FANTASPORTO REVEALS LINE-UP FOR 40Th ANNIVERSARY

Celebrating its 40th year in 2020, Fantasporto, one of the most established and respected genre festivals in Europe has revealed an eclectic line-up of exciting new films for the coming year.

From Latin America comes Flavio Pedota's zombie pandemic INFECTION (Venezuela), Pablo Pares' post apocalyptic horror I AM TOXIC (Argentina) and Bruno Bini's time travel thriller LOOP (Brasil). From North America comes Weston Turray's dark fairy tale PRECARIOUS (USA), Chris Bavota & Lee Paula Springer's body snatch horror DEAD DICKS (Canada), Gaurov Seth's out-of-body thriller ENTANGLED (Canada) and David Fowlers occult horror WELCOME TO THE CIRCLE (Canada).  

From Europe comes Artu Haglund's teleportation drama GONE (Finland), Johannes Nyholm's psychological drama KOKO DI, KOKO DA (Sweden), Valeri Milhev's revenge thriller BULLETS OF JUSTICE (Bulgaria) and Ilya Maximov's psychological thriller THE SOUL CONDUCTOR (Russia). From Asia comes Sabu's DANCING MARY (Japan), Takashi Shimzu's supernatural horror HOWLING VILLAGE (Japan), Paul Young's black comedy meta-horror GHOSTMASTER (Japan), Lee Jun-Subs FALLEN (South Korea) and John Hsu's book society thriller DETENTION (Taiwan). 

The Philippines makes a strong impression with three films, including Roderick Cabrido's possession thriller CLARITA, Jason Orfalas's GUITARIST and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo's revenge thriller UNTRUE. Rounding off the program are two exciting new anthologies; christmas themed horror DEATHCEMBER which includes segments by Ruggero Deodata, Julian Richards, Lucky McKee and Pollyana Mackintosh, and radio talk show thriller A NIGHT OF HORROR: NIGHTMARE RADIO which includes episodes from Luciano and Nicolas Onetti and Jason Bognacki.

In addition to their selection of new fantastic films, Fantasporto also celebrate the careers of established genre film-makers and in 2020 they will present a Career Award to British director Julian Richards whilst screening a retrospective of his work, including DARKLANDS, SILENT CRY, THE LAST HORROR MOVIE, SUMMER SCARS, SHIVER, REBORN, DADDY'S GIRL and DEATHCEMBER. The award is also in recognition of the achievements of Richards' sales company Jinga Films and will include a retrospective of key titles from the Jinga catalogue, including A SERBIAN FILM, BIG BAD WOLVES, THE HOUSE AT THE END OF TIME, STILL/BORN, OUR EVIL, THE LESSON, RABIES, SHADOW, TIMER and THE NIGHT OF THE VIRGIN.

Fantasporto takes place at Teatro Rivoli in Oporto, Portugal between February 25th and March 8th 2020.

BAFF 2019 Juried Features, Schedule, and Tickets!

The schedule is all set and tickets are now on sale for this year's festival and we're excited to officially announce our features for Buried Alive Film Festival 2019!

With 3 local features and a host of shorts, this year we have 5 feature film selections officially submitted to the jury.

ANTRUM (Thursday 11/14 9:30 PM)

Antrum, a feature length film shot in the late 1970’s, is cursed. In 1988, a movie theatre in Budapest that was screening the film burnt to the ground, killing the 56 people who were in attendance. This incident follows the inexplicable deaths of a number of film festival programmers that had received Antrum as a submission and died shortly after watching the film. These events culminated with a riot during an exhibition in San Francisco, after which the film vanished. These events have created a belief that watching Antrum will you kill you. Else Films has successfully tracked down a sole copy of the film for public release. This is that film.

VFW (Friday 11/15 8:00 PM)

VFW follows Fred and his military buddies as they must defend their local VFW post – and an innocent teen – against a deranged drug dealer and his relentless army of punk mutants. These Vietnam vets have been to hell and back, but this will be the longest night of their lives.

PORNO (Saturday 11/16 4:00 PM)

When five teen employees at the local movie theater in a small Christian town discover a mysterious old film hidden in its basement, they unleash an alluring succubus who gives them a sex education… written in blood.

THE WRETCHED (Saturday 11/16 8:00 PM)

A defiant teenage boy, struggling with his parent’s imminent divorce, faces off with a thousand year-old witch, who is living beneath the skin of and posing as the woman next door.

Check out the full schedule at: http://buriedalivefilmfest.com/schedule/

Get your tickets now at: http://filmfreeway.com/BuriedAliveFIlmFestival/tickets

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For press accreditation, please go to: http://farsightedblog.com/baff-accreditation/

For more information on the festival and any other questions, email our press and publicity contact at justincharlesharlan@gmail.com.

Buried Alive Returns to the ATL This November

The Buried Alive Film Festival is excited to announce its 14th year in Atlanta and wants you to SAVE THE DATE for November 13th through 17th.

Buried Alive Film Fest is a horror and genre film festival in Atlanta that prides itself in showcasing the some of the most disturbing, visually appealing, and scary independent films in the world. The festival will be returning to the 7 Stages Theatre at 1105 Euclid Ave NE, located in the Little 5 Points neighborhood of Atlanta. 

Recently voted by Creative Loafing as 2019’s Best Film Festival in Atlanta, BAFF is bringing their strongest program to date, with several great new features, the annual special events with local faves Blast-Off Burlesque and psychedelic jazz group Samadha, a ton of great shorts, spotlight on local filmmakers, the return of the Sinema Challenge, and more.

Tickets go on sale on October 16th and the full schedule will follow.

Glass Eye Pix And Beck Underwood Create A Christmas Advent Calendar Of Holiday Horror - Sort Of

Glass Eye Pix and Beck Underwood have teamed to create a digital film experience just for the season. Their Creepy Christmas Film Festival acts as a Christmas Advent Calendar of sorts, offering Holiday horror shorts all month long. 

New York City, 26 November 2018 — In 2008, filmmaker and animator Beck Underwood and NYC-based production company Glass Eye Pix attempted the unthinkable - creating a digital advent calendar that offered genre fans a new Christmas-themed horror short every day from December 1st through December 25th. Dubbed "The Creepy Christmas Film Festival", it was a resounding success, featuring a host of contributors including Mary Harron, Sara Driver, Jim Mickle, and Ti West.

Now, ten years later, The Creepy Christmas Fest returns for more yuletide carnage, delivering 25 new holiday films created by some of today's most exciting genre storytellers, offering up fare from the haunting to the whimsical, both live-action and animation.

Starting on December 1st and running through Christmas morning, The 2018 Creepy Christmas Fest will unveil a startlingly original short every single day via their website and social media pages.

This year's filmmakers include Glass Eye Pix CEO Larry Fessenden (HABIT, WENDIGO), GEP regulars Jenn Wexler (THE RANGER), Glenn McQuaid (I SELL THE DEAD), Graham Reznick (Shudder's "Deadwax"), Mickey Keating (PSYCHOPATHS), Joe Maggio (BITTER FEAST), James McKenney (SATAN HATES YOU), JT Petty (THE BURROWERS, HELLBENDERS), and many fresh faces - including animators Joy + Noelle, (HUMAN KINDOF), award-winning puppet theater director Jessica Grindstaff (PHANTOM LIMB COMPANY), Gothic impresario Voltaire (GOTHIC HOMEMAKING SHOW), young filmmakers from The Lower East Side Girls Club, and a host of other unexpected contributors. (See the full list at the website)

Says Underwood, “In 2008, I made an advent calendar for Glass Eye Pix. After completing the diorama and photos for the original calendar, I felt there were more stories to be had from the little scenarios behind each window. I was lucky enough to find a group of artists who rose to the challenge. They received the objects from the window in the mail, their due date and with no additional direction, whipped up some wicked visions. After 10 years, speaking with filmmaker Ben Duff, who was still a teenager when the first fest premiered, I decided to send out the random missive again with Ben co-curating, bringing his eye to the mix of contributors.

“I think of The Creepy Christmas Film Test as being like conceptual art. It explores the trust of community making art in the same spirit we all had as children to put on a show. It’s always nice when I see contributors involving their families, friends, passersby, pets… and the resulting films all have that same charm one hopes blesses the holiday season.”

Fessenden says, “At Glass Eye, we're always looking for forums to get people to loosen up, forget about budgets, and rekindle their love of filmmaking and mischief making. Beck’s festival does just that, and it's a real treat to see what artists of all stripes come up with for the assignment: ‘Creepy’ blended with the absurdly iconic, over-saturated imagery of the Christmas Season. ‘Deck the Halls’ indeed!”

For additional details on The 2018 Creepy Christmas Fest, please visit creepychristmasfest.com

For more information on Glass Eye Pix, please visit glasseyepix.com

Defy Film Festival Announces Open Call For Entries

Defy Film Festival Announces Open Call For Entries

Defy Film Festival is accepting short and feature film submissions of all genres, including drama, comedy, experimental, animation, documentary, horror/sci-fi, and music video. Scheduled for August 23-24th in East Nashville, filmmakers can enjoy a fee discount for submitting their work by the February 18th early bird deadline.

"We call it Defy for a reason. The festival showcases unique filmmakers and introduces audiences to work that they won’t see anywhere else. We’re always looking for submissions that are different and one-of-a-kind.” – Dycee Wildman, Festival Director

Visit defyfilmfestival.com for more info and submit today!

2018 Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival FULL LINEUP ANNOUNCED

2018 Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival - FULL LINEUP ANNOUNCED

The Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival (“BITS”), Canada’s largest celebration of Canuck genre film has announced the full slate of Northern horror for BITS 2018, which takes place from November 22 – 27 at the Royal Cinema in Toronto.

Friday, November 23 sees the World Premiere of Altered Skin, the feature film debut from Toronto-based director Adnan Ahmed, best known for his VFX work (The Strain, Vikings).  A deadly pathogen outbreak devastates the city of Karachi, Pakistan. When an investigative reporter turns up dead, expat Craig Evans (Robin Dunne) must discover the mystery behind the virus, for the last chance to save his wife.

Calgary’s Nick Szostakiwskj (Black Mountain Side) returns with his follow-up feature Hammer of the Gods. A falling-from-grace rock band goes deep into the Canadian wilderness on a drug-fuelled spirit journey, where they encounter mysterious forces that could tear the group apart.

Montreal represents with the 18 director anthology film Montreal Dead End. A supernatural mist seeps across the city, unleashing a series of urban paranormal events.

Deadsight starring and co-written by Toronto’s Liv Collins (The Hexecutioners) has its world premiere on Sunday, Nov 25. A man with partial blindness and a young pregnant policewoman must work together to escape from a deadly virus that has spread across Grey County. Deadsightplays along with the previous announced The Hoard both World Premieres are the long awaited follow-up films from by the Foresight Films team (Septic Man, Monster Brawl, Ejecta) headed by Jesse Thomas Cook.

Torontonian Tomas Street makes his feature directorial debut with Fugue starring Jack Foley (Lifechanger) and Laura Tremblay (The Expanse). An amnesic struggles to put the pieces of his life back together and begins questioning those closest to him in this puzzle of memory and identity.

Award-winning filmmaker Rob Heydon bring the Toronto premiere of Isabelle, starring Amanda Crew (The Haunting in Connecticut, Silicon Valley) and Adam Brody (The OC, Jennifer’s Body). A young couple’s dream of starting a family shatters as they descend into the depths of paranoia and must struggle to survive an evil presents that wants nothing more than their very own lives.

Previously announced features include opening film SuperGrid from Saskatchewan director Lowell Dean (WolfCop), the Calgary-shot film Alive from director Rob Grant (Fake Blood), The Hoard from Collingwood’s Foresight Features, and closing night film Level 16 from Winnipeg’s Danishka Esterhazy.

BITS 2018 also features two shorts programs showcasing the very best short filmmakers in Canada, and a newly introduced web series program sponsored by the Independent Production Fund.

Passes and tickets are on sale now at www.bloodinthesnow.ca

BITS 2018 is presented in partnership with Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, the Independent Production Fund, and the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.

About BITS Film Fest: Now in its 7th year, the Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival(“BITS”) is a unique and imaginative showcase of contemporary Canadian horror, genre, and underground cinema, that exists to challenge social boundaries, explore artistic taboos, and support and exhibit independent Canadian genre media artists. BITS has been named by Movie Maker Magazine and Horror Hound as one of the 30 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World.

Buried Alive 2018 Full Schedule And Ticket Info

The full schedule is now up for BAFF 2018 is up at the website and the Facebook page. We've got 7 features, 4 special event screenings, and a ton of shorts. To go with the already announced special events, we have added a special event screening of our friend James Bickert's Amazon Hot Box.

For the main features of the fest, there are 7 films varying in style and tone from absurdist comedy to documentary to extreme horror.

The opening night feature is Joe Badon's bizarre and intriguing The God Inside My Ear. On Friday, we get to share two of the special event screenings (The Golem and Amazon Hot Box), but not before The FP2 hits Atlanta in all of its unique and weird glory. We kick our international groove into full swing on Saturday with Spain's Framed and Japan's Violence Voyager, before the Taboo-La-La event with The Lost Boys hits the stage and we round out the night with midnight movie Dead by Midnight

On Sunday, the day kicks off with a reprise of the live Samahda soundtrack event screening of 1920's The Golem for the earlier birds in the crowd. The fascinating documentary Survival of the Film Freaks follows and the night wraps up with the WORLD PREMIERE of anticipated Todd Sheets future classic Clownado, a classic horror style film with all of the fixing you've come to expect from the warped mind of one Mr. Sheets.

Top off these features and event screenings with tons of short films, split into several blocks for your viewing pleasure, as well as the return of the SINEMA CHALLENGE on Wednesday night before the official kickoff of the festival. There is so much genre madness crammed into this year's festival, we're bursting at the seams.

Tickets are $12 for each screening block of the festival, $10 for the Sinema Challenge screenings, and $120 for a full festival pass (an over $80 discount). You can purchase tickets at FilmFreeway by clicking here or visiting filmfreeway.com/BuriedAliveFIlmFestival/tickets.

We have such sights to show you, so we hope to see you all there!

Buried Alive Film Festival Announces Two Special Events

Submissions are closed and the lineup is being finalized, but Buried Alive Film Festival couldn't wait any longer to share the amazing new posters for two special events at this year's BAFF.

First, the annual silent film experience with Samadha continues when they provide a kickass live soundrack for 1920's The Golem. Check it out on Friday, November 16th at 10:00pm and Sunday, November 18th at noon. $15 per ticket, a one of a kind experience.

Second, another annual tradition continues when Altanta's "Illegitmate Burlesque" troupe, Blast-Off Burlesque. On Saturday, November 17, join BAFF and Blast-Off for another round of Taboo-La-La with classic 80s vampire flick The Lost Boys and the most unique burlesque show you've ever seen. Leave the kiddos at home though, because this event is 18+.

SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON Launches BOOBS & BLOOD 2018

SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON Launches BOOBS & BLOOD 2018

Fundraising For Breast Cancer Charity, 10 of Horror’s Greatest Actresses Party for a Festival Unlike Any Other! 

Fundraising for Breast Cancer Charity, the BOOBS & BLOOD Film Festival opens on Oct. 5th with the 1st annual, celebrity packed and party-themed SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON.

10 of the best Scream Queens and horror actresses in the business make up the remarkable SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON. With red carpet photo ops, table signings and an exuberant Q&A promised from journalist Pat Jankiewicz, SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON features Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story’s ‘Pepper’), Anulka Dziubinska (Vampyres - 1974), Asun Ortega (Nude Nuns With Big Guns - 2010), Max Wasa (Scarface, House of Manson, Death House), Hilari Scarl - (Wishmaster), Christine Nguyen (Edgar Allen Poe's Decapitarium 3-D - 2018), Lar Park-Lincoln (House II, Friday the 13th VII, Freddy's Nightmares), Elissa Dowling (Bus Party to Hell, Tales of Halloween), Holly Fields (Wishmaster 2, Seedpeople) and Beverly Randolph (Return of the Living Dead, Death House).

"SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON is our big opening night celebration. It’s a party. It’s a festival. It’s a convention. It’s pure BOOBS & BLOOD,” states Festival founder Miles Flanagan. “Since this is a fundraiser we’ve been lucky to attract many actresses who normally don’t do the horror convention circuit. We’ve been blessed by incredible support from all our wonderful friends in the business.”

Star of 1974’s cult erotic vampire classic ”VAMPYRES,” Anulka Dziubinska makes a rare appearance for what should be a revealing and fun Q&A. She’s had an amazing career and life so far, going from cult actress and star to touring with David Bowie & Iggy Pop’s during their Berlin years. Like the other actresses, Anulka will be available for table signings after the Q&A.

“We’re all big AHS Pepper fans so are excited to have Naomi Grossman with us too. She’s an incredibly funny actress and performer and we expect lots of laughs all evening. Not sure if we’ll get any Pepper cosplayers, but there’ll be cosplayers and makeup demonstrations too.”

 The evening is packed with horror and psychotronic-themed entertainment in one intimate club setting - North Hollywood’s unique Mayflower Club. Exotic Go-Go dancing, Swiss DJ HiJinx, and live retro-rock band WYLDEWOOD GREEN keep the party vibe going strong as vendors showcase everything from Free psychic readings to selling horror merchandise and horror-themed snacks. 

“We have lots of photo-ops for fun selfies, including a cool mini horror film-set and of course the de rigueur festival step and repeat. Who doesn’t love a photo on the red carpet. In our case we have it inside the actual club!”

For those who like a drink or two there’s the Mayflower Club’s beautiful, and some say haunted, 1920s wood-paneled full bar.

But there’s also a serious point to the event and festival.

“All BOOBS & BLOOD events raise money for Breast Cancer Charities - this is an important mission for the festival. We’ve seen too many friends suffer form this dreadful disease,” continues Flanagan.

“We also expect to have lots of celebrity guests from the horror community turning up over the evening and helping out with our celebrity raffles and fundraising. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

A third of the Box Office from BOOBS & BLOOD Friday Oct 5 evening party event will be donated to registered Breast Cancer Charity, FEEL YOUR BOOBIES. Money is also raised through charity raffles throughout the weekend.

FEEL YOUR BOOBIES is a breast cancer non-profit organization whose mission is to utilize unexpected and unconventional methods to remind women, especially those under 40, to “feel their boobies”. Getting in the habit of knowing what is normal for you increases the chances of noticing a breast lump or other changes when they occur.

SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON Opening Night Party - Fri. Oct 5 - 6.00pm - 11.00pm

Tickets: https://screamqueen.bpt.me

BOOBS & BLOOD Film Festival Oct 5-6

The Mayflower Club, 11110 Victory Blvd., N. Hollywood, CA 91606

BOOBS & BLOOD magazine can be purchased here: http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1435371

For more go to www.boobsandblood.com!

New Trailer Released For Indie Horror "Black Pumpkin"

A new trailer has been released ahead of KIFF (KaPow Intergalactic Film Festival) Double Feature event for "Black Pumpkin", showing with "Bloody Bobby" September 29th. Written and directed by Ryan McGonagle (Bloody Bobby) and produced by Shaeda Moghaddam (Crazy Bitches). Starring Ellie Patrikios (Snowfall), Grayson Kilpatrick (Chicken Girls: The Movie), Matt Rife (Wild N’ Out), Dogen Eyeler (Wildness), Malaak Hattab (Meth Head), Kamilla Alnes (American Horror Story), Curt Clendenin (Bloody Bobby) and Connor Weil (Roadies). 

On October 31, 2018, two preteens in a small town accidentally awaken an evil that has lain dormant for decades. They are forced to survive through a terrifying Halloween night of cat-and-mouse, from the monster known as "Bloody Bobby."

KIFF- BLOODY BOBBY / BLACK PUMPKIN DOUBLE FEATURE

One time only! For the first and last time, KaPow Intergalactic Film Festival presents a double feature extravaganza of Halloween horrors, "Bloody Bobby" and "Black Pumpkin"! What's the bloody fuss all about? Find out for yourself, September 29th...if you DARE!
(Disclaimer: Watch at your own risk. Producers are not responsible for vomiting, fainting, or spontaneous supernatural possessions)

Tickets and KIFF info : https://www.laemmle.com/films/44508

Strawdog Theatre Company Premieres Masque Macabre Immersive Experience

Strawdog Theatre Company launches its 31st season with the world premiere of MASQUE MACABRE, a dark and bloody thrill ride inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Written by ensemble members Aly Greaves Amidei* and John Henry Roberts* and company member Cara Beth Heath^ and directed by Co-Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer*, Janet Howe and Eli Newell, MASQUE MACABRE will play October 4 – 31, 2018 at Strawdog’s new home at 1802 W. Berenice Ave. in Chicago’s Northcenter neighborhood. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently available at www.strawdog.org. The press opening is Friday, October 12 at 7 pm or 9:30 pm.

MASQUE MACABRE will feature Strawdog ensemble member Michael Reyes* with guest artists Andrew Bailes, Dan Cobbler, Katie Gonzalez, Henry Greenberg, Adam Hinkle, Brian Hinkle, Patrick Kelly, Lisa McConnell, Laura Nelson, Ella Raymont, Collin Quinn Rice, Shaina Schrooten and Julian Stroop.

Dates: Previews: Thursday, October 4 at 7 pm, Friday, October 5 at 7 pm, Sunday, October 7 at 2 pm & 5 pm and Thursday, October 11 at 7 pm & 9:30 pm

Board Night Performance: Special performance with hosted drinks and appetizers, Saturday October 6 at 7 pm.

Press performance: Friday, October 12 at 7 pm or 9:30 pm

Regular run: Saturday, October 13 – Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 pm & 9:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm & 5 pm. Please note: Halloween week performances added on Monday, October 29 at 7 pm & 9:30 pm, Tuesday, October 30 at 7 pm & 9:30 pm and Wednesday, October 31 at 7 pm & 9:30 pm. 

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $50. Seniors: $40. Board Night: $75. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently available at www.strawdog.org. Half price Rush and Student tickets available at every performance and other discounts available. Call (773) 644-1380 for details.