From paranormal research to supernatural horror features and beyond, New York City’s Haunted House FearFest has something on tap this month for fear-fanatics of every stripe. Following is the official press announcement.
The Haunted House FearFest, presented by HauntTV with media sponsor Den of Geek, is proud to announce the full film slate and programming for the 6th annual festival running October 24-26, 2024 at the Triad Theater in New York City. Check out a festival sizzle reel trailer here.
Expected highlights from the festival include:
- A special screening of season 3 of HauntTV’s hit series Haunted Discoveries, featuring Ghost Hunters’ star, Mustafa Gatollari, who will be in attendance to present an episode from the new season.
- Special pre-screening introductions from filmmakers, including Academy Award-nominated director John R. Dilworth, who will introduce his short film Howl If You Love Me, and award-winning director Lauren Keller, who will introduce her short films A Little of Glass of Rum and Dark and Stormy.
- Closing night awards ceremony to take place on Saturday, October 26th, where select films will be honored with awards including the grand prize “Grim Reaper Award for Best in Show.”
- Kodak Motion Picture will be awarding filmmaker grants to the winners of “Best Director” and “Best Cinematography.”
Renee Huff will continue her role as the festival’s Owner & Executive Director. The festival, which obtained new ownership in 2022, is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the work of innovative independent filmmakers, game developers, and artists from around the world, with a special focus on promoting the talents of women and underrepresented groups in the horror genre.
“Haunted House FearFest is the fulfillment of my lifelong dream – to immerse audiences in the art of horror while transforming bold ideas into lasting legacies. It serves as a powerful platform for filmmakers and game developers from all backgrounds, with a special emphasis on elevating women creators. Here, their stories are not just shared; they are honored, amplifying voices that deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated in ways that transcend the screen.” said Renee Huff, Owner & Executive Director, HHFF.
About Haunted House FearFest
Haunted House FearFest is an independent horror festival dedicated to celebrating our passion for spine-tingling terror. We showcase the work of innovative independent filmmakers, game developers, artists from around the world, with a special focus on promoting the talents of women and underrepresented groups in the horror genre. Our mission is to share our deep love for horror and its diverse sub-genres, including paranormal, monsters, slashers, zombies, gore, gothic, dark fantasy, psychological thrillers, and much more! If it Conjures Fear – We want it!
Prepare yourself for an immersive experience at Haunted House FearFest, where we curate the finest independent horror films and video games that will keep you glancing over your shoulder until the very end. To achieve this, we seek out filmmakers and game developers with a twisted imagination and a penchant for the horrifying to join us in creating an unforgettable journey into the realm of fear and suspense. For additional information, please visit: www.hauntedhousefearfest.com or follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram, Instagram, and X.
About HauntTV
HauntTV is a Blue Ant Media global free streaming channel available via SmartTV’s The Roku Channel, Sling TV, TCL, Samsung TV Plus, VIZIO WatchFree+, LG Channels, and more. Programmed with chills in mind, HauntTV is where the afterlife comes to life with a 24/7 ghoulish lineup of series such as Haunted Discoveries, History’s Most Haunted, Hotel Paranormal, Paranormal Survivor and more. Love jump scares and ghosts that go bump in the night? Good. You’re gonna love this channel. www.haunttv.us.
About Den of Geek
Den of Geek is the leading entertainment media company for pop culture enthusiasts. Blending expert insight with a voice that is fluent and respectful of fandom, DenofGeek.com is a recognized authority on movies, television, games, comics, books, and culture since its inception in 2007. The brand produces a high-quality, award-winning print magazine quarterly, with additional special editions for pop culture events throughout the year.
For additional information, please visit: www.denofgeek.com or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
Television Line-Up
HAUNTED DISCOVERIES (Season 3)
Available to Stream on HauntTV
Season 3 Synopsis: The American Paranormal Research Association applies the stringent methodology that’s yielded shocking results in the first two seasons of Haunted Discoveries, to some of America’s most celebrated haunted locations, and long-guarded historical sites for the team’s third round of cases. Joining hosts Brandon Alvis and Mustafa Gatollari in season 3 is world-renowned scientist Dr. Harry Kloor, who subjects decades of supernatural claims to a stricter scientific standard, while also crafting experiments tailored to each investigation that will either bolster these widely believed supernatural claims, or challenge the paranormal community’s faith in their validity.
Feature Films Line-Up
MALDOROR
Directed by: LP Behbahani
Starring: Kelsey Jaffer, Benjamin Milliken, Sam Sage, Pete Giovagnoli, Pamela Strateman, Emma Terrazas, Nicolas Silva
Synopsis: An aspiring author working on her new book summons a malevolent entity intent on consuming her soul.
A STRANGER IN THE WOODS
Directed by: József Gallai
Starring: Bill Oberst, Laura Ellen Wilson, Lynn Lowry
Synopsis: A young film student is making a documentary about an elderly man who has been hiding from the world for many years. But as secrets from his past come to light, their strange relationship takes a fateful turn.
THE LADY OF THE LAKE
Directed by: Ryan Grulich
Starring: Amanda Paulson
Synopsis: A researcher investigates hauntings attached to a 1937 murder and finds herself at the crossroads of violence, history, and the supernatural.
OPERATION BLOOD HUNT
Directed by: Louis Mandylor
Starring: Quinton Rampage Jackson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Louis Mandylor, Sonia Cooling
Synopsis: The Reverend accompanies a ragtag group of military rejects to a remote South Pacific Island to investigate the disappearance of Marine units said to be at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army.
Shorts Line-Up
DARK AND STORMY
Directed by: Lauren Keller
Starring: Stu Ford, Kat Kersting
Synopsis: As lighting cracks, a man wakes from his slumber to find out he’s not alone in his bedroom.
A LITTLE GLASS OF RUM
Directed by: Lauren Keller
Starring: Stu Ford, Kat Kersting
Synopsis: After grieving over the murder of his wife and son, a prison guard dines with the killer for his last meal.
THE QUEUE
Directed by: Michael Rich
Starring: Burt Bulos, Jeff Doba
Synopsis: An internet content moderator confronts the darkness within the videos he screens.
DON’T LET THEM IN
Directed by: Peter Collins
Starring: Ashley Dingwell, Danny McLeod, Ihechi Marcus
Synopsis: After surviving an abusive relationship, Heather’s fragile reality unravels as she’s stalked by a vampiric shape-shifter from her past. With a cryptic symbol as its calling card, she must confront both her trauma and the creature determined to enter her home.
MRS. BARKER’S CHAIR
Directed by: Aaran McKenzie
Starring: Stephen Sitkowski, Susan Jeffrey, Faye Bennett, Terry Pearson
Synopsis: Believing his newly bed bound Mother (Brenda) is suffering with Dementia, Chris steps up to take care of her at her own home, but is deeply unsettled when she claims it was the chair that did this to her.
AURORA
Directed by: Rita Osei
Starring: Djinda Kane, Ella-Rae Smith, Melanie Gray, Joshua Osei, Edwin de la Renta
Synopsis: A perimenopausal vampire is on a quest to kill a habit that won’t die!
THE WASTELANDER – SECTOR 23
Directed by: Jonathan Bentley
Starring: Paul Kavanagh, Graham McTavish
Synopsis: In a sprawling apocalyptic world, an unnamed wanderer runs from personal tragedy. But Sector 23 is not for the faint of heart, and his encounters with warring mutants, insane robots, and deadly predators will put his pursuit of the Oracle, and need for answers, in jeopardy.
STICKS
Directed by: CJ Beasley
Starring: Tristian Path, Paige Moran, Ben Black
Synopsis: A “couple” gets lost in the woods, unaware that something else lurks in the sticks.
NO SLEEP TONIGHT
Directed by: H. Owen Richardson
Starring: Saffron Richardson, Verity Richardson
Synopsis: A girl catches a glimpse of a ghastly apparition at the end of her bed.
HOWL IF YOU LOVE ME
Directed by: John R. Dilworth
Synopsis: Boy has girl. Boy loses girl. Boy wins girl back, but girl is a werewolf.
THE SCALPEL
Directed by: Richard H. Lyford
Starring: Barbara Berger, Eystein Berger, Richard H. Lyford
Synopsis: A mad doctor transforms into a monstrous killer and creates mayhem in a medical institute. (The Scalpel is a 1936 never-released film by then 19-year-old filmmaker, Richard Lyford with a score by Ed Hartman.)
BLINDED
Directed by: Blake Hay
Starring: Melissa Godbold, Yogesh Mahajan; Chivelli
Synopsis: Feeling the pressure to propose, a man gives his heart.
BLANK
Directed by: Avishai Weinberger
Starring: Tova Umetuka, Nayib Felix, Quentin Thomson
Synopsis: A young woman experiences dissociative “blank-out” moments. As they grow more frequent, they threaten her relationship and her life.
OCCUPIED
Directed by: Liam Fink
Starring: Alex Chang, Liam Fink
Synopsis: A park ranger is closing facilities for the night, only to realize that one of the bathrooms is still in use….
FREQUENCY
Directed by: Phil Beastall
Starring: Sarah Carmel, Andy Turvey, Matt Connors-Jones
Synopsis: A sound designer Lucy spends her life surrounded by noise. But in the silence, a dark presence awaits. The more Lucy craves the quiet, the more compelled the entity is to find ways to interact with her.
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
Directed by: Troy Fortenberry
Starring: Justin Whitney, Melissa Gratia, Kacey Samiee
Synopsis: A man’s quest for enlightenment leads him to a New Age workshop that proves to be more than his mind can handle.
THE INVISIBLES
Directed by: Julia Beney
Starring: Sean Chen, Makenna Pickersgill, Selena Nicholas, Rianna Persaud
Synopsis: A troubled boy realizes his new home is haunted when two girls break into his house ghost hunting, the apparition however is not at all what the trio expect, and yet, exactly what they need.
GRETCHEN
Directed by: Dean Addison
Starring: Anto Sharp, Amy Marie Lucas
Synopsis: Lenny takes his girlfriend Lily into the woods for a romantic evening away, little does she know that he has an ulterior motive. A viral social media trend to tempt fate by summoning the fabled GRETCHEN, but with a twist, they’re on the hallowed ground from where the legend originated. Is it just an urban legend? or will Gretchen exact her revenge for Lenny’s deception?
WICKED IMAGE
Directed by: Caitlin Scherer
Starring: Jessica Sherr, Heather Brittain O’Scanlon, Amanda Leigh Corbett, Hope Blackstock, Gabriel Rysdahl
Synopsis: In this satirical comedy, regular everyday people have become so evil that the epitome of evil -Satan, the Devil and Lucifer- start to struggle with imposter syndrome and wonder whether they’re still the most evil beings. After meeting with a publicist from hell, the trio realizes it’s time to make a change.
The Haunted House FearFest, presented by HauntTV with media sponsor Den of Geek, has also announced that the 1999 film CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH will play the festival on Saturday, October 25th, with a special post-screening Q&A with producer Michael Monello, who also served as a producer on THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.
Michael Monello’s video game Broken Spectre won “Best Video Game of the Year” at the 2023 Haunted House FearFest. He will be presented with the award at this year’s festival.
“I am delighted to meet NYC’s horror fans at Haunted House FearFest this year and share my favorite part of the Blair Witch story, a fake documentary about a fake documentary about the Blair Witch,” said CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH producer Michael Monello.
“I am thrilled to welcome Michael Monello to the Haunted House FearFest Film & Video Game Festival to screen Curse of the Blair Witch—a groundbreaking mockumentary that explores the The Blair Witch Project, which he also produced,” said Renee Huff, Owner & Executive Director, HHFF. “I am also excited to honor him with the Best Video Game of the Year award for Broken Spectre, recognizing his incredible contributions to both horror film and video game storytelling.”
