Mayhem Film Festival announce THE ARBITER, DEAD BY DAWN and CHESS OF THE WIND as Early Bird Passes go on sale

Mayhem Film Festival is proud to announce the first three films of its 21st edition which will take place at Broadway, Nottingham on 16-19 October 2025.

First up is the latest film from director Marc Price (Nightshooters, Mayhem 2018), The Arbiter. The leaders of several established rival gangs - and a lone police representative - get together to try and come up with a solution to the arrival of a new group who will only play by their own rules. But trust is hard to come by when you've all been fighting for years, and it doesn't take long before things get increasingly violent and bloody. Marc Price returns with a fast-paced action thriller featuring his signature quirky sense of humour.

Next up is Dawid Torrone's Dead by Dawn. A group of actors gather in a mysterious theatre to rehearse a new play about witchcraft. Things get eerie quickly and soon enough, the bodies begin to pile up. Is this a simple game of cat and mouse, or are the actors pawns in a greater scheme? Giallo-infused, Dead by Dawn is a beautifully shot slasher with hints of Stage Fright, and Phantom of the Opera.

To round-up this first wave of announcements, Mayhem will be presenting a screening of Mohammad Reza Aslani's 1976 Chess of the Wind. After the death of the first lady of a noble house, conflicts erupt as her widower plots to take hold of her estate. Greed, deception and violence are at the heart of this gorgeous Gothic Iranian masterpiece once banned in Iran and presumed lost for many years.

"Mayhem is back with an international range of cutting-edge genre cinema, gory horror, edge-of-the-seat thrills and essential science-fiction, as well as a lost classic - and at the centre of things the short film showcase brings together the best global - and nearer to home - scary, shocking and surprising shorts... Mayhem marks its 21st birthday in style…", said Mayhem Co-Director, Chris Cooke.

Stewart Terry, Broadway's Director of Marketing and Communications, is looking forward to welcoming back the festival: "We can't wait to host Mayhem Film Festival again this October. The line-up of titles is always bold, interesting, and thought-provoking – as well as blood-curdling and edge-of-your-seat scary. This year looks like it will be no exception, with new titles from celebrated horror directors to curios that very rarely get seen on the big screen. Mayhem Film Festival is what Broadway is all about so make sure you book your ticket!"

Early Bird Passes for the festival will go on sale on Monday 28 July at 5PM. For £85, Early Bird Passes give you access to all films and events for the four days of the festival. They will be available to purchase from Broadway's website and box office.

More information and announcements about Mayhem's 21st edition will follow later in the summer.

Mayhem Film Festival will take place at Broadway, Nottingham on 16 – 19 October 2025. For more information, please visit https://www.mayhemfilmfestival.com/