Conference and Special Showing of the movie Borley Rectory starring Reece Shearsmith and Julian Sands

Seriously Strange is going to be a great, fun one day event.  Top speakers in the field today have come together to discuss everything from ghosts to vampires, poltergeist to UFOs. We have a great variety of academic speakers and lay researchers.

See the top experts debating anomalous phenomena. The audience will have a chance to get involved in these debates too.  Give your opinion on the burning questions of the day, or just sit back and watch the debate unfold around you. We will be announcing our speakers nearer to the date of the conference.

Guest Speakers

Steve Parsons

Ann Winsper

Paul Adams

Dr Parisetti

Dr Brian Sterling-Vete

Ashley Thorpe

Peter Laws

More to be annnounced 

We wrap up the Saturday session with a Special showing of the New Borley Rectory Movie. Ashley Thorpe’s first animated feature ‘Borley Rectory’-starring Reece Shearsmith (ASSAP Member) and Julian Sands.

Synopsis

When Mirror journalist V C Wall (Shearsmith) calls upon the services of famed Paranormal investigator Harry Price (Rigby) to investigate supernatural 'goings on' at a Victorian mansion in Essex, little does he realise that he will set into motion a story that will fascinate and confound the world. 'Borley Rectory' is the true story of Price's investigation and the legends that came to haunt all those involved.

Borley Rectory is an animated documentary chronicling what came to be known as 'The most haunted house in England'. The legends attached to the rectory at Borley and famed paranormal investigator Harry Price's subsequent investigations of them, caught the public's imagination during the late 20's in time becoming one of the world's most notorious ghost stories influencing Shirley Jackson’s ‘Haunting of Hill House’ and Richard Matheson’s ‘Hell House

Quotes

“It was the combination of the subject matter and the way Ashley wanted to render the story. His beautiful ethereal animation seemed to suit the material perfectly; I felt he had a very sure and confident vision for the piece. It’s so engaging and beautiful to look at. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.” - Reece Shearsmith

“I was most impressed with Ashley’s work and intrigued by the Borley Rectory story. It reminded me of the stories I had read as a child; Lord Halifax Ghost book, M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood…” - Julian Sands

“Well, it wasn’t a hard decision. I just had to look at Ashley Thorpe’s previous work, all of it sumptuous and imaginative in equal measure. Then I had to factor in the allure of the Borley story and that was that. In fact, given that I was already familiar with Ashley’s style, the decision took all of a milli-second!” – Jonathan Rigby

“Ashley designed and animated the title sequence for our horror anthology Tales of Halloween. It was a fantastic experience working with Ashley. He brought such creativity and passion to the project despite the logistical difficulties involved.  He has such a great eye for the macabre, not to mention an amazing visual dynamic that gave real life to the sequence and helped elevate the entire movie way beyond it’s low-budget roots. He’s a talent to watch!” – Neil Marshall, Director (The Descent, Game of Thrones, Hannibal, Westworld)

“BORLEY RECTORY is remarkable and utterly unique…an immersive, eerily atmospheric, and elegantly retro-styled exploration of the Most Haunted House in Britain…it’s an extraordinary cinematic experience.” Grimm Up North

"Unlike any horror film you’ve seen in recent memory...Borley Rectory is a fascinating and enthralling experience that is as haunting as the events it depicts.” - Celluloid Screams

“Utterly unique” - Vue Cinemas, Printworks Manchester

“Beautiful animated horror” - Derren Brown

“Borley Rectory is elegant, meticulously cinematic, beautifully spooky, atmospherically enveloping. An aural palette by Mick Grierson, Martin Pavey (Wheatley's soundscaper) and Steve Severin will have you crying (screaming) for a moody soundtrack album. The detailed and seamlessly inter-woven animation and rotoscope by multi-talented Thorpe is hypnotic, shocking, visually stunning--each shot an artwork. This is a film for film noir lovers as well as haunted house and psycho-horror fans, conjuring up echoes of classic early British horror films like The Innocents, Haunting of Hill House, Psycho. Asks important and unusual questions about what we need from ghosts as well as what they need from us. This film is very, very different. Ken Russell seal of approval.” - Lisi Russell

Another highlight of Seriously Strange an exclusive opportunity to sign up to the National Register of Professional Investigators and exclusive booking to the ASSAP Training Weekend and upcoming conference: We’re looking forward to seeing you on the 1st September for a great one day event.

Parking Locally

Located next to the Manchester Conference Centre, on Charles Street, is an affordable multi-storey car park. Parking for 24 hours on a Saturday is only £2.00 for 24 hours

More location information here

http://manchesterconferencecentre.com/local-information/

Local Hotels

Pendulum Hotel (This Hotel is on the site of the conference)

https://www.pendulumhotel.co.uk/

Ibis

https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-3143-ibis-manchester-centre-princess-street-new-ibis-rooms/index.shtml

Easy Hotels

https://www.easyhotel.com/hotels/united-kingdom/manchester/101866?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrKG3-Mmj2QIVKrftCh09RQI7EAAYASAAEgKWEfD_BwE

Airbnb

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/Manchester/homes?refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes&query=Manchester&place_id=ChIJ2_UmUkxNekgRqmv-BDgUvtk&allow_override%5B%5D=&s_tag=CtrTqbIg