festival calls itself the highest-attended genre film festival in the United States on its official website.

This year's catalogue is heavy on first showings. The line-up lists 10 world premieres, meaning first public screenings anywhere, alongside 1 international premiere, 4 North American premieres, 7 US premieres and 28 West Coast premieres, according to the American Cinematheque.

New releases in the selection include Primetime and Musk. The slate also features the Carrie television series and the original Friday the 13th, plus retrospectives ranging from Hoffa to Pan's Labyrinth.

Under-the-radar titles are screening free at the Los Feliz 3 cinemas with sponsorship from Mubi. Studios and agencies watch the shorts blocks at the Los Feliz Theater to find new directors, Ersoy told Variety.

Screenings are spread across Cinematheque venues. They include the Aero in Santa Monica and the newly reopened Egyptian in Hollywood, as well as Los Feliz.

The fans travel. Ersoy said the festival has built a core group who are as unhinged as the programmers and will move from the Aero to Los Feliz to follow the programme.

What makes this stand out is the mix. Big catalogue titles sit beside discovery slots and free shows, all within a two-week corridor that keeps horror and cult audiences in one place.