Cinematic Void, the Los Angeles cult film series based at the American Cinematheque, is back for another round of its famous “January Giallo” series to kick 2023 off, this year expanding the cinemadness parties to run all January long in nine cities and counting across the nation.
Giallos, a subgenre of Italian cinema popular in the 70s and 80s, are thrillers often characterized by stunning psychedelic cinematography, mystery plots with “out of nowhere” twists, and over-the-top graphic violence. This year’s programming will also feature “American Gialli,” films made in the US that were inspired structurally and visually by the Italian genre, and “Neo-Gialli,” modern films that also fit within the subgenre.
“Once again, we sharpen our straight razors and slip on those black gloves to celebrate my favorite yearly series I host with Cinematic Void, January Giallo,” says Cinematic Void founder and film programmer Jim Branscome. “After expanding outside of Los Angeles in 2022 to work with some of my favorite film programmers across the country, I knew the 2023 edition had to be even bigger and bloodier.
As of now, there are nine deadly venues participating, with everyone putting their own unique spin on things. Not only can you see classics of the genre like WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE? or THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE across the country, but also American Gialli like I KNOW WHO KILLED ME and TIGHTROPE.
Plus there will be plenty of rare Italian language film prints being screened, including a pristine Technicolor 35mm of Lucio Fulci’s A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN that was imported over by Harry Guerro of Exhumed Films, who helped organize the print tour.”
Back for JG 2023 are repertory theater titans Coolidge After Midnite at The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston, MA, and Music Box of Horrors at The Music Box Theatre in Chicago, IL. "It's no mystery that the Coolidge After Midnite and Cinematic Void go together like J&B scotch and murder! We're thrilled to once again partner with them, and all the participating theatres, presenting a month of stunning and visceral gialli. Andiamo!" says Mark Anastasio, Director of Special Programming at the Coolidge Corner Theatre.
William Morris, Film Programmer for Music Box of Horrors adds, “Music Box of Horrors is proud to be back for another installment of January Giallo, in partnership with our friends at Cinematic Void! This year we offer up three Italian heavy-hitters (one from an ultra-rare imported Italian 35mm print!) from some stalwarts of the genre plus a still under-loved Spanish Giallo gem from the genre master Eloy de la Iglesia, and what we consider to be one of the finest examples of the American Giallo starring none other than Clint Eastwood! Grab your J&B, and strap in for some salacious, twisty, mind-bending gems culled from the most decadent and delicious of all horror sub-genres; the mighty Giallo.”
Also back for a second time, and now showing a full month of programming is Anomaly Film Festival at The Little Theatre in Rochester, NY. “James and Cinematic Void do such an incredible job spreading the blood-soaked gospel of Giallo, and we’re eager to join in the hellish refrain,” says Adam Lubitow, Director of Programming for the Anomaly Film Festival.
Joining in on January Giallo for the first time for 2023 are the Sie FilmCenter and Scream Screen in Denver, CO and Cinematery in Tempe, AZ. Andrea Canales, Director of Programming at Majestic Neighborhood Cinema Grill in Tempe, AZ adds, “We at Majestic are thrilled to be a part of this annual programming series. It is great to celebrate Giallo film under our Cinematery brand of weekly curated horror.”
Sie FilmCenter will be teaming up with Scream Screen to present a double bill on January 7th, featuring the Spanish giallo THE CORRUPTION OF CHRIS MILLER, followed by Dario Argento’s much-sought-after FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET. “Scream Screen is thrilled to participate in January Giallo 2023! As a fan of Cinematic Void and all things gialli, it's an honor to bring JG to Denver for the first time,” says Theresa Mercado, Programmer and Host of Scream Screen, and Vinegar Syndrome Colorado representative. Keith Garcia, Artistic Director of the Sie FilmCenter adds, “Giallo is a scintillating subgenre that we never get to play enough of at the Sie FilmCenter, so it's lovely to collaborate with other theaters around the country in our shared love of the dangerous, the demented, and the deliciously diabolical!”
Also returning for 2023 is Knoxville Horror Fest at Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN, and joining the party for the first time is Belcourt Theater in Nashville, TN. We've also got a surprise in store for you in San Diego that we will announce soon.
Here’s what you can expect to see on screen across the nation for 2023!
(Head to the main home page and scroll down for ticket links for all shows)
Cinematic Void Los Angeles at The American Cinematheque’s Los Feliz 3 (All shows presented on 35mm film):
1/2 A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN (Italian Language Technicolor print)
1/9 FORMULA FOR A MURDER
1/16 AUTOPSY
1/23 DEATH LAID AN EGG
1/30 I KNOW WHO KILLED ME
Coolidge After Midnite / Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA
1/7 TORSO uncut Italian language print in 35mm (with CV’s Jim Branscome in Person)
1/14 A LIZARD IN WOMAN’S SKIN in 35mm
1/21 WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE? + THE FIVE FINGERS OF A DOG short film
1/28 TENEBRAE in 35mm
Music Box of Horrors / Music Box Theatre in Chicago, IL
1/3 ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK in 35mm
1/10 NO ONE HEARD THE SCREAM
1/17 SO SWEET … SO PERVERSE
1/24 TIGHTROPE in 35mm (with CV’s Jim Branscome in Person)
1/31 A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN in 35mm
Anomaly Film Festival / The Little Theatre in Rochester, NY
1/5 THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE in 35mm
1/13 A LIZARD IN WOMAN’S SKIN
1/19 STAGE FRIGHT
1/27 KNIFE + HEART in 35mm
Cinematery / Majestic Tempe 7 in Tempe, AZ
1/31 CREEPERS in 35mm (with CV’s Jim Branscome in Person)
Denver Film / Sie FilmCenter in Denver, CO
1/7 THE CORRUPTION OF CHRIS MILLER / FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET presented by Scream Screen
1/14 DEADLY GAMES (with CV’s Jim Branscome in Person)
1/21 I KNOW WHO KILLED ME
1/28 A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN
Knoxville Horror Fest / Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN
1/4 & 1/7 DRESSED TO KILL & I KNOW WHO KILLED ME
1/12 THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE
1/18 THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH
1/25 THE EDITOR
The Belcourt Theater in Nashville, TN
1/20 - BLOOD AND BLACK LACE
1/21 - TENEBRAE
San Diego (Announcing Soon)