Fantastic Fest 2011 Presents "KNUCKLE" Fantastic Debates

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fantastic Fest is proud to announce the regional premiere of the acclaimed Irish bare-knuckle boxing documentary KNUCKLE.  KNUCKLE gives a rare inside look at the generations-long feud between Irish Traveller clans headed by James Quinn McDonagh and Paddy "The Lurcher" Joyce.

KNUCKLE will also be the theme of our signature festival event: Fantastic Debates. At the Fantastic Debates, press, filmmakers & film professionals enter the arena for a formal debate followed by two rounds of boxing. In the ring, the great issues facing the fan community are solved once and for all, first by words, then by fisticuffs.  Four debates are scheduled, culminating in the main event, a bout featuring KNUCKLE star and undefeated bare-knuckle brawler James Quinn McDonagh versus Fantastic Fest Co-Founder Tim League.

"Fantastic Debates has become the most anticipated special event of the festival.  Last year I beat GIRLFIGHT star Michelle Rodriguez in the ring.  Perhaps this gave me too much confidence.  This year in a fit of incredibly poor judgment, I have challenged undefeated Irish bare-knuckle brawler James Quinn McDonagh to a fight," said League.

View Tim League's pre-fight video here.

View James Quinn McDonagh's infinitely more intimidating response here.

Select attendees will receive a limited-edition, vintage-style boxing poster commemorating the event.  Prior to the festival, we will be releasing pre-fight videos in the style of KNUCKLE for each of the earlier bouts.  

For the latest developments visit the Fantastic Fest Facebook & Twitter.

For more details regarding Fantastic Fest, contact festival publicist Brandy Fons, at [email protected].  For more information, visit www.fantasticfest.com.

About Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from all around the world. In years past the festival has been home to world premieres of THERE WILL BE BLOOD, APOCALYPTO, ZOMBIELAND and RED while the guest roster has included such talent as Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Ryan Reynolds, Karl Urban, Josh Hartnett, The RZA, Dolph Lundgren, Jemaine Clement, Paul Rudd, Bill Pullman, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kevin Smith, Jon Favreau, George Romero, Darren Aronofsky and Mike Judge. Fantastic Fest also features world, national and regional premieres of new, up-and-coming genre films.  The festival has launched and propelled the buzz for international genre hits like THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, MONSTERS, TIMECRIMES and TROLLHUNTER.  Fantastic Fest is held each year at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar in Austin, Texas. The Alamo Drafthouse was named the best cinema in America by Entertainment Weekly and features food and drink served to your seat without any disruption of the movie experience.

During his Keynote Address at the International film Festival Summit in Las Vegas, Variety president and publisher Charlie Koones listed Fantastic Fest in a list of "10 Film Festivals We Love," a list which included industry heavy-hitters such as Cannes, Toronto and Telluride.  We've also been named as one of the "25 coolest film festivals" and the "25 film festivals worth the entry fee" by Moviemaker Magazine.

About Alamo Drafthouse

The Alamo Drafthouse is a lifestyle entertainment brand with an acclaimed cinema-eatery, the largest genre film festival in the United Sates and an online collectible art store. Named "the best theater in America" by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover's oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse Founder & CEO, Tim League, created Fantastic Fest, a world renowned film festival dubbed "The Geek Telluride" by Variety. Fantastic Fest showcases eight days of offbeat cinema from independents, international filmmakers and major Hollywood studios. The Alamo Drafthouse's collectible art boutique, Mondo, offers breathtaking, original products featuring designs from world-famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and Movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek & Universal Monsters. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is expanding its brand in new and exciting ways, including the launch of Drafthouse Films, a new film distribution label and plans to extend its theaters and unique programming philosophy to additional markets across the United States. More information about Alamo Drafthouse franchise opportunities are available on the official website.

About KNUCKLE

Starring: James Quinn McDonagh and Paddy Joyce.

Directed By:  Ian Palmer

Release Date: December 2011

Distributor: ARC Entertainment & XLrator Media

KNUCKLE On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KnuckleTheMovie

Synopsis:

Meet James Quinn McDonagh and Paddy "The Lurcher" Joyce. Related by blood and separated by a feud that dates back generations. As the heads of rival families, they train to represent their feuding travelling clans, in their long-standing history of violent bare-knuckle boxing.

Knuckle is a rare chance to step inside one of the world's most vibrant and elusive communities. Travellers are normally silent about certain parts of their lifestyle. Never before has such a portrayal of their fighting traditions been committed to film.

Shot in an observational style, Knuckle presents a hard edged portrait of Traveller male culture and explores the bond of loyalty, the need for revenge and the pressures to fight for the honour of your family name. Prepare to witness the secretive world of travellers and their way of settling scores. No gloves, no padding, just Knuckle.

SOURCE Fantastic Fest