Night’s End – Photo Credit: Shudder
What happens when a person tries to get rid of evil spirits, and their own personal demons, without inviting new ones in? The result is the new film on Shudder, Night’S End.
Starring Geno Walker, Kate Arington, Michael Shannon, Isaac Dees, Felonious Munk, Daniel Kyri, Theo Germaine, director Jennifer Reeder provides fans a true mix of fun and horror in the story of an anxious shut-in who unwittingly moves into a haunted apartment and hires a mysterious stranger to perform an exorcism that in the end takes an unfortunate horrific turn.
Meant to be a character study of a man choosing to live a claustrophobic life in isolation, his new occupation as a YouTube wanna-be sensation goes south and quickly. Trying to emulate paranormal channel “Dark Corners”, Ken Barber (Walker) transforms his fledgling channel from “Ken’s Lawn Life Tips” to one filled with spooky videos,...
What happens when a person tries to get rid of evil spirits, and their own personal demons, without inviting new ones in? The result is the new film on Shudder, Night’S End.
Starring Geno Walker, Kate Arington, Michael Shannon, Isaac Dees, Felonious Munk, Daniel Kyri, Theo Germaine, director Jennifer Reeder provides fans a true mix of fun and horror in the story of an anxious shut-in who unwittingly moves into a haunted apartment and hires a mysterious stranger to perform an exorcism that in the end takes an unfortunate horrific turn.
Meant to be a character study of a man choosing to live a claustrophobic life in isolation, his new occupation as a YouTube wanna-be sensation goes south and quickly. Trying to emulate paranormal channel “Dark Corners”, Ken Barber (Walker) transforms his fledgling channel from “Ken’s Lawn Life Tips” to one filled with spooky videos,...
- 4/5/2022
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
From Spaceboy to Red Luck, filmmaker Mike Olenick's certain brand of strange has been infecting the festival circuit these past few years, creeping and delighting audiences from Slamdance to Fantasia. His latest short film, The Cure, is a mesmerizing sci-fi oddity, infused with a B-movie bent, and brimming with regret and yearning. Ahead of its screenings at this week's 2017 Fantastic Fest, ScreenAnarchy is proud to debut an exclusive trailer and set of stills for The Cure. And for those heading to Ff, The Cure can be seen in the Shorts with Legs Block, Thursday, September 21 at 8:45, and Thursday, September 28 at 10:15am....
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/19/2017
- Screen Anarchy
There are countless programs that support emerging filmmakers in their development and now up-and-coming horror directors have one of their own. Shudder, a streaming service backed by AMC Networks that specializes in horror content, has just announced the first 11 participants of their inaugural Shudder Labs. Selected from a pool of over 300 applicants, directors are taking part in a week long workshop designed to develop, add and hone their skills as they get ready to take the next step in their careers working in the genre.
“Like a vampire, I feed off of the enthusiasm of young talent; it is invigorating to encounter new voices in the horror genre and to find out what motivates young minds to explore the art of the macabre,” said director and Master-in-Residence Larry Fessenden.
Throughout the course of the program, the fellows will be able to learn from and work with a team of Masters-in-Residence, headed by Shudder curator Sam Zimmerman, Fessenden, writer Clay McLeod Chapman and AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan. The program’s benefits, however, aren’t contained to the program alone. After the filmmakers have left the lab, they will each receive $5000 in grants and be mentored by a Master-in-Residence for an additional year.
Shudder Labs is currently running from June 13th to June 18th at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York.
The filmmakers, and their projects, of the first ever Shudder Labs are:
“As the Dust Settles,” Mike Olenick
An asteroid carrying the seeds of alien life crashes down in the neighborhood where a young couple is buying a house from a dishonest realtor. When the couple settles into their new home, they unpack a secret that will change the lives of everyone in the neighborhood: the truth about what happened to the home’s previous owner.”Mike Olenick focuses on forbidden desire, reproduction, transformation, and outer space in his projects. Mike’s films have streamed on Mubi, aired on Dutch television, and won awards at the Slamdance Film Festival, Chicago Underground Film Festival, and the Ann Arbor Film Festival. He studied photography at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and has edited films and videos with Guy Maddin, the Quay Brothers, Kelly Reichardt, Sadie Benning, and Jennifer Reeder.”“Beyond the Darkness,” Shane Wheeler
A modern sorcerer must save his friends from a dark dimension, but to succeed he must overcome his own suicidal depression.
“Trained as a biologist, Shane Wheeler wrote his first screenplay while working on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea. Since then, he’s written, directed, and produced a number of award-winning shorts, as well as features Captive of a Death Mask (2012) & Stabbing with Frank (2016). Wheeler is a filmmaker raised in Brownstown, Michigan.”
“Black Bats,” Rick Spears
Feeling cast out from society, two teens begin a relationship under the belief that they’re transforming into monsters. What begins as a fantasy ends with horrific consequences as they both lose touch with reality.
“Rick Spears is mostly known for his comic book writing, having published eleven graphic novels and numerous comics including Teenager from Mars and Dead West. Rick has also written and directed a handful of award-winning short films. Black Bats will be his first feature.”
“In the Night,” Joshua Erkman
A 24-year-old running from his past starts a new job picking up the dead for a mortuary and begins to suspect powerful sinister forces are closing in on him.
“Joshua Erkman is a Los Angeles based filmmaker, a USC graduate, and drummer for La punk band Lamps.”
“Lovespell,” Courtney and Hillary Andujar
A teenage girl in Hawaii casts a dark spell that unlocks something sinister within herself.
“Courtney and Hillary Andujar are identical twins who grew up at punk shows and in diners in Texas. Courtney is a writer and designer who has collaborated with artists and activists such as Yoko Ono, Paul Chan, and Julian Assange. Hillary is an art director who has worked internationally with Tim Burton, David Lynch, and The Wachowskis.”
“Polybius,” Hunter Stephenson
It’s the summer of 1984 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The only thing booming louder than the arcades is the aircraft over Fort Bragg. A hip babysitter named Tiffany is determined to show the brothers Carmack the parent-free weekend of their lives. But her reality is bleeped when the younger brother, a vidiot ‘sperger named Palmer, is snatched after encountering a pylon-like arcade cabinet. Joined by a skeleton crüe, it’s up to Tiffany to kick ass, chew bubblegum and fore’s destroy this trippy gamer-gateway to hell.
“Hunter Stephenson is a Scottish punk. He is also a writer/producer based east of the Rockies. His recent Noisey doc-series Hot Sugar’s Cold World received the Honorable Mention at Hot Docs 2015, and was executive produced by David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, and Danny McBride.”
“The Eyes,” Will Forbes
In 1970’s Upstate New York, there is a local legend of The Eyes, a spirit in the woods of the Catskill Mountains that consumes the souls of the lost and weary. When the favorite uncle of three local kids dies suddenly and under mysterious circumstances at the edge of those woods, the kids set out on a mission to discover the horrifying truth.
“Will Forbes has been composing and producing music for visual media for nearly a decade, until he realized the best way to achieve his goal of scoring horror films was to start making them himself. Originally from Upstate New York, he currently lives in Inglewood, CA with a cat and a tortoise.”
“The Sound of Darkness,” Melody Cooper
A blind musician and a deaf sculptor are haunted by a woman only they can see and hear, who leads them to take on an epic battle against terrifying legacy of racial violence and evil.
“Melody Cooper is a screenwriter, director and producer of Horror and Afrofuturism, and Winner of the 2016 Women in Cinema International Screenplay Competition with her horror feature Monstrous, which also won Third Place at Slamdance. She is directing the supernatural thriller The Sound Of Darkness this summer.”
“Un-Seen,” Lucy Cruell
Some things once seen, cannot be unseen.
“Lucy Cruell is a graduate with honors from Duke University and Harvard Law School. Lucy has also been a published short story author, film critic for multiple publications, and entrepreneur. Her screenplays and pilots have won over three dozen awards and festivals including Shriekfest. She is now a full time writer, director, and starving artist.”
“What Happens Next Will Scare You,” Chris Lamartina
On the verge of losing their jobs, a group of click-bait journalists struggle to compile their scariest viral videos for a Halloween listicle, but when a cursed entry brings malevolent forces into their reality, our social media junkies must figure out they’re sharing harmful content before they become victims of their own monsters. “Chris Lamartina is a Baltimore filmmaker and has been delivering high concepts on low budgets, blending horror and comedy with such films as “Call Girl of Cthulhu” and “Wnuf Halloween Special” since 2007. With a curious knack for finding humor in the weird, Lamartina’s films have been critically acclaimed-playing film festivals across the globe, and garnering coverage by NPR, the New York Times, and MTV.” Related stories'31' Trailer: Rob Zombie Returns With Carnies Who Have Twelve Hours To Survive10 Horror Filmmakers Overdue to Make New FeaturesThe 20 Best Horror Films of the Last 20 Years...
“Like a vampire, I feed off of the enthusiasm of young talent; it is invigorating to encounter new voices in the horror genre and to find out what motivates young minds to explore the art of the macabre,” said director and Master-in-Residence Larry Fessenden.
Throughout the course of the program, the fellows will be able to learn from and work with a team of Masters-in-Residence, headed by Shudder curator Sam Zimmerman, Fessenden, writer Clay McLeod Chapman and AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan. The program’s benefits, however, aren’t contained to the program alone. After the filmmakers have left the lab, they will each receive $5000 in grants and be mentored by a Master-in-Residence for an additional year.
Shudder Labs is currently running from June 13th to June 18th at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York.
The filmmakers, and their projects, of the first ever Shudder Labs are:
“As the Dust Settles,” Mike Olenick
An asteroid carrying the seeds of alien life crashes down in the neighborhood where a young couple is buying a house from a dishonest realtor. When the couple settles into their new home, they unpack a secret that will change the lives of everyone in the neighborhood: the truth about what happened to the home’s previous owner.”Mike Olenick focuses on forbidden desire, reproduction, transformation, and outer space in his projects. Mike’s films have streamed on Mubi, aired on Dutch television, and won awards at the Slamdance Film Festival, Chicago Underground Film Festival, and the Ann Arbor Film Festival. He studied photography at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and has edited films and videos with Guy Maddin, the Quay Brothers, Kelly Reichardt, Sadie Benning, and Jennifer Reeder.”“Beyond the Darkness,” Shane Wheeler
A modern sorcerer must save his friends from a dark dimension, but to succeed he must overcome his own suicidal depression.
“Trained as a biologist, Shane Wheeler wrote his first screenplay while working on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea. Since then, he’s written, directed, and produced a number of award-winning shorts, as well as features Captive of a Death Mask (2012) & Stabbing with Frank (2016). Wheeler is a filmmaker raised in Brownstown, Michigan.”
“Black Bats,” Rick Spears
Feeling cast out from society, two teens begin a relationship under the belief that they’re transforming into monsters. What begins as a fantasy ends with horrific consequences as they both lose touch with reality.
“Rick Spears is mostly known for his comic book writing, having published eleven graphic novels and numerous comics including Teenager from Mars and Dead West. Rick has also written and directed a handful of award-winning short films. Black Bats will be his first feature.”
“In the Night,” Joshua Erkman
A 24-year-old running from his past starts a new job picking up the dead for a mortuary and begins to suspect powerful sinister forces are closing in on him.
“Joshua Erkman is a Los Angeles based filmmaker, a USC graduate, and drummer for La punk band Lamps.”
“Lovespell,” Courtney and Hillary Andujar
A teenage girl in Hawaii casts a dark spell that unlocks something sinister within herself.
“Courtney and Hillary Andujar are identical twins who grew up at punk shows and in diners in Texas. Courtney is a writer and designer who has collaborated with artists and activists such as Yoko Ono, Paul Chan, and Julian Assange. Hillary is an art director who has worked internationally with Tim Burton, David Lynch, and The Wachowskis.”
“Polybius,” Hunter Stephenson
It’s the summer of 1984 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The only thing booming louder than the arcades is the aircraft over Fort Bragg. A hip babysitter named Tiffany is determined to show the brothers Carmack the parent-free weekend of their lives. But her reality is bleeped when the younger brother, a vidiot ‘sperger named Palmer, is snatched after encountering a pylon-like arcade cabinet. Joined by a skeleton crüe, it’s up to Tiffany to kick ass, chew bubblegum and fore’s destroy this trippy gamer-gateway to hell.
“Hunter Stephenson is a Scottish punk. He is also a writer/producer based east of the Rockies. His recent Noisey doc-series Hot Sugar’s Cold World received the Honorable Mention at Hot Docs 2015, and was executive produced by David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, and Danny McBride.”
“The Eyes,” Will Forbes
In 1970’s Upstate New York, there is a local legend of The Eyes, a spirit in the woods of the Catskill Mountains that consumes the souls of the lost and weary. When the favorite uncle of three local kids dies suddenly and under mysterious circumstances at the edge of those woods, the kids set out on a mission to discover the horrifying truth.
“Will Forbes has been composing and producing music for visual media for nearly a decade, until he realized the best way to achieve his goal of scoring horror films was to start making them himself. Originally from Upstate New York, he currently lives in Inglewood, CA with a cat and a tortoise.”
“The Sound of Darkness,” Melody Cooper
A blind musician and a deaf sculptor are haunted by a woman only they can see and hear, who leads them to take on an epic battle against terrifying legacy of racial violence and evil.
“Melody Cooper is a screenwriter, director and producer of Horror and Afrofuturism, and Winner of the 2016 Women in Cinema International Screenplay Competition with her horror feature Monstrous, which also won Third Place at Slamdance. She is directing the supernatural thriller The Sound Of Darkness this summer.”
“Un-Seen,” Lucy Cruell
Some things once seen, cannot be unseen.
“Lucy Cruell is a graduate with honors from Duke University and Harvard Law School. Lucy has also been a published short story author, film critic for multiple publications, and entrepreneur. Her screenplays and pilots have won over three dozen awards and festivals including Shriekfest. She is now a full time writer, director, and starving artist.”
“What Happens Next Will Scare You,” Chris Lamartina
On the verge of losing their jobs, a group of click-bait journalists struggle to compile their scariest viral videos for a Halloween listicle, but when a cursed entry brings malevolent forces into their reality, our social media junkies must figure out they’re sharing harmful content before they become victims of their own monsters. “Chris Lamartina is a Baltimore filmmaker and has been delivering high concepts on low budgets, blending horror and comedy with such films as “Call Girl of Cthulhu” and “Wnuf Halloween Special” since 2007. With a curious knack for finding humor in the weird, Lamartina’s films have been critically acclaimed-playing film festivals across the globe, and garnering coverage by NPR, the New York Times, and MTV.” Related stories'31' Trailer: Rob Zombie Returns With Carnies Who Have Twelve Hours To Survive10 Horror Filmmakers Overdue to Make New FeaturesThe 20 Best Horror Films of the Last 20 Years...
- 6/15/2016
- by Kyle Kizu
- Indiewire
The 22nd annual Chicago Underground Film Festival presents five days of devastating celluloid provocations on May 13-17 at the Logan Theatre.
The fest kicks off on May 13 with the incredibly haunting short film Echoes by Jaimz Asmundson and the Filipino romantic crime drama Ruined Heart: Another Lovestory Between a Criminal and a Whore by the single-named director Khavn.
Highlights of the fest include the new slacker-ific comedy by Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn, L for Leisure; the Spanish socio-political documentary Speculation Nation by Bill Brown and Sabine Gruffat; the pastoral friendship drama For the Plasma by Bingham Bryant & Kyle Molzan; and the joyful pop doc Living Stars by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn.
There are also loads of un-missable short films, such as the gritty modern film noir Bite Radius by Spencer Parsons; and amazing new films by Jennifer Reeder (Blood Below the Skin), Zachary Epcar (Under the Heat Lamp...
The fest kicks off on May 13 with the incredibly haunting short film Echoes by Jaimz Asmundson and the Filipino romantic crime drama Ruined Heart: Another Lovestory Between a Criminal and a Whore by the single-named director Khavn.
Highlights of the fest include the new slacker-ific comedy by Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn, L for Leisure; the Spanish socio-political documentary Speculation Nation by Bill Brown and Sabine Gruffat; the pastoral friendship drama For the Plasma by Bingham Bryant & Kyle Molzan; and the joyful pop doc Living Stars by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn.
There are also loads of un-missable short films, such as the gritty modern film noir Bite Radius by Spencer Parsons; and amazing new films by Jennifer Reeder (Blood Below the Skin), Zachary Epcar (Under the Heat Lamp...
- 5/11/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This year’s student-run Milwaukee Underground Film Festival runs four days on April 30-May 3 at the Union Theater on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and at the Microlights Cinema.
The fest kicks off on April 30 with two films by one of this year’s jurors, Marika Borgeson: The Starry Messenger, which used the sun as it’s only developing agent; and the work-in-progress Excerpt From Arcanam Terra Lacrimarum; plus films by other artists selected by Borgeson.
On the following afternoon, May 1, there will be a presentation by this year’s other two jurors, Kelly Gallagher and Ben Balcom, which will include their own films, plus others selected from the Uwm Archives.
The rest of the festival features an explosion of terrific experimental films, including work by Lori Felker, Turn on the Hill; Zachary Epcar, Under the Heat Lamp an Opening; Mike Olenick, Beautiful Things; Josh Weissbach, Model Fifty-One Fifty-Six; Clint Enns,...
The fest kicks off on April 30 with two films by one of this year’s jurors, Marika Borgeson: The Starry Messenger, which used the sun as it’s only developing agent; and the work-in-progress Excerpt From Arcanam Terra Lacrimarum; plus films by other artists selected by Borgeson.
On the following afternoon, May 1, there will be a presentation by this year’s other two jurors, Kelly Gallagher and Ben Balcom, which will include their own films, plus others selected from the Uwm Archives.
The rest of the festival features an explosion of terrific experimental films, including work by Lori Felker, Turn on the Hill; Zachary Epcar, Under the Heat Lamp an Opening; Mike Olenick, Beautiful Things; Josh Weissbach, Model Fifty-One Fifty-Six; Clint Enns,...
- 4/30/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Ann Arbor Film Festival celebrates its epic 53rd annual edition on March 24-29 with a colossal selection of experimental short films and features.
Feature film highlights include the documentary Speculation Nation by regular collaborators Bill Brown and Sabine Gruffat, which examines the recent Spanish housing crisis; a new ethnographic doc by Ben Russell, Greetings to the Ancestors, which plunges deep into the culture of South Africa; and Jenni Olson’s grand California study The Royal Road.
Short film highlights include the much anticipated new film by Jennifer Reeder, Blood Below the Skin, a narrative following a week in the dramatic and romantic lives of three teenage girls; a new music video by Mike Olenick called Beautiful Things with music by The Wet Things; new animations by Don Hertzfeldt, World of Tomorrow, and Lewis Klahr, Mars Garden; plus new experimental work by Vanessa Renwick, Peggy Ahwesh and Zachary Epcar.
Special...
Feature film highlights include the documentary Speculation Nation by regular collaborators Bill Brown and Sabine Gruffat, which examines the recent Spanish housing crisis; a new ethnographic doc by Ben Russell, Greetings to the Ancestors, which plunges deep into the culture of South Africa; and Jenni Olson’s grand California study The Royal Road.
Short film highlights include the much anticipated new film by Jennifer Reeder, Blood Below the Skin, a narrative following a week in the dramatic and romantic lives of three teenage girls; a new music video by Mike Olenick called Beautiful Things with music by The Wet Things; new animations by Don Hertzfeldt, World of Tomorrow, and Lewis Klahr, Mars Garden; plus new experimental work by Vanessa Renwick, Peggy Ahwesh and Zachary Epcar.
Special...
- 3/24/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Along with partners the American Cinematheque and Jumpcut Cafe, the Underground Film Journal is thrilled to be co-presenting the first ever Hollywood Underground Film Festival, which will be a one-night event at the Egyptian Theater on Saturday, February 21.
The festival will include two screenings. First, there will be a short film program at 7:30 p.m.; followed at 10:00 p.m. by the world premiere of the exciting new anthology film Betamax, which features new work by Los Angeles underground filmmaking legend Damon Packard.
The shorts lineup will include the U.S. premiere of the latest film by longtime Journal favorite Brian Lonano, Crow Hand!!!, which is bloody and fantastic; and Mike Olenick‘s visual epic Red Luck, which won the Best Looking award at the 2014 Chicago Underground Film Festival and the Best Experimental Film at the 2015 Slamdance.
Other shorts include a blazingly fun biopic of Hollywood icon Russ Meyer,...
The festival will include two screenings. First, there will be a short film program at 7:30 p.m.; followed at 10:00 p.m. by the world premiere of the exciting new anthology film Betamax, which features new work by Los Angeles underground filmmaking legend Damon Packard.
The shorts lineup will include the U.S. premiere of the latest film by longtime Journal favorite Brian Lonano, Crow Hand!!!, which is bloody and fantastic; and Mike Olenick‘s visual epic Red Luck, which won the Best Looking award at the 2014 Chicago Underground Film Festival and the Best Experimental Film at the 2015 Slamdance.
Other shorts include a blazingly fun biopic of Hollywood icon Russ Meyer,...
- 2/10/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Mike Olenick says: This summer I’ve been shooting a new short. I was doing a lighting test against a photo backdrop for the video, and I instinctively picked up Crystal and snapped our picture.
Underground Film Journal says: Mike Olenick is a fantastically gifted visual filmmaker. His latest film, Red Luck, is an unsettling and startling mini-masterpiece. At this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival, the Journal was on the jury that gave the film the Best Looking Award. You can watch the trailer for it below.
We also believe Mike has just upped the ante when it comes to Filmmakers and Their Cats submissions.
More Cats: View our entire gallery of Filmmakers and Their Cats!
Submit: If you’re a filmmaker and you love your cat companion, please send us a photo of you with your kitty.
Trailer for Mike Olenick’s Red Luck:...
Underground Film Journal says: Mike Olenick is a fantastically gifted visual filmmaker. His latest film, Red Luck, is an unsettling and startling mini-masterpiece. At this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival, the Journal was on the jury that gave the film the Best Looking Award. You can watch the trailer for it below.
We also believe Mike has just upped the ante when it comes to Filmmakers and Their Cats submissions.
More Cats: View our entire gallery of Filmmakers and Their Cats!
Submit: If you’re a filmmaker and you love your cat companion, please send us a photo of you with your kitty.
Trailer for Mike Olenick’s Red Luck:...
- 9/26/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 9th annual Wndx Festival of Moving Image will showcase new experimental media from all over the world — including short films, installations and live cinematic performances — at several locations across the city of Winnipeg on September 24-28.
Special events at Wndx this year include the fest’s annual One Take Super 8 Event, where 30 filmmakers will screen their in-camera edited masterpieces for the first time along with the audience. Plus, there’s a two-part celebration of the work of Denis Côté, featuring his two films Joy of Man’s Desiring and Bestiaire, with the filmmaker in attendance.
There will also be a live film performance by filmamker Karl Lemieux with sound artists Roger Tellier-Craig and Alexandre St-Onge; and Freya Björg Olafson’s dance/film hybrid HYPER_.
Short films to be on the lookout throughout the fest include Mike Olenick‘s Red Luck, which won the Best Looking Film award at the...
Special events at Wndx this year include the fest’s annual One Take Super 8 Event, where 30 filmmakers will screen their in-camera edited masterpieces for the first time along with the audience. Plus, there’s a two-part celebration of the work of Denis Côté, featuring his two films Joy of Man’s Desiring and Bestiaire, with the filmmaker in attendance.
There will also be a live film performance by filmamker Karl Lemieux with sound artists Roger Tellier-Craig and Alexandre St-Onge; and Freya Björg Olafson’s dance/film hybrid HYPER_.
Short films to be on the lookout throughout the fest include Mike Olenick‘s Red Luck, which won the Best Looking Film award at the...
- 9/23/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 2nd annual Haverhill Experimental Film Festival — which was just held in Haverhill, Massachusetts on May 29-June 1 — has announced their list of 9 award winners. Most impressively for a small festival in just its second year is that each winner, including the Honorable Mentions, was awarded a cash prize.
The big winner of the fest was filmmaker Metrah Pashaee, whose Human Body Battleground Organ Organism took home the First Prize award of $300. The Second Prize winner of $200 was Mike Olenick for his Red Luck. This is the second big award for Red Luck this year, which previously took home the Best Looking Award at the 2014 Chicago Underground Film Festival. The Third Prize winner of $100 was Josh Lewis for his Pillager.
Jurors for this years festival were media remix artists Soda_Jerk and experimental documentarian Robert Todd, both of whom awarded two Honorable Mentions each. One of those winners — appropriately awarded by...
The big winner of the fest was filmmaker Metrah Pashaee, whose Human Body Battleground Organ Organism took home the First Prize award of $300. The Second Prize winner of $200 was Mike Olenick for his Red Luck. This is the second big award for Red Luck this year, which previously took home the Best Looking Award at the 2014 Chicago Underground Film Festival. The Third Prize winner of $100 was Josh Lewis for his Pillager.
Jurors for this years festival were media remix artists Soda_Jerk and experimental documentarian Robert Todd, both of whom awarded two Honorable Mentions each. One of those winners — appropriately awarded by...
- 6/3/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 2nd annual Haverhill Experimental Film Festival features a powerhouse lineup of fantastic short films and one killer feature. It runs May 29–June 1 above the Tap Brewing Company in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
The fest opens on the 29th with a trio of special program events, including a live Super 8mm film performance by Richard Fedorchak, followed by Jodie Mack‘s autobiographical rock animated documentary Dusty Stacks of Mom and assorted Mack handmade films, then ending with live musical scoring of silent films curated by Bob Beal.
The next night, May 30, is not to be missed with two programs of short films that include two incredible standout, award-winning films. First is Kent Lambert‘s masculine video game and pop culture meditation Reckoning 3; second is Mike Olenick‘s gorgeously creepy supervillain serial killer drama Red Luck.
The one feature film of the festival screens on June 1 and is Last Stop, Flamingo, another entry...
The fest opens on the 29th with a trio of special program events, including a live Super 8mm film performance by Richard Fedorchak, followed by Jodie Mack‘s autobiographical rock animated documentary Dusty Stacks of Mom and assorted Mack handmade films, then ending with live musical scoring of silent films curated by Bob Beal.
The next night, May 30, is not to be missed with two programs of short films that include two incredible standout, award-winning films. First is Kent Lambert‘s masculine video game and pop culture meditation Reckoning 3; second is Mike Olenick‘s gorgeously creepy supervillain serial killer drama Red Luck.
The one feature film of the festival screens on June 1 and is Last Stop, Flamingo, another entry...
- 5/29/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 9th annual Montreal Underground Film Festival is three nights of short experimental films from around the world and one after-fest feature film the following early afternoon. It runs May 22-25 at the Bar Populaire for the Opening Night festivities, then at the microcinema at 6029A Ave. du Parc for the rest of the fest.
Opening Night consists of two short film compilations and will feature animation by Ben Popp, sci-fi by Brian Lonano, an experimental short by Neil Ira Needleman and lots more.
Other shorts blocks of the festival are broken up by subject, such as experimental documentaries, horror(ish) films, personal works, meditations on water, and other intriguing concepts.
Some films to look out for are Lori Felker‘s naturally electric music video, Scattered in the Wind; Dan Browne‘s epic lifetime amalgamation of images, Memento Mori; Joseph Christiana‘s hair-raisingly eerie Meat Cycle; a new collaborative piece between Karen and Jaimz Asmundson,...
Opening Night consists of two short film compilations and will feature animation by Ben Popp, sci-fi by Brian Lonano, an experimental short by Neil Ira Needleman and lots more.
Other shorts blocks of the festival are broken up by subject, such as experimental documentaries, horror(ish) films, personal works, meditations on water, and other intriguing concepts.
Some films to look out for are Lori Felker‘s naturally electric music video, Scattered in the Wind; Dan Browne‘s epic lifetime amalgamation of images, Memento Mori; Joseph Christiana‘s hair-raisingly eerie Meat Cycle; a new collaborative piece between Karen and Jaimz Asmundson,...
- 5/19/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This year’s student-run Milwaukee Underground Film Festival will screen on May 1-4 at various locations on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus and off-campus at the Microlights Cinema. Once again, the festival will feature eclectic and amazing avant-garde and experimental short films in video, 16mm and 8mm formats.
The fest opens on May 1 with a screening of films made by this year’s three-member jury — David Witzling, Diane Kitchen and Scott Stark — followed by a special presentation of works from NYC’s Lgbt screening series, “Dirty Looks,” including Michael Robinson‘s hilarious The Dark, Krystle, Luther Price‘s recently restored Home and Michael Lucid‘s online video sensation Dirty Girls.
Other films to look out for are a pair of award-winning pieces: The May 2 at 2:00 p.m. shorts block will conclude with Jennifer Reeder‘s absolutely amazing A Million Miles Away, which took home the Best Short Film at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.
The fest opens on May 1 with a screening of films made by this year’s three-member jury — David Witzling, Diane Kitchen and Scott Stark — followed by a special presentation of works from NYC’s Lgbt screening series, “Dirty Looks,” including Michael Robinson‘s hilarious The Dark, Krystle, Luther Price‘s recently restored Home and Michael Lucid‘s online video sensation Dirty Girls.
Other films to look out for are a pair of award-winning pieces: The May 2 at 2:00 p.m. shorts block will conclude with Jennifer Reeder‘s absolutely amazing A Million Miles Away, which took home the Best Short Film at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.
- 5/1/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 21st annual Chicago Underground Film Festival programmed an amazing lineup of wonderful short films over its five days, way too many to review them all. Below are just a few selected reviews of the short films that made the biggest impression on the Underground Film Journal. Also, the four incredibly strong films reviewed below were all also selected for awards at the fest by Journal editor Mike Everleth and his jury cohorts, Brian Chankin and Alison Cuddy.
A Million Miles Away, dir. Jennifer Reeder. A Million Miles Away was the first film projected at the festival on Opening Night and, still with several dozen other films following it throughout the fest, the jury awarded this Best Short. The film begins with several seemingly disconnected scenes of teenage girls discussing the deteriorating adult relationships in their lives — each one appears to be the child of a divorced, separated or cheating parent.
A Million Miles Away, dir. Jennifer Reeder. A Million Miles Away was the first film projected at the festival on Opening Night and, still with several dozen other films following it throughout the fest, the jury awarded this Best Short. The film begins with several seemingly disconnected scenes of teenage girls discussing the deteriorating adult relationships in their lives — each one appears to be the child of a divorced, separated or cheating parent.
- 4/21/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 21st annual Chicago Underground FIlm Festival, which ran April 2-6 at the Logan Theatre, has announced their list of award winners.
Winners were decided by a three-panel jury that included Brian Chankin, owner of the Odd Obsession Movies video store in Chicago; Alison Cuddy, the arts and culture reporter for Wbez 91.5 FM Chicago Public Media; and Mike Everleth, editor of the Underground Film Journal.
In total, the jury gave out eight official awards, which are listed below. In addition, given the incredibly strong lineup of films that screened at the festival, a total of 11 Honorable Mentions were also given out, and are listed below as well.
To add a personal note, it was a pleasure and and honor to serve on the jury with Brian and Alison, and our decisions came to us fairly easily, which is a testament to the strength of the work that was made and...
Winners were decided by a three-panel jury that included Brian Chankin, owner of the Odd Obsession Movies video store in Chicago; Alison Cuddy, the arts and culture reporter for Wbez 91.5 FM Chicago Public Media; and Mike Everleth, editor of the Underground Film Journal.
In total, the jury gave out eight official awards, which are listed below. In addition, given the incredibly strong lineup of films that screened at the festival, a total of 11 Honorable Mentions were also given out, and are listed below as well.
To add a personal note, it was a pleasure and and honor to serve on the jury with Brian and Alison, and our decisions came to us fairly easily, which is a testament to the strength of the work that was made and...
- 4/9/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 21st annual Chicago Underground Film Festival, which will run April 2-6 at the Logan Theater, will be extra special this year. Why? Because Mike Everleth, the Executive Editor of the Underground Film Journal, is sitting on this year’s festival jury! And looking over the fest lineup below, he is incredibly excited to witness this visual extravaganza of revolutionary cinematic madness. (Other jurors are Brian Chankin, Therese Grisham and Alison Cuddy.)
Opening Night Film: What I Love About Concrete is the debut feature by the directing team of Katherine Dohan and Alanna Stewart and is a surreal suburban tale about a teenage girl who believes she is transforming into a swan.
Closing Night Film: Usama Alshaibi will be making his triumphant return to Chicago with his latest documentary, American Arab, a personal and sociological examination of what it means to be an Arab in a post-9/11 United States. This...
Opening Night Film: What I Love About Concrete is the debut feature by the directing team of Katherine Dohan and Alanna Stewart and is a surreal suburban tale about a teenage girl who believes she is transforming into a swan.
Closing Night Film: Usama Alshaibi will be making his triumphant return to Chicago with his latest documentary, American Arab, a personal and sociological examination of what it means to be an Arab in a post-9/11 United States. This...
- 3/28/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
For many years I’ve been aware of this poster—a classic by René Ferracci, the appointed affichiste of the nouvelle vague—without knowing anything about Je t’aime, je t’aime, a film which has been almost impossible to see for decades. Today, as a Valentine’s Day gift to New York cinephiles, Film Desk and Bleeding Light Film Group are bringing it back to Film Forum in a new 35mm print.
Ferracci, master of the photo-collage, captures the fragmented whirlpool of Alain Resnais’ time-traveling love story in an unforgettable image that would maybe be better known, as would the film itself, if its protagonists had been bigger names. Je t’aime, je t’aime, made in 1968, was only Resnais’ fifth feature film, twenty-two years into his filmmaking career. (Just this week, at the age of 91, he premiered his latest, Life of Riley, at the Berlin Film Festival.) An...
Ferracci, master of the photo-collage, captures the fragmented whirlpool of Alain Resnais’ time-traveling love story in an unforgettable image that would maybe be better known, as would the film itself, if its protagonists had been bigger names. Je t’aime, je t’aime, made in 1968, was only Resnais’ fifth feature film, twenty-two years into his filmmaking career. (Just this week, at the age of 91, he premiered his latest, Life of Riley, at the Berlin Film Festival.) An...
- 2/15/2014
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
The mighty and all-powerful Chicago Underground Film Festival has done the absolute unthinkable: Reached their 20th year of operation! How many underground festivals have accomplished that feat? None, until now! Well, “now” being March 6-10 at the fest’s new location: The Logan Theatre.
Obviously, there are a lot of people who have worked with the fest over the years to help make it last for exactly two fantastic decades, but, truly, there is one special person who has to be specially lauded for his tireless dedication to the advancement of underground film and its makers. Especially because Cuff hasn’t just been around for 20 years: It’s been fucking awesome for 20 years.
That person, of course, is Artistic Director Bryan Wendorf, who has been with the fest for the very first edition to it’s most recent, mind-blowing one. Year after year, Wendorf has guided Cuff into defining, challenging,...
Obviously, there are a lot of people who have worked with the fest over the years to help make it last for exactly two fantastic decades, but, truly, there is one special person who has to be specially lauded for his tireless dedication to the advancement of underground film and its makers. Especially because Cuff hasn’t just been around for 20 years: It’s been fucking awesome for 20 years.
That person, of course, is Artistic Director Bryan Wendorf, who has been with the fest for the very first edition to it’s most recent, mind-blowing one. Year after year, Wendorf has guided Cuff into defining, challenging,...
- 2/13/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Having been around for eighteen years, the Chicago Underground Film Festival has continually changed what it defines as “underground.”
So its 19th annual edition, which will be held on May 31 to June 7 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, feels like its most experimental edition in recent years.
While things kick off on the 31st with the Vice-produced anthology film The Fourth Dimension by Alexsei Fedorchenko, Harmony Korine and Jan Kwiecinski, the rest of the fest is packed with feature-length and short experimental work, documentaries and alternative narratives.
Some of the experimental feature highlights include the vastly prolific Robert Todd‘s Master Plan, which examines theories of modern housing from private residences to prisons; Australia’s two-person art collective Soda_Jerk’s epic rip on media piracy, Hollywood Burn; Michael Kosakowski’s compendium on murder fantasies, Zero Killing; L.A. filmmaker Daniel Martinico’s meditation on the acting process, Ok, Good...
So its 19th annual edition, which will be held on May 31 to June 7 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, feels like its most experimental edition in recent years.
While things kick off on the 31st with the Vice-produced anthology film The Fourth Dimension by Alexsei Fedorchenko, Harmony Korine and Jan Kwiecinski, the rest of the fest is packed with feature-length and short experimental work, documentaries and alternative narratives.
Some of the experimental feature highlights include the vastly prolific Robert Todd‘s Master Plan, which examines theories of modern housing from private residences to prisons; Australia’s two-person art collective Soda_Jerk’s epic rip on media piracy, Hollywood Burn; Michael Kosakowski’s compendium on murder fantasies, Zero Killing; L.A. filmmaker Daniel Martinico’s meditation on the acting process, Ok, Good...
- 5/8/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 18th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival is ready to have another monumental year at the Gene Siskel Film Center on June 2-9, featuring a killer lineup with new films from some true underground legends.
First, Usama Alshaibi will screen his latest, most visually stunning and conceptually innovative feature Profane, about a spiritually confused Muslim sex worker trying to recapture her lost jinn — a demon of smokeless fire — on streets of the Windy City.
Then, documentary filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn return to their hard rockin’ roots with Heavy Metal Picnic, which relives one of the most notorious ’80s weekend parties in the history of Maryland and the world — the Full Moon Jamboree, which if you can remember it means you weren’t there. Plus, Hmp will be screened with Heyn and Krulik’s underground classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot.
Also in the documentary vein, are Marie Losier‘s...
First, Usama Alshaibi will screen his latest, most visually stunning and conceptually innovative feature Profane, about a spiritually confused Muslim sex worker trying to recapture her lost jinn — a demon of smokeless fire — on streets of the Windy City.
Then, documentary filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn return to their hard rockin’ roots with Heavy Metal Picnic, which relives one of the most notorious ’80s weekend parties in the history of Maryland and the world — the Full Moon Jamboree, which if you can remember it means you weren’t there. Plus, Hmp will be screened with Heyn and Krulik’s underground classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot.
Also in the documentary vein, are Marie Losier‘s...
- 5/13/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The teasing is over! This here is the real deal. The moment we wait all year for: The lineup for the powerful, the mighty Boston Underground Film Festival, which is set to run March 25 to April 1. Now in its 12th year, Buff shows no sign of slowing down or taking it easy. In fact, this might be their most demented and transgressive edition yet.
There are homages to Giallo horror, tributes to the grand grindhouse tradition of sleaze and exploitation, sex and violence galore — both separately and together — plus, a resurrected ’80s slasher classic that all combine into an epic celebration of everything that is vicious and twisted in this world. But, in a fun way, ya know.
Alas, I haven’t seen any of the feature films that are playing this year, so I can’t offer any special recommendations of those. Although, there are many (most) that I...
There are homages to Giallo horror, tributes to the grand grindhouse tradition of sleaze and exploitation, sex and violence galore — both separately and together — plus, a resurrected ’80s slasher classic that all combine into an epic celebration of everything that is vicious and twisted in this world. But, in a fun way, ya know.
Alas, I haven’t seen any of the feature films that are playing this year, so I can’t offer any special recommendations of those. Although, there are many (most) that I...
- 3/12/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.