Beyond Fest 2024: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Al Pacino

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock will gear up for a “Speed” reunion, while Al Pacino will say hello with a “Scarface” tribute at this year's Beyond Fest. The fest returns to Los Angeles later this month, featuring 82 films in its star-studded lineup.

The 12th edition of Beyond Fest will take place from September 25th to October 9th and offers the most extensive and diverse program to date with a wide range of films from the genres of horror, science fiction, fantasy and action.

This year's festival will open with the world premiere of “Salem's Lot,” a highly anticipated new adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 vampire novel directed by Gary Dauberman. The closing night of the festival will honor legendary Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who will present the world premiere of his latest film, “Cloud,” and participate in a retrospective of his work, which has blended psychological horror and existential themes in films such as “Cure,” “Pulse,” and “Tokyo Sonata.”

Between those two nights, notable screenings will take place, including the West Coast premieres of Marielle Heller's “Nightbitch,” starring Amy Adams as a housewife who thinks she might become a dog, and Steven Soderbergh's “Presence,” which the Times called “an elegant and sublimely adroit ghost story” when it premiered at Sundance earlier this year. Ali Abbasi's controversial Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” which continued to make waves at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month, will also be screened ahead of its nationwide release on Oct. 11.

Unique among fall festivals that typically favor Oscar contenders, Beyond Fest has proven to be an increasingly powerful draw for talent, serving as a springboard for new genre classics to be presented to eager audiences. In 2022, the festival banked on Indian filmmaker SS Rajamouli, helping his action epic “RRR” to a successful Oscar bid. (This year's lineup includes the similarly stirring “Devara: Part 1,” starring “RRR” star NT Rama Rao Jr.) Last year's edition brought out heavyweights like James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro and Michael Mann.

In addition to the highly anticipated “Speed” reunion, which will see Reeves, Bullock and director Jan de Bont come together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the bomb-on-the-bus action classic, Pacino will be on hand for a career retrospective centered around his iconic role as Tony Montana in 1983's “Scarface.” The appearance comes as Pacino is set to release his memoir “Sonny Boy” next month. Genre legend Sam Raimi, known for “Evil Dead” and “Spider-Man,” will also be there in person with a triple feature of “Darkman,” “The Quick and the Dead” and “Drag Me to Hell.”

Al Pacino as Tony Montana in “Scarface” (1983)

(Universal Studios)

The festival will also host a 50th anniversary screening of the 1974 horror classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” featuring 12 members of the original cast and crew. Other retro highlights include a 30th anniversary matinee of Tim Burton's “Ed Wood,” presented by screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, and a tribute to “Twin Peaks” star Kyle MacLachlan, who will present screenings of some of his most famous films, including “Blue Velvet,” “Dune” and “The Hidden.”

Fan-favorite Ron Perlman will be in attendance for a 20th anniversary screening of Del Toro's “Hellboy,” while “Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise stars Heather Langenkamp, ​​Amanda Wyss, Lin Shaye and Ronee Blakley will host a screening of Wes Craven's original horror hit celebrating its 40th anniversary. Australian director Jennifer Kent will make a rare U.S. appearance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her horror film “The Babadook,” while Don Johnson will take the stage for a career retrospective that includes a double bill of his 1975 cult post-apocalyptic film “A Boy and His Dog” and the 1990 noir thriller “The Hot Spot.”

Steven Soderbergh's “Presence,” a ghost story that shocked Sundance, will have its West Coast premiere at Beyond Fest.

(NEON)

Screenings will take place at several legendary Los Angeles venues, including the Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3 and Vista Theatre, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cinematheque, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and presenting the art of film.

Tickets go on sale September 13th at americancinematheque.com. For more information, visit beyondfest.com.