CategoryFilm Festivals
Horror film festivals worldwide — lineups, awards and the titles that break out of the festival circuit.
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Allegoria, the debut feature from writer/director Spider One, finds tortured artists and torturing artists alike. This anthology film is a dark dive into the psyches of musicians, painters, actors, and others and serves up a variety of horror elements. In the opening installment, acting teacher Robert Anderson Wright (John Ennis) demands that his students show him a monster. Ennis is pitch perfect as a hard-nosed instructor, giving an all-in performance that isn’t short on flying spittle. Next up, angry artist Marcus Muller (Bryce Johnson) gets inspiration for his latest painting from a decidedly dark source. Johnson invests Muller with the proper amount of pretentiousness and cynicism, and what he confronts is disturbingly realized. In the third segment — and probably the most viscerally brutal — screenwriter Eddie (Edward Hong) gets a lesson in crafting a slasher flick from an expert source (Adam Marcinowski). If it’s slasher action you crave, this section delivers. Next, sculptor Ivy (Scout Compton) volunteers to help
Continue reading →
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The Overlook Film Festival brings another drool-inducing slate of horror and horror-adjacent features and shorts to New Orleans next month. From monsters to murderers to other mayhem-makers, the fest has something for fear-fare fans of every stripe. Following is the official press announcement. The Overlook Film Festival is proud to announce its opening night film and second wave of the 2022 festival lineup. These titles join previously announced films and events, including closing night film THE BLACK PHONE, for a total of 23 feature films and 25 short films from 16 countries, with 3 World Premieres and 1 North American premiere, along with 10 live events taking place at the Prytania Theatres At Canal Place in New Orleans June 2-5, 2022. The festival will open with the North American premiere of Ana Lily Amirpour’s MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON, which features a stellar cast including Jeon Jong-soo, Kate Hudson and Craig Robinson. Shot in New Orleans, this fantastical boundary
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Talisman One person’s belief system is another person’s superstition, and director Reangsei Phos’ Talisman (Canada) finds school-age Yi (Sean Lu) torn between those two schools of thought. His family has just moved into a new house, and as his mother (Qingqing Yang) tries to protect the home against ghosts, his father (Danny Liang) admonishes her not to fill the young boy’s head full of nonsense. Strange things are indeed happening inside the house, which leads to shocking acts of violence. Phos balances solid family drama with well-paced suspense, including some blink-and-you’ll-miss-it occurrences which should keep viewers’ eyes glued to the proceedings. The cast members, including Pascale Behrman, all turn in solid performances. Wendigo The animated short Wendigo (Ireland, 2021) is an intriguing take on the North American First Nations mythological creature combined with other eldritch occurrences. Charlie (voiced by Marc-Ivan O’Gorman) is an inquisitive young man who wants to investigate first-hand what remains of the Olsen manor, site of some
Continue reading →
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After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 virus, Athens, Greece’s Horrorant Film Festival is set to welcome audiences back to its shiver-inducing in-person cinema experience. This May, the fest will serve up 63 delightfully dark features and shorts. Following is the official press announcement. During its first 6 years of life, Horrorant Film Festival has been acknowledged as one of Europe’s most up’n’coming genre fests, and the ever-growing and hungry for exciting cinematic experiences for which fans respond more and more enthusiastically. Unfortunately, that was when Covid-19 hit and everything froze up. For two years, entertainment was considered almost banned and movie theaters paid a hard price. The “easy” solution of online screenings was never an option for us, due to our belief that movies belong in the cinemas. At last, the nightmare seems to be reaching its end, and — carefully but confidently — Fright Nights are ready to return. This two-year hiatus was an opportunity to reconsider
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsIndieMoviesNews
RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural have acquired the North American rights to the horror film, Allegoria ahead of its world premiere at Panic Fest. In Allegoria, a group of artists’ lives become unwittingly entangled as their obsessions and insecurities manifest monsters, demons, and death. Written by Spider One, who also makes his directorial debut, the film stars Krsy Fox (Frank), Adam Busch (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), and Bryce Johnson (“Pretty Little Liars”), and Scout Taylor-Compton (Halloween). “Collaborating with emerging filmmakers/artists like Spider One is a top priority for us,” said Mark Ward, Chief Acquisitions Officer of RLJE Films. “We couldn’t be more proud to debut his first film. He is a great talent with a unique vision.” Allegoria was produced by OneFox Productions. Ward and Betsy Rogers from RLJE Films negotiated the deal with Dan Rozenblum from 33 & West Talent Agency on behalf of
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNews
After announcing its first wave of chillers and thrillers earlier this month, Vienna’s SLASH ½ Film Festival now presents its final selection for this year’s edition — Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon — and schedule. Following is the official press announcement. Resistance, empowerment, upheaval: This is the motto of this year’s SLASH ½ Film Festival. The last film to be added to our lineup fits this mold perfectly, and we’d be remiss to keep it from you any longer: MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON is a somewhat quieter affair than director Ana Lily Amirpour’s previous feature THE BAD BATCH, but to no detriment to its bizarre whimsy. Her “adventure fairy-tale” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2021 and wowed audiences not only with its deeply bizarre yet heartwarming story of a misfit but also its 1980s and ’90s neon look.Together with other highlights like Ti West’s sex-and-blood–drenched slasher gem X, Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s long-awaited tour
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsNews
The Chattanooga Film Festival (CFF) continues its tradition of serving up a mouth-watering selection of chillers, thrillers, the horrific, and the humorous, and this year’s edition goes virtual again. The fest has announced its first wave of films, and from the frightening (such as The Ones You Didn’t Burn) to the funny (the slasher comedies The Third Saturday in October Part 1 and Part V,), CFF has something for genre-fan cinephiles of all stripes. Following is the official press announcement. Two years after blazing a trail as the first film festival to go completely virtual amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chattanooga Film Festival (CFF) returns for their ninth consecutive year this summer June 23–28. Taking place again virtually, this year’s lineup showcases an eclectic mix of the wild and wonderful features and events the festival has become well-known for through its eight previous editions. Highlights of this year’s first half include a pair of world premieres co-curated in partnership with
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Upurga Director Ulges Ote blends blends folk horror, eco horror, surrealism, and absurdism to mystifying, eerie effect in his Latvian narrative feature debut Upurga. Andrejs (Igors Selegovskis) is a river rafting guide haunted by his inability to save a young woman from drowning. When his sister Mara (Elvita Ragovska) and her boyfriend Matiaas (Rihaard Sniegs) plan a trip to the wilds to shoot a vegan sausage commercial — along with videographer Oskars (Reinis Boters) and director/project manager Eva (Inga Tropa) — Andrejs insists on coming along to ensure everyone’s safety, though the others are far less concerned about that and more intent on having a good time and creating a worthy advertisement. Inspector Salins (Morten Traavik), the local park ranger, warns the group to respect nature and leave his jurisdiction within 30 minutes, but naturally the group members ignore his warnings. That turns out to be a poor decision, as exposure to the local flora makes them act in aggressive
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsIndieMoviesNews
Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural has announced that its newest Shudder Original horror film, A Wounded Fawn, will make its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. Written and directed by Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife) the film will be available to stream later this year. “We’re thrilled the Tribeca Festival has recognized Travis Stevens’ distinct and visually arresting nightmare,” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler. “Shudder members are in for a viewing experience that is equal parts gripping, unexpected, and surprisingly funny.” Added Stevens, “As the horror genre continues to push forward in fun directions, it’s only possible with the imagination and support of companies like Shudder. Their belief in this project and the artists making it has been wonderful. We’re looking forward to sharing this wild film with audiences at Tribeca and around the world.” Inspired by surrealist art and Greek mythology, A Wounded Fawn follows
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsSci-FiTrailers
Ahead of its premiere at the Fantaspoa Film Festival, which happens to be the biggest festival in South America, Raven Banner has unveiled the trailer for the creature feature Desert Shadows, written and directed by Tyler Bourns, who is making his feature debut. In the film, “After the death of their father, two brothers decide to embark on a hunting trip to help bring them closer together. But they get more than they bargained for when they become the prey of a deadly creature that has roamed the desert for centuries. Eric, a struggling drug addict, goes missing, while his brother Donnie becomes hellbent on finding him. Following the downward spiral of dangerous clues, he teams up with a professor with a dark past and an overeager paranormal studies student to try to solve the mystery and save Eric before it’s too late.” Mitch Pileggi (“The X-Files”), Aaron Foster (“Freestyle”), Bill Farmer (Seal Team), Maria Olsen (Paranormal Activity 3), and
Continue reading →
More from Film Festivals
Film FestivalsMoviesReviews
Allegoria, the debut feature from writer/director Spider One, finds tortured artists and torturing artists alike. This anthology film is a dark dive into the psyches of musicians, painters, actors, and others and serves up a variety of horror elements. In the opening installment, acting teacher Robert Anderson Wright (John Ennis) demands that his students show him a monster. Ennis is pitch perfect as a hard-nosed instructor, giving an all-in performance that isn’t short on flying spittle. Next up, angry artist Marcus Muller (Bryce Johnson) gets inspiration for his latest painting from a decidedly dark source. Johnson invests Muller with the proper amount of pretentiousness and cynicism, and what he confronts is disturbingly realized. In the third segment — and probably the most viscerally brutal — screenwriter Eddie (Edward Hong) gets a lesson in crafting a slasher flick from an expert source (Adam Marcinowski). If it’s slasher action you crave, this section delivers. Next, sculptor Ivy (Scout Compton) volunteers to help
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsMoviesNews
The Overlook Film Festival brings another drool-inducing slate of horror and horror-adjacent features and shorts to New Orleans next month. From monsters to murderers to other mayhem-makers, the fest has something for fear-fare fans of every stripe. Following is the official press announcement. The Overlook Film Festival is proud to announce its opening night film and second wave of the 2022 festival lineup. These titles join previously announced films and events, including closing night film THE BLACK PHONE, for a total of 23 feature films and 25 short films from 16 countries, with 3 World Premieres and 1 North American premiere, along with 10 live events taking place at the Prytania Theatres At Canal Place in New Orleans June 2-5, 2022. The festival will open with the North American premiere of Ana Lily Amirpour’s MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON, which features a stellar cast including Jeon Jong-soo, Kate Hudson and Craig Robinson. Shot in New Orleans, this fantastical boundary
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Talisman One person’s belief system is another person’s superstition, and director Reangsei Phos’ Talisman (Canada) finds school-age Yi (Sean Lu) torn between those two schools of thought. His family has just moved into a new house, and as his mother (Qingqing Yang) tries to protect the home against ghosts, his father (Danny Liang) admonishes her not to fill the young boy’s head full of nonsense. Strange things are indeed happening inside the house, which leads to shocking acts of violence. Phos balances solid family drama with well-paced suspense, including some blink-and-you’ll-miss-it occurrences which should keep viewers’ eyes glued to the proceedings. The cast members, including Pascale Behrman, all turn in solid performances. Wendigo The animated short Wendigo (Ireland, 2021) is an intriguing take on the North American First Nations mythological creature combined with other eldritch occurrences. Charlie (voiced by Marc-Ivan O’Gorman) is an inquisitive young man who wants to investigate first-hand what remains of the Olsen manor, site of some
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNews
After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 virus, Athens, Greece’s Horrorant Film Festival is set to welcome audiences back to its shiver-inducing in-person cinema experience. This May, the fest will serve up 63 delightfully dark features and shorts. Following is the official press announcement. During its first 6 years of life, Horrorant Film Festival has been acknowledged as one of Europe’s most up’n’coming genre fests, and the ever-growing and hungry for exciting cinematic experiences for which fans respond more and more enthusiastically. Unfortunately, that was when Covid-19 hit and everything froze up. For two years, entertainment was considered almost banned and movie theaters paid a hard price. The “easy” solution of online screenings was never an option for us, due to our belief that movies belong in the cinemas. At last, the nightmare seems to be reaching its end, and — carefully but confidently — Fright Nights are ready to return. This two-year hiatus was an opportunity to reconsider
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsIndieMoviesNews
RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural have acquired the North American rights to the horror film, Allegoria ahead of its world premiere at Panic Fest. In Allegoria, a group of artists’ lives become unwittingly entangled as their obsessions and insecurities manifest monsters, demons, and death. Written by Spider One, who also makes his directorial debut, the film stars Krsy Fox (Frank), Adam Busch (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), and Bryce Johnson (“Pretty Little Liars”), and Scout Taylor-Compton (Halloween). “Collaborating with emerging filmmakers/artists like Spider One is a top priority for us,” said Mark Ward, Chief Acquisitions Officer of RLJE Films. “We couldn’t be more proud to debut his first film. He is a great talent with a unique vision.” Allegoria was produced by OneFox Productions. Ward and Betsy Rogers from RLJE Films negotiated the deal with Dan Rozenblum from 33 & West Talent Agency on behalf of
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNews
After announcing its first wave of chillers and thrillers earlier this month, Vienna’s SLASH ½ Film Festival now presents its final selection for this year’s edition — Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon — and schedule. Following is the official press announcement. Resistance, empowerment, upheaval: This is the motto of this year’s SLASH ½ Film Festival. The last film to be added to our lineup fits this mold perfectly, and we’d be remiss to keep it from you any longer: MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON is a somewhat quieter affair than director Ana Lily Amirpour’s previous feature THE BAD BATCH, but to no detriment to its bizarre whimsy. Her “adventure fairy-tale” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2021 and wowed audiences not only with its deeply bizarre yet heartwarming story of a misfit but also its 1980s and ’90s neon look.Together with other highlights like Ti West’s sex-and-blood–drenched slasher gem X, Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s long-awaited tour
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsNews
The Chattanooga Film Festival (CFF) continues its tradition of serving up a mouth-watering selection of chillers, thrillers, the horrific, and the humorous, and this year’s edition goes virtual again. The fest has announced its first wave of films, and from the frightening (such as The Ones You Didn’t Burn) to the funny (the slasher comedies The Third Saturday in October Part 1 and Part V,), CFF has something for genre-fan cinephiles of all stripes. Following is the official press announcement. Two years after blazing a trail as the first film festival to go completely virtual amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chattanooga Film Festival (CFF) returns for their ninth consecutive year this summer June 23–28. Taking place again virtually, this year’s lineup showcases an eclectic mix of the wild and wonderful features and events the festival has become well-known for through its eight previous editions. Highlights of this year’s first half include a pair of world premieres co-curated in partnership with
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Upurga Director Ulges Ote blends blends folk horror, eco horror, surrealism, and absurdism to mystifying, eerie effect in his Latvian narrative feature debut Upurga. Andrejs (Igors Selegovskis) is a river rafting guide haunted by his inability to save a young woman from drowning. When his sister Mara (Elvita Ragovska) and her boyfriend Matiaas (Rihaard Sniegs) plan a trip to the wilds to shoot a vegan sausage commercial — along with videographer Oskars (Reinis Boters) and director/project manager Eva (Inga Tropa) — Andrejs insists on coming along to ensure everyone’s safety, though the others are far less concerned about that and more intent on having a good time and creating a worthy advertisement. Inspector Salins (Morten Traavik), the local park ranger, warns the group to respect nature and leave his jurisdiction within 30 minutes, but naturally the group members ignore his warnings. That turns out to be a poor decision, as exposure to the local flora makes them act in aggressive
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsIndieMoviesNews
Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural has announced that its newest Shudder Original horror film, A Wounded Fawn, will make its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. Written and directed by Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife) the film will be available to stream later this year. “We’re thrilled the Tribeca Festival has recognized Travis Stevens’ distinct and visually arresting nightmare,” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler. “Shudder members are in for a viewing experience that is equal parts gripping, unexpected, and surprisingly funny.” Added Stevens, “As the horror genre continues to push forward in fun directions, it’s only possible with the imagination and support of companies like Shudder. Their belief in this project and the artists making it has been wonderful. We’re looking forward to sharing this wild film with audiences at Tribeca and around the world.” Inspired by surrealist art and Greek mythology, A Wounded Fawn follows
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsSci-FiTrailers
Ahead of its premiere at the Fantaspoa Film Festival, which happens to be the biggest festival in South America, Raven Banner has unveiled the trailer for the creature feature Desert Shadows, written and directed by Tyler Bourns, who is making his feature debut. In the film, “After the death of their father, two brothers decide to embark on a hunting trip to help bring them closer together. But they get more than they bargained for when they become the prey of a deadly creature that has roamed the desert for centuries. Eric, a struggling drug addict, goes missing, while his brother Donnie becomes hellbent on finding him. Following the downward spiral of dangerous clues, he teams up with a professor with a dark past and an overeager paranormal studies student to try to solve the mystery and save Eric before it’s too late.” Mitch Pileggi (“The X-Files”), Aaron Foster (“Freestyle”), Bill Farmer (Seal Team), Maria Olsen (Paranormal Activity 3), and
Continue reading →
