Austin has its fair share of festivals. Yet there is only one that features an Argentinean barbecue of an entire cow, a one-man play entitled “Nevermore…” about Edgar Allan Poe based on thorough historical research, and a light-saber dance party.

Austin’s own horror film festival, Fantastic Fest, kicks off Sept. 23, promising shocks, thrills and a taste of what’s to come in a movie theater near you.

Features and premieres this year include “Machete Maidens Unleashed,” a documentary on Philippine cult cinema of the 1970s and 1980s, “Sharktopus,” a Syfy original movie produced by legendary cult filmmaker Roger Corman, and “Stone,” a crime thriller starring Edward Norton, who will be in attendance.

The international spotlight this year will be on Norway, the country bringing the feature “Sound of Noise,” a madcap film following musical terrorists intent on destroying a city with aural chaos.

Fantastic Fest got its start as a horror film festival in 2005 at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. It quickly diversified to feature a more unified “fantastic” array of cinema from science fiction to action to little-known foreign films.

The humble festival has grown quickly despite its short existence, hosting such major events as the world premieres of “Apocalypto,” “There Will Be Blood” and “Zombieland.”

Despite the niche film genres, the festival continues to draw high-profile names like P. T. Anderson, Bill Murray and Kevin Smith.

This year’s Fantastic Fest promises to branch out from film and into brave new territory.

The inaugural Fantastic Arcade will bring cutting edge independent video games to the Highball on South Lamar.

By retrofitting these new games into classic arcade consoles, the Arcade promises something new and nostalgic. Featured video games include the existential “Every Day the Same Dream,” Jonathon Blow’s time (and mind) bending “Braid” and the probably disgusting “Human Centipede The Game!”

Though most festival badges are sold out at this time,  many tickets for individual films can be purchased in person the day of the showing, space permitting. There are also select daytime-only badges available, for screenings prior to 6 p.m.

Fantastic Fest runs from Sept. 23-30 at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar.