Premiere of H.G. Well’s THINGS TO COME (1936) to Open at SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival

January 30, 2007 -- SCI-FI-LONDON, the UK's only annual festival of science fiction and fantastic film is delighted to announce that the restored, extended edit of THINGS TO COME will be given its first theatrical screening after the Arthur C Clarke Literary Award on 2nd May 2007 at the SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival, with an additional screening plus Q & A open to festival-goers on Friday 4th May 2007.

The digital restoration of the H.G. Wells SF classic THINGS TO COME will be given a nationwide theatrical and special edition DVD release in May 2007. This version of the film is the one which most closely resembles director William Cameron Menzies’ original vision created over seventy years ago. Every version of the film shown in cinemas, on television and available on video since 1936 has been drastically cut. Network has commissioned the best and longest known version to exist of this film anywhere in the world in H.D.

One of the most memorable Sci-Fi stories ever made in motion picture history, THINGS TO COME set a benchmark for innovative design and incredible special effects when it was first made in 1936. One of the best and most ambitious British movies ever made, Oscar™-winning director William Cameron Menzies (INVADERS FROM MARS) creates a breathless vision of post-war desolation and utopian futurism. This memorable classic stars Oscar-nominated Raymond Massey (A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE) as John Cabal and his descendants and award-winning actor Ralph Richardson (Q PLANES, THE FOUR FEATHERS) as The Boss.

It’s Christmas 1940. The people of Everytown, unprepared and ill-equipped, find themselves at war against an enemy who has been planning a conflict for years. The land is devastated by the horrors of aerial bombardment as the war drags on until 1966 causing a period of despair, with feudal tyrants ruling a downtrodden population suffering from famine and a plague called the Wandering. Can the human race rise above their desperate situation and use science for the common good?

THINGS TO COME has never looked this good and was the first film to show human civilisation reduced to ashes.

Commented Network Managing Director Tim Beddows, “We are delighted to be releasing THINGS TO COME both theatrically and on DVD. This pro-science film is Britain’s answer to METROPOLIS and this restoration is a world first for this ground-breaking film that is just as relevant today as it was on its release seventy years ago.”

Discussing the technological process involved in restoring THINGS TO COME to its full glory Beddows added, “This version of the film is the longest known to exist anywhere in the world and has been sourced the best available 35mm elements. This restoration is the result of excellent cooperation between Network and Granada International.”

Referring to Network’s association with the sixth SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival running from 2nd – 7th May 2007, Beddows added, “We are delighted to be headlining the UK’s only film festival dedicated to the science fiction and fantasy genres as well as providing a public screening of the restored version of THINGS TO COME at the festival.“

Held annually at the APOLLO WEST END, SCI-FI-LONDON screens world and UK film premieres, documentaries and a selection of classic SF titles. SCI-FI-LONDON also has a strong international shorts programme and screens a short film with every feature screening.

The next festival is 2 - 6 May 2007. www.sci-fi-london.com.

SOURCE SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival