Stanley Film Festival Announces ‘Cooties’ As Opening Night Film

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The Stanley Film Festival (SFF), produced by the Denver Film Society and presented by NBC Universal’s Chiller, has announced Lionsgate’s “Cooties” as the official opening night selection. The news comes just a week after SFF announced a handful of special screenings and events (see link above). The festival kicks off Thursday, April 30. 

From the minds of Leigh Whannell (co-creator of “Saw” and “Insidious”) and Ian Brennan (co-creator of “Glee”), “Cooties” is a horror comedy about a cafeteria food virus that turns elementary school children into little killer savages. The film stars Elijah Wood, Rainn Wilson and Alison Pill as the teachers who must fight to survive the mayhem while hilariously navigating an uncomfortable love triangle. The horror-comedy first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and will be one of the debut releases of the newly-launched Lionsgate Premiere label, which will release the film on September 18 in select theaters and on demand.

“The Stanley Film Festival is the coming together of people who love horror for all the right reasons,” said SpectreVision co-founder Daniel Noah. “We promised we’d be back and we are thrilled to bring ‘Cooties,’ as well as ‘The Boy,’ to the Festival this year.”

The film will play at the Concert Hall on the Stanley Hotel campus Thursday, April 30, with Wood, Pill, Whannell and directors Jonathan Millot and Cary Murnion in attendance. Immediately following the film, guests will be treated to a “School Cafeteria” themed party in the McGregor Ballroom. Local bands Snake Rattle Rattle Snake and Bad Luck City will provide the soundtrack for the evening.

Visit the Stanley Film Festival website for more information.

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