Monday, November 21, 2011

2012 World Horror Convention to Hold a Horror Film Festival

Some years they have one, some years they don't. In 2012 the answer is...Yes!

The World Horror Convention, which will convene in Salt Lake City in 2012, is sponsoring a horror film festival for both short and feature films. Yes, there's an entry fee, but not too expensive as most film festivals go.

According to their website, the 2012 WHC's film festival "will run concurrently with World Horror. WHC attendees get in free. Anyone wishing to attend just the film festival can purchase a special membership.

Entry Fees:

Early deadline: December 1, 2011 -- 10.00.
Regular deadline: February 1, 2012 -- $15.00.
Late deadline: March 1, 2012 -- $25.00.

All entries must be postmarked by March 1, 2012.

Fill out the Application Form and send it with your film and entry fee. Send films on a non-returnable DVD (Region 1 encoded) to:

WHC2012 Film Festival
PO Box 521173
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84152-1173

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Popcorn Horror App Distributes Short Horror Films

Felix Gilfedder emails me to say that his new company, Popcorn Horror, will distribute short horror films via a mobile phone app.

Since distribution opportunities for short films are hard to come by, Popcorn Horror, looks to be a welcome development.





Gilfedder says: "Popcorn Horror mobile phone app is a bite sized, horror, cinema experience in the palm of your hand. The ever mutating weekly content is user generated and includes the best short horror films from across the world, news, quotes, and much more. You can download the app for free on Android, i-Phone and i-Pad. We look to reward and encourage grassroots filmmaking and promote horror festivals and events."

Gilfedder, from Glasgow, Scotland, says that he's studied Digital Film at Sydney University, and has ten indie short films to his credit. Details at: Popcorn Horror.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Carnival of Darkness Canceled for 2011

What was to be the third annual Carnival of Darkness horror short film festival did not occur this year. According to festival director Alex Bram, "I skipped Carnival this year because I was focusing on creating some new film projects for myself."

Bram was an award-winning horror filmmaker before turning festival director, so essentially, he has returned to his roots.

The script for one of Bram's projected three horror films was co-written by Jeffrey Reddick, co-writer of the original Final Destination. Last year, Reddick was a guest speaker at Bram's 2010 Carnival of Darkness festival.

I've often observed that many festival directors hold (or aspire to hold) other jobs in the film industry, and that running a horror film festival is a great way to make contacts with potential future employers and/or business partners. This may be another such case.

Details on Bram's upcoming film projects may be found at Panic Attack Films.

Bram reports that Carnival of Darkness is expected to return for its third edition in 2012.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

TromaDance Film Festival's Lloyd Kaufman to Teach Filmmaking at Oxford

Horror filmmaking legend Lloyd Kaufman (Mother's Day, Splatter University) -- who also founded the TromaDance Film Festival -- reports that on November 5, 2011, he'll be teaching a Masters class in filmmaking at Oxford University.

Or as Lloyd puts it...



==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Shriekfest Award Winning Negative Image Online

Denise Gossett of the Shriekfest Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival reports that their "Award Winning Horror Short" film, Negative Image (11 minutes) is now online:



Negative Image is about a paranormal journalist who tries to catch an supernatural entity on film (sounds a bit like the J-horror film, Silk).

The film is from Darkline Entertainment. Its director, Karl Holt, also gave us Eddie Loves You.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Drunken Zombie Film Festival's New Film: Whisper

Not only is Bryan Wolford the man behind the Drunken Zombie Film Festival -- he's a filmmaker in his own right! (Yes, another filmmaker/festival director.)

Wolford has produced a trailer for his upcoming horror film, Whisper:



==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

JT Seaton Founds New Orleans Horror Film Festival

JT Seaton is the latest in a growing line of filmmakers-turned-film-festival-directors, an especially common phenomenon among horror film festivals. I learned this from Seaton at the 2011 Shriekfest horror film festival, which screened his short film, Divination.

Seaton recently founded the New Orleans Horror Film Festival, not to be confused with a previously announced New Orleans horror film festival called Circus of Terror.

The latter was to have its first screening in 2010. Its plans were destroyed by the BP gulf oil spill, and plans for a 2011 screening apparently never materialized.

Apart from Seaton, filmmakers (and other talent) turned festival directors include actress/producer Rachel Belofsky (Screamfest L.A.), actress Denise Gossett (Shriekfest), actress/filmmakers Shannon Lark and Heidi Martinuzzi (Viscera), script supervisor Michael Coulombe (Big Bear Horror-Fi), producer Pablo Guisa Koestinger (Morbido Film Fest), and filmmakers Elisabeth Fies (BleedFest), Shade Rupe (Deep Red International), Bryan Wolford (Drunken Zombie Film Festival), Eric Morgret (Maelstrom International), and Alex Bram (Carnival of Darkness). And, of course, there's writer/actor moi (Tabloid Witch Awards).

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Horror Film Sound -- How to Do It Right

Since 2005, the Tabloid Witch Awards has honored film sound with a Best Sound Award. This is because sound is an often under appreciated element in filmmaking, and so the Tabloid Witch wishes to highlight those films that put sound to good aesthetic use.

Now there's a book that will teach horror filmmakers just about everything practical and "how to" about how to create, record, mix, and edit great soundtracks. Read our review of David Lewis Yewdall's Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound.

Yes, the book's expensive. But at least read the review before deciding on whether this book might help you with your future projects.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

2001 Screamfest L.A. Horror Film Reviews

Here's a blast from horror's past...

Today Screamfest L.A. is the largest horror film festival in Los Angeles. A glitzy, high-profile event with Hollywood support. But back in 2001, at its first annual screening, Screamfest L.A. was still a small event.

A forerunner in this past decade's horror film festival boom, that first annual Screamfest was something of a historic event (at least for anyone who cares about horror film history). I'm proud to say I was there, reviewing those early Screamfest films for Horrorfind.com.

Ten years is a long time on the web, and Horrorfind has long since removed its film reviews (including mine). But now my report on the first annual Screamfest L.A. is available once again -- at Communist Vampires.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Must Winning Filmmakers Pay for Their Awards?

This morning I announced the winners of the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards.

I then contacted the winning filmmakers. One of whom asked a curious question:

"This is great news indeed! ... A question though. Is there a place or service where I can purchase physical awards, and are there even any physical awards I can get?"

I replied:

"Yes, you get physical awards. You get plaques, which you can see at TabloidWitch.com. No, you don't have to purchase the awards. Are there festivals that actually make winners buy their own awards?"

To this, the filmmaker replied:

"Actually, sometimes, a festival will ask. Not usually a film festival, but I'd say about half of the competition fests ask for the cash money when you win to get the award. As it is, we've had about three of those so far."

In researching my upcoming book, Horror Film Festivals and Awards, I'd interviewed filmmakers who complained of "scam festivals" that try to profit on the filmmakers. But paying for an award you'd supposedly won is a new twist.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Michael J. Hein, RIP

Michael J. Hein, founder of the New York City Horror Film Festival, died last Saturday of a heart attack. He was 41.

NorthJersey.com reports that Hein's 2001 directorial debut Biohazardous, "led to the development of the New York City Horror Film Festival.

" 'Mike was submitting Biohazardous to various film festivals and realized there was no horror festival in New York,' said Anthony Pepe, a special-effects makeup artist who worked with Mr. Hein on Biohazardous and other projects.

"Mr. Hein and Pepe launched the five-day, Halloween-season festival in 2002 at the Tribeca Film Center. Mr. Hein was festival director and Pepe the programming director. The event screened 30 films its first year.

"Last year it was based at Tribeca Cinemas. With Mr. Hein's death, the status of the 10th annual New York City Horror Film Festival, is up in the air, his mother said."

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

2011 Viscera Festival to Screen on July 17th in Los Angeles


Los Angeles's 405 freeway is closing this weekend -- Angelinos are calling the expected traffic nightmare Carmageddon -- but that hasn't stopped the all-women nightmares at the Viscera Horror Film Festival, scheduled for this Sunday.

Viscera promises "some of the most creative and original new short horror films made by women today. Some are terrifying, some are pulse pounding, and some are hilarious. All showcase what can be accomplished when twisted, cool, darkside-proud women get down to business."

TIME:

Sunday, July 17, 2011

5 p.m. -- Screenings begin.
8 p.m. -- Back patio "after party."
10 p.m. -- A second "after party at the Rosewood Tavern, 448 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, Ca 90036, ph: (323) 944-0980

PLACE:

The Silent Movie Theater
611 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, Ca. 90036
ph: (323) 655-2520

Tickets may be purchased at: Advance tickets

$15 online. $20 at the door.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Friday, July 1, 2011

South Africa's Celludroid Film Festival to Honor Richard Stanley

Festival director Paul Blom reports that his upcoming Celludroid Film Festival brings a "wild lineup of Science Fiction, Animation and Fantasy movies."

Apart from film screenings, Celludroid will honor South African horror/sci-fi filmmaker Richard Stanley (Hardware and Dust Devil).

I've seen both films several times, and though produced over 20 years ago, they hold up to contemporary films. Hardware is a powerful and beautiful post-apocalyptic horror/sci-fi thriller, whereas Dust Devil infuses a heavy dose of mysticism to its weirdly horror tale.

Only the latter film was shot in Africa, and Stanley makes effective use of the Dark Continent's unique landscapes.

Celludroid will screen at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa. The event runs from July 5-14, 2011.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Shriekfest "Meet & Greet" Meeting, June 28th


The Los Angeles based Shriekfest horror film festival hosts a monthly networking meeting. Well, they meet most months -- and that includes this month!

Their next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 8 p.m. If you plan to attend, Shriekfest prefers that you RSVP them at shriekfest@aol.com so they can plan ahead.

Meeting to be held at the Casting Office Bar & Grill, 3575 Cahuenga West (near Ventura), Universal City, California.

Underground parking available for $3.00 or free street parking.

Shriekfest says "We will have the upstarisl all to ourselves." They add that details can be found on their website.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Monday, June 20, 2011

4th Festival de Cine Fantástico y de Terror de Santiago to Honor Evil Dead

Chile's Festival de Cine Fantástico y de Terror de Santiago (aka FIXION-SARS) reports that this year their festival will be "celebrating 30 years of the Evil Dead saga!"

"The 2011 Illustration Contest will be based on the iconography of this beloved film, which left us an unforgettable lesson: Never pass the weekend in an old cabin in a solitary forest -- something really bad can happen to you!

"The regulations are posted on our website. Anyone can participate. The deadline is August 7th.

"This year, the fourth edition of our Fantastic & Horror Film Festival from Santiago, FIXION-SARS, will occur between October 11th and 16th in Cinemark Plaza Vespucio and Cineteca Nacional. With all the usual sections, plus some surprise that we are preparing.

"Regarding the 2011 call for submission of audiovisual works, this will be open from early July and the deadline are planned through mid-August -- so there is time enough [to submit your films]!"

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

8th Annual Tabloid Witch Awards to Screen at Loscon 38


The 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards are returning to Loscon, the Los Angeles Science Fiction convention, which has for many years convened every Thanksgiving weekend at the LAX Marriott Hotel.

This year's Tabloid Witch Award-winning films will likely screen on Friday and Saturday nights, November 25 and 26, 2011. Filmmakers will participate in panels and Q&A sessions with Loscon attendees.

Loscon previously hosted Tabloid Witch screenings in 2005, 2007, and 2009.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival, sponsored by the Hollywood Investigator.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Monday, June 6, 2011

New York City Horror Film Festival Releases Devil's Grove

Over the years, film festivals have used their connections to expand into distribution. Film festivals directors have used their connections to segue into acting, writing, or directing.

Now, the New York City Horror Film Festival joins their ranks. On June 7th, the NYCHFF will release Devil's Grove on DVD -- co-directed by NYCHFF founder Michael J. Hein -- which the festival describes "as one of the most brutal independent horror films in recent years.":



Actually, this trailer convinced me to NOT see Devil's Grove, as it looks to be a pretty sordid affair. Just another torture porn effort. I prefer horror films with a creepy "sense of wonder" (e.g., The Ring or The X-Files). But I suppose torture porn has its fans.

The NYCHFF also announces that filmmakers George Taramas and Michael Gruosso's short film, Demented, won the festival's Killer Shorts Film Competition. Demented was voted "audience choice" at the festival's Saturday Nightmares Expo, which was held this past weekend.

======================

Michael J. Hein replies:

"I sincerely appreciate the plug for Devil's Grove on your recent blog, but just a correction that I have been working in the film industry for 25 years and my Directorial debut was in 2000. The NYCHFF is an event I founded ten years ago to give back to the genre community which I'm so heavily involved in. For a decade, not one person involved with our event has taken a dime of salary (including myself). So no one involved with the NYCHFF has ever used the event to catapult into anything and I was the only one involved in the making of the movie involved with the festival. (Everyone else evolved are Ohio filmmakers.)

"The new label is set up to help filmmakers get an honest, reliable, distribution deal. To test the waters with the concept, I put a film that I own a share in first to see how it works. In other words: I'm my own guinea pig.

"You're correct on one thing though: Devil's Grove is a straight up grindhouse torture flick and definitely NOT for everyone’s tastes. A fact we are pretty proud of. Thanks again."

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Problem with the Saturn Awards

Every year, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films presents its annual Saturn Awards. The Academy claims that its goal is to recognize genre excellence.

The problem is, it doesn't even try to do so.

The Academy's genre definitions are so elastic, all manner of non-horror (and non-science fiction/non-fantasy) films qualify for Academy screenings and Saturn Awards.

Who or what is to blame? Among the prime culprits are studio publicists.

I wrote about this problem back in 1997. My article eventually saw print in 2001.

It's now available for free online at Communist Vampires.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Los Angeles Hosts World's Largest Zombie Walk

What is a zombie walk? It's when a group of people in zombie makeup gather for a mass saunter. (Real zombie saunter rather than walk or run.) Horror film festivals and conventions sometimes host zombie walks. Other zombie walks are standalone events.

Last weekend, Los Angeles hosted what claims to be the world's largest zombie walk to date. According to the L.A. Weekly:

"About 800 people gathered around Pershing Square in the guise of the brain-hungry undead in an attempt to break the world record for biggest mob of zombies in a group walk on Friday, May 13. Many of the gore-goers were dressed head-to-toe and said they'd prepared their costumes weeks in advance, while others came straight from work and simply doused themselves in red paint. The youngest zombie was just over a year old, proof you're never too young to get in on a little flesh eating.

You can see photos at the L.A. Weekly.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Indie Film Net Announces Midnight Movie Series

This press release was submitted by IndieFilmNet's Bob Golibersuch:

IndieFilmNet (IFN) a digital/e-cinema network currently providing major arthouse movies and performing arts presentations to theatres worldwide, has announced the launch of IFN:MIDNIGHTS a movie series and theatrical release slate dedicated to horror and other edgy genre titles.

IFN:MIDNIGHTS will be featuring new horror titles from indie filmmakers, monster and grindhouse revivals, as well as other genre-bending movies to thrill midnight audiences.

"Horror and midnight movies have a rabid and dedicated fan base in almost every city," said Bob Golibersuch, IFN Director of Movie Programming and owner of Screening Room Cinemas (home to the Buffalo Screams Film Festival). "We intend to combine midnight classics and undiscovered thrillers with the new crop of indie horror movies to create a series of titles that will satisfy horror fans and be an exciting big screen group experience."

Depending on the release, IFN acts as either the theatrical distributor or digital release partner. Theatres are able to book midnight shows, single screenings or full-run engagements for any title in the series.

Initial titles include the award winning Australian exploitation homage, El Monstro del Mar, the must-see movie of the spring Hobo With a Shotgun, and a digital revival of The Brain That Wouldn't Die.

IFN is a digital/e-cinema network assembled for the theatrical distribution and presentation of movies and alternative content. With its head office in New York and operations center in Montreal, the network focuses on delivering performing arts productions, concerts, major specialty releases and independent features to digitally equipped cinema venues in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, UK and other territories.

For more information on submitting movies for consideration OR booking IFN:MIDNIGHTS for your theatre, please contact: Bob Golibersuch, 716-837-0376, 716-465-0651, bobg@screeningroom.net

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Tabloid Witch Award Winner Christopher Alan Broadstone's Latest Projects

Filmmaker Christopher Alan Broadstone, whose film, Human No More won 3 Tabloid Witch Awards in 2005, discusses his upcoming projects:



==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Chemical Burn Seeks Horror Films for Distribution

Received from Warren Croyle, CEO of Chemical Burn Entertainment:

Chemical Burn Entertainment is an international horror film producer/distributor that strives to bring the consumer the best Horror, Gore, Sexploitation and Grindhouse from around the globe. We are interested in supporting talented, up and coming, filmmakers and are accepting screeners from festival entrants who would like to be considered for possible distribution.

Interested filmmakers should send a screener, along with complete contact information to:

Chemical Burn
PO Box 91
Foresthill, CA 95631

We will review all submissions and then contact the filmmakers directly if we are interested. Thank you for your hard work in support of the film community, we appreciate your efforts very much.

ADDENDUM (May 30, 2012): Chemical Burn informs me that their films are no longer distributed by Warner Bros.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

New York City Horror Film Fest at Tribeca and TromaDance

Submitted by the New York City Horror Film Festival:

The New York City Horror Film Festival is co-hosting screenings as part of the late night "Cinemania" selections during the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, April 20 - May 1.

The New York City Horror Film Fest is giving away 6 pairs of free tickets to Cinemania! To enter this drawing, send an email to NYHorrorprogram@aol.com with the phrase: "Free Tribeca Horror Tickets" in the title.

Winners chosen at random and notified through email. Tickets will be pick-up at theater (will call) at time of screening only.

* * *

New York City Horror Film Fest director Michael Hein will serve on a discussion panel on Saturday, 5 p.m., at the TromaDance Film Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. April 22-23, 2011.

Other panelists include Michael Gingold (managing editor of Fangoria), animator John Goras (Chirpy), actress Debbie Rochon, animator Bill Plympton, and New York State Film Commissioner Pat Kaufman.

TromaDance founder, Lloyd Kaufman, will serve as moderator.

The panel's topic: Selling Your Movie in the Age of Digital Revolution: Now that the digital revolution allows anyone to make a movie, how do filmmakers live off them in a media world controlled by giant conglomerates?

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

South African HorrorFest -- Call for Entries

Paul Blom writes:

These genre events from Flamedrop Productions are still the only of its kind on the African continent:


South African HorrorFest

Film Submissions are open for our 7th annual South African HorrorFest Film Festival (October / November 2011). All info at the Submission tab on Horrofest.info.

We include feature films and short films, and the short story competition which was launched last year will again be a part of the event (in addition to the live movie soundtrack to a classic silent horror movie by The Makabra Ensemble, Halloween dress-ups & more). We're also looking at re-launching the dark art & photography exhibition this year.

Celludroid

In addition, our 2nd Celludroid Sci-Fi / Anime / Fantasy Film Festival will this time happen mid-July 2011 (awaiting word on a visiting director). Feature and short film submission info can be found at Celludroid.net.

X Fest

The 4th X FEST Extreme / Cult / Underground Film Festival will go down August / September 2011. All info at Xfest.org.

These and other alternative film festival web links can be found at Flamdrop.com.

No entry fees charged for movie submissions at any of the festivals. Closing dates listed at the web sites.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Imagi-Movies Film Festival, April 8 - 11, 2011

Is there any person or organization who is connected to horror -- magazine, production company, website, convention, filmmaker, fan -- who isn't sponsoring a horror film festival?

Apart from Fangoria magazine's new film festival, we now learn that Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine is sponsoring its first film festival -- the Imagi-Movies Film Festival.



The schedule seems composed of horror classics. I'm not sure if they'll accept new films for their 2012 festival edition.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Fangoria Film Festival -- Call for Entries


Fangoria magazine will be officially sponsoring a film festival at Days of the Dead 2011.

The Fangoria Film Festival will kick off on Friday, July 1st, with the mid west premiere of Heather Langenkamp's, I Am Nancy, and commence throughout the weekend showing feature length films, shorts, and sneak peeks of future projects.

Filmmakers should submit to:

Fangoria Film Festival
c/o Adolfo G. Dorta
507 Lincoln Rd. #203
Ingelside, IL 60041

Entry deadline: April 30, 2011.

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Looking for the Ultimate Horror or Sci-Fi Fan

Big Bear Lake, California
March 17, 2011

The Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival is looking for the Ultimate Horror and/or Sci-Fi Fan to be a judge at their 2011 film festival.

“Filmmakers don’t just make movies for other filmmakers, they make movies for movie-goers as well,” says Chris Gaida, Director of Programming. “The Ultimate Horro-Fi Fan is a good way to reward a fan and allow them to be part of the festival experience. When we decided to create a new blend of horror and sci-fi, we knew we had to find those fans that best embody that brand.”

A Horro-Fi fan is someone who loves the genre of horror and/or science fiction; the kind of fan that knows the smallest part of trivia or minutia detail of a specific movie/title of that genre.

The contest begins Monday, March 21, 2011.

The basic concept works like this:
1) Take a video, no longer than 2 minutes, and tell us why you think you should be the next Ultimate Horro-Fi Fan.
2) Be creative.
3) Submit the video and the submission form to us.

All entries will be uploaded to the website. The video that gets the most votes will win. It’s simple and fun. The complete guidelines and submission form can be found on the website at www.bigbearhorrorfilmfest.com/pages-ultimate-horrofi-fan

Jamie Kristen, Founder and Co-Producer of the Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival says “We look forward to this contest every year. We feel that including a fan to be on the judging panel adds diversity and a unique perspective.”

The 2011 Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival dates are September 30th - Oct 2nd in Big Bear Lake, CA. Submissions are now being considered for competition. For more information please visit the festival’s official website www.bigbearhorrorfilmfest.com

==================================

For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Drunken Zombie Film Festival Open For Submissions

The guys behind the Drunken Zombie Film Festival are happy to announce that we are currently accepting submissions for our film festival taking place on November 4th and 5th at the Peoria Theater in Peoria, IL. This is the Fourth Annual Drunken Zombie Film Festival and it just keeps getting bigger ever year.

In the past we’ve had the pleasure of hosting world premieres for movies like Zombie Apocalypse, Outpost Doom, and Night Of The Bongface II. In addition to that we’ve been very happy to show Night Of The Living Dead: Reanimated, the Stephen King adaptation Everything’s Eventual, the chilling documentary Feast Of The Assumption: the BTK Killer and the Otero Family Murders, and loads of awesome short films such as the Adrienne Barbeau starring Alice Jacobs Is Dead.

Every year we try to showcase some of the best low/no budget horror feature films that our audience may have not seen outside of our festival. Luckily many of our screened films end up going on to gain distribution and are seen by people all over the world.

So if you have a horror film/short/documentary/music video that you’d like to get the word out about please feel free to stop by our website at www.drunkenzombiefilmfestival.com and look at how to submit to our film festival. The thing that makes us stand out is that we don’t charge an entry fee. Our goal isn’t to make money off this film festival but to spread the word about independent horror films. You shouldn’t have to pay someone to just go on to hope your film made the cut. We’re all about giving filmmakers a place to showcase their work not to make a huge profit before the film festival even starts.

We’re hoping you will join us in making this year our biggest year yet. We have many surprises we’re starting to plan out already and we can’t wait to share it with everyone. Submissions are open until August 31st.

About Us:
Drunken Zombie is a horror podcast and website based out of Peoria, IL. We are in our fourth year of doing the podcast and actually just won a Splatcademy Awards for Best Horror Podcast from www.deadlantern.com in their yearly awards show. This is actually the second time we have won in this category. We started this film festival after we started to receive independent horror films from filmmakers to review on our show. We saw how much talent was out there that most horror fans didn’t even know about. We decided to show horror fans these films rather than just tell them about it.
www.drunkenzombie.com

Peoria Theater is an independent theater located in Peoria, IL that offers a unique film going experience. They have a full bar with usual concession items like popcorn and nachos. They specialize in showing independent films that otherwise would not be coming to the Peoria area. Drunken Zombie also hosts a monthly Horror Double Feature at the theater which showcases one independent horror film and one classic horror film.
www.peoriatheater.com

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For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Reading with Adrienne Barbeau



Friday, March 4, 2011 7pm
Barnes and Noble at the Grove
189 The Grove Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90036

323.525.0270 or 323.604.9874

Reading with Adrienne Barbeau

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For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Tabloid Witch Winner Shawna Baca Raising Money for Ascended Master

2007 Tabloid Witch Award winner Shawna Baca is seeking to raise $20,0000 via Kickstarter.com for her next film, Ascended Master.



This is your chance to invest in a proven filmmaker!

Kickstarter.com is an effective film-fundraising tool. Last year, 2006 Tabloid Witch Award winner Mike Flanagan raised $23,150 via Kickstarter.com -- %154 of his budget!

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For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Horror Film Aesthetics Nominated for a Rondo Hatton Award

My book from last year, Horror Film Aesthetics, has been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award, in Category 10 (Book of the Year).

Anyone can vote online, in any of the award categories, by going to the Rondo Award site.

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For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Drunken Zombie Film Festival Alumni Update

The twisted sisters that brought Dead Hooker In A Trunk to film festivals across the country in 2010 are gearing up for thier new horror film American Mary in 2011. If Dead Hooker is any indication of the level of talent Jen and Sylvia Soska have then these twins are about to kick in the door on indie horror films. From their website:

From the creative team that brought you the indie-smash film Dead Hooker In A Trunk, American Mary is the story of a medical student named Mary who is growing increasingly broke and disenchanted with medical school and the established doctors she once idolized. The allure of easy money sends a desperate Mary through the messy world of underground surgeries which leaves more marks on her than the so-called freakish cliental.

To learn more about the Soska Sisters and their crusade to bring women filmmakers into horror check out their website Twisted Twins Productions. To get a taste of what they have in store for us this year watch the American Mary teaser trailer below.


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For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Horror Film Festivals Book Finally Submitted

Last year I began research on Horror Film Festivals and Awards, my followup book to Horror Film Aesthetics.  This past Monday, I finally submitted the book to McFarland & Company. The book will likely be released in late 2011.

I expect Horror Film Festivals and Awards to be the definitive reference work in the field. I interviewed dozens of horror film festival directors for the book, and attended many of the festivals. The book includes an extensive directory of festivals, and a listing of all past award winners.

As for this blog, I plan to post notices and press releases from horror film festivals and awards (not all horror film awards are affiliated with a film festival), to keep readers current on their happenings.  Although I run the Tabloid Witch Awards, I am eager to promote festivals other than my own.

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For a behind-the-scenes look at horror film festivals and the festival directors who manage them, see Horror Film Festivals and Awards. This book also includes a directory of over 200 horror film festivals, and a list of festival award winners from dozens of festivals over several decades.