Fantastic Fest, dubbed one of the “10 Film Festivals We Love,” by the president of Variety as well as one of the “25 coolest film festivals” by Moviemaker Magazine. The festival will be in full swing during the week of September 22^nd – September 29^th here in Austin. Various horror, sci-fi, action and other genre films will be screened at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar with events going on at The Highball as well. The festival recently announced their final wave of programming, which our very own, Brian Kelley covered. Screening times can be found here. Here are some of the films that you should definitely consider checking out:

The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence
World Premiere – Netherlands, English
Directed by: Tom Six

By now, most everyone should have heard at least something about the controversial film, The Human Centipede, which premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2009. Director, Tom Six has done it again and in just two years, we have now been given the second installment. Who knows where this spine-chilling movie will go, but one thing is for sure – it’ll be just as absurd and disturbing as the first one. If you need more convincing, then how about this: according to IFC, the sequel has been banned in Britain for being too gruesome. The movie is sure to be a good one to watch with a group of friends so that everyone can revel in the unsettling moments sure to be found in The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence. Check out the newly released teaser trailer, above.

Director Tom Six and Producer Ilona Six will be present during the screening. There will also be a Human Centipede themed opening night party, featuring music from The Charles Edward Cheese band and an attempt to break the world’s record for longest centipede conga line.

Extraterrestrial
US Premiere – Spain, Spanish with English Subtitles
Directed by: Nacho Vigalondo

Set in Madrid, the film follows a man who wakes up in a strange apartment after a night of drinking. When his apparent hookup from last night escorts him out of the apartment, they both discover spaceships hovering above the city. There’s nothing quite like a good alien invasion and the film will offer some great character interactions with the addition of an obsessed neighbor as well as, without spoiling anything, another character sure to shake things up. Director Nacho Vigalondo is said to be wildly entertaining during Fantastic Fest even when he doesn’t have a movie to premiere so one can only imagine how things will be now that he has Extraterrestrial coming out.

In addition to director Nacho Vigalondo, Producer Nahikari Ipiña will be present during the screening.

Melancholia
Regional Premiere – UK, English
Directed by: Lars von Trier

Featuring a star-studded cast, Melancholia depicts an “end of the world” story through the eyes of bride-to-be, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) who seems to have it all, yet suffers from depression. To make matters worse, an ominous planet threatens to collide with Earth and result in the extinction of all mankind. From director, Lars von Trier, who brought Fantastic Fest hit Antichrist in 2009, critics have said Lars von Trier has created a beautiful, powerful and personal film sure to have people talking. Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) and Kiefer Sutherland (24) also star.

A Lonely Place to Die
Regional Premiere – UK, English
Directed by: Julian Gilbey

In this intense thriller, it’s all about survival of the fittest. A group of hikers find a young Russian girl being held captive during their hike and try to get her to safety only to encounter the group of armed captors who have kidnapped her. The hikers are then slowly picked off one by one by these ruthless men in what seems like a game to them. The cat and mouse chase is sure to have your heart pounding and the movie's raw depiction of the survival genre will have you on the edge of your seat.

According to Fantastic Fest, a guest from the film will be in attendance during the screening but it is unclear who it will be at this time.

You’re Next
U.S. Premiere – USA, English
Directed by: Adam Wingard

Love a good bloodbath? This film is for you. In it, a man brings his new girlfriend to a family reunion at a mansion in the middle of nowhere. (All the right ingredients for something to go horribly wrong.) What he doesn’t know is that there is a group of animal-masked killers lurking outside the mansion who want to make sure none of the guests leave alive. Think The Strangers but ten times more bloody and brutal.

Director Adam Wingard will be present during the screening.

The Loved Ones
Special Screening – Australia, English
Directed by: Sean Byrne

At first glance, this movie looks like every other high school horror flick. Girl asks guy out to prom, guy says no, girl goes all Carrie. Except for the part where this girl makes even a possessed Carrie look tame. Watching the trailer gave me goose bumps and there will be enough torture, gore and blood to go around by the looks of it. While the movie has been released on DVD, Fantastic Fest is holding a special screening of it during the week so I would try to check it out then if you haven't already.

The Dungeon Master
Texas Premiere (Short Film) – USA, English
Directed by: Rider Strong & Shiloh Strong

In this short film, two old friends rediscover their inner geek and decide to spend a night playing Dungeons and Dragons. They soon realize that they have forgotten the rules so they invite a true gamer to teach them how to play but things take an interesting turn when he shows up in a cape. Directed by the Strong brothers, one of which is Rider, who you may remember as Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World, this goofy comedy is sure to be filled with wild antics and some good laughs. Plus, did I mention that Shawn Hunter directed it? Apparently, he might even be in attendance at Fantastic Fest, so now you have to see it!

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope
U.S. Premiere – USA, English
Directed by: Morgan Spurlock

Directed by Morgan Spurlock and produced by Joss Whedon & Stan Lee, this documentary follows five Comic-Con attendees on their pilgrimage to San Diego’s Comic-Con and gives audiences a truthful glimpse into the lives of the hardcore Comic-Con fans once and for all. The documentary also features interviews from notable people such as Matt Groening, Joss Whedon, Stan Lee, Kevin Smith, Guillermo del Toro and countless others. Be sure to check out the film in preparation of Austin’s Comic-Con in November. The screening will be closing the festival on the last night and as co-founder of Fantastic Fest, Tim League put it, “No other film I have seen this year captures the spirit of the Fantastic Fest audience like COMICON, and I am proud to select it as our 2011 Closing Night film.”

In addition, after the screening there will be a superhero-themed closing night carnival party with activities and costumes galore!

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You can check out the complete list of films that are going to be screened at Fantastic Fest on their website, here, as well as purchase your film badge to ensure your place in the theater to see these movies. Some other great short films are Bedtime for Timmy and Cost of Living, which stars Brandon Routh (Superman Returns).

If you haven't already, check out Brian's suggestions on what films to check out as well.