News

Shriekfest Film Festival Celebrates its 21st Anniversary September 30-October 3, 2021 at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood: "The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film and screenplay competition, has announced its annual event will take place September 30-October 3, 2021. This will be a Live event. The festival begins with an opening night party on Thursday at the Historic Boardners, which the public is welcome to attend. This is a red carpet event to kick off the party. Then, it will continue its tradition of screening feature length and short films Friday through Sunday at the iconic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, and culminate with an awards presentation on Sunday night at 10Pm.

Shriekfest was created in July 2001 by festival director Denise Gossett and has grown into the longest-running and one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the country. Since its inception, Shriekfest has offered upcoming writers, actors, directors, and producers a...

"Don't even think about escaping..." Gravitas Ventures has released an official trailer for a frightening small town horror thriller titled Women, a new feature from Icelandic director Anton Sigurdsson. In the film, a small-town detective while investigating the disappearance of a local woman comes across an unassuming Sociology professor who lives a double life. Apparently he's kidnapping and torturing women, but why? And why are so many still locked up, what is going on with them? Women stars Adam Dorsey, Anna Marie Dobbins, Anna Maiche, Kylie Delre, Denise Gossett, and Michael Simon Hall. It looks a little too realistic to watch these days, a frightening story of how a seemingly nice guy might be a horribly evil person. Here's the official trailer (+ two posters) for Anton Sigurdsson's Women, direct from YouTube (via B-d): A small town detective (Adam Dorsey) investigates into a Sociology professor when a mutilated body is...

We're back with a new installment of Horror Highlights! In today's edition, we have details on the 20th annual Shriekfest, news of Hex Studios' new publishing label, and info on the new horror series Scrawl:

20th Annual Shriekfest Announces 2020 Dates : "The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film and screenplay competition, has announced its annual event will take place October 1-4, 2020!. The festival begins with an opening night party on Thursday, which the public is welcome to attend. Then, it will continue its tradition of screening feature length and short films Friday through Sunday at the iconic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, and culminate with an awards presentation on Sunday night.

Shriekfest was created in July 2001 by festival director Denise Gossett and has grown into the longest-running, one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the country, and the only bi-coastal horror film festival! Since its inception,...

Faster Productions (the team behind Knock Knock Knock Knock) have released the short film to the public! Continue reading to learn how to see this intriguing Giallo-inspired horror short. Also: Shriekfest 2019's call for submissions and release details for Wretch.

Knock Knock Knock Knock Release Details: "Following its premiere in Paris at the 24th L’Etrange Festival in September 2018. Faster Productions have now made their latest short film Knock Knock Knock Knock available to the wider public….if they’re interested enough to lift a finger!

Knock Knock Knock Knock is an unashamed homage to the Italian horror/ Giallo films, with specific nods to the work of Dario Argento, Mario Bava and Lucio Fulci…but with a healthy dollop of the anything-goes madness of Toho’s classic 70s horror Hausu also added to the mix.

In this short film – the 2nd in the Sincerely, Psychopath: Disposable Screams series (but...

Ever since Heather Wixson gave it a 4-star review at 2017's SXSW Film Festival, we've been excited to see Joe Martin's new movie Us and Them. To celebrate the film's October 12th UK release, we've been provided with an exclusive clip to share with Daily Dead readers. Tickets for David Gordon Green’s Halloween (2018) have gone on sale and those who pre-order will get a free audio download of the Halloween theme by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies! Also: Soul to Keep debut at Shriekfest, Toronto After Dark Film Fest final lineup details, and info on TNT's all-day Supernatural marathon on Halloween!

Us and Them Exclusive Clip: "Us And Them is a UK film starring Jack Roth (son of actor Tim Roth) in a tour de force performance about an ordinary working class kid who is tired of the rough deal he faces. His plan? To start...

Starting off today's Horror Highlights are details on Comet TV's September Prize Pack contest in association with the Charge! network. Also: Shriekfest 2018's final three films revealed, Darkness Reigns DVD giveaway details, Molly Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD release details, and the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival lineup.

Comet TV's September Contest Details: "Comet TV September Contest: "Are you ready for a Spacey-week?

I hope so because Comet TV has so many cool things in September! Comet TV is the new home of the cult classic Space: 1999! The out of this world series starring Martin Landau is a fun retro adventure, you’ll love!

Plus, there are Godzilla Double Features, Dr. Who, and more!

Plus, we can’t forget the action network Charge! There is a Rocky marathon featuring the classic film series all month long!

Charge! is an action network showing the most “kickin’” and “punchin’” films ever created.

As promised, the second wave of films have been announced for Shriekfest Film Festival 2018, including Killer Kate!, Camp Cold Brook (starring Danielle Harris, Chad Michael Murray, and Courtney Gains), and the world premieres of Sound Wave and Soul to Keep:

Press Release: The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film and screenplay competition, has announced the first three films of its 2018 feature film lineup. Film festival director Denise Gossett says "We are super excited to show you our wonderfully diverse selection of amazing films from all over the world.".

The feature films selected thus far are listed below:

"Sound Wave" (World Premiere) written & directed by Shriekfest Alum Dylan K. Narang (All I Need). A teenage inventor's life spirals into chaos when a nefarious group discovers he's invented a device that can hear into the past. Starring Hunter Doohan (Westworld), Katie Owsley (All I Need), & Paul Tassone

"Killer Kate!

We are about a month away from Shriekfest Film Festival 2018, and the first three films in the lineup have been announced, including the world premiere of Echoes of Fear, the Shriekfest premiere of Sick for Toys, and Never Hike Alone featuring a certain masked killer.

Reminder: Shriekfest will be on both coasts for the second time ever, with the first leg of the festival starting on October 4th in Los Angeles and the second leg on November 3rd in Orlando, Florida.

Press Release: "The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film, and screenplay competition, has announced the first three films of its 2018 feature film lineup. Film festival director Denise Gossett says "We are super excited to show you our wonderfully diverse selection of amazing films from all over the world."

The feature films selected thus far are listed below:

(World Premiere) Echoes of Fear directed by Shriekfest Winners, husband...

A Ghosthouse remake is in the works! Umberto Lenzi's 1988 film is being revived by Dustin Ferguson (Sleepaway Camp IV) and will begin shooting soon in La. Also: a Q&A with Party Bus to Hell's Richard Hochman, Shriekfest 2018's call for submissions, The Rake's DVD debut, an untitled movie from 1inMM Productions, and a new Amityville installment, titled Amityville Toybox.

Ghosthouse Remake Details: Press Release: "Dustin Ferguson, Director of "Nemesis 5" and Editor of "Sleepaway Camp IV" recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise initial funds for production on "Ghosthouse". Ferguson's company SoCal Cinema Studios is Producing, based on a script by Mike Reeb ("Nemesis 5") and Jason Harlow ("Another Evil Night").

The film is a remake of the 1988 Italian cult classic by Director Umberto Lenzi and will begin filming this Autumn in Los Angeles. It's set to star Paul Taylor ("Pinhead" from "Hellraiser: Judgment") with Special F/X by Joe Castro...

Don’t be fooled by her petite frame, curly blonde locks and pretty face… Denise Gossett is a force to be reckoned with! She’s a creator in the ultimate sense of the word as a mom, but she’s also brought countless… Continue Reading →

The post Event Report: Shriekfest 2017 Wrap-up appeared first on Dread Central.

Shriekfest 2017 participants will get a first look at The Basement, starring Mischa Barton, when the movie premieres at the festival on October 7th, and you can learn more about the film from its first trailer.

You can view the new trailer below, along with the official poster for The Basement, co-starring Mischa Barton. We also have the official press release with full details on the film's world premiere at Shriekfest, and you can check here if you're interested in learning more about getting tickets for the screening. For additional details on The Basement, visit Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the film's official website.

Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA (September 14, 2017) – Pasadena, California-based production company Conley Entertainment Group is proud to announce the World Premiere of their feature independent horror/thriller ‘The Basement,’ to be held at the venerable Shriekfest Film Festival on Saturday, October 7th at 8:15Pm at Raleigh Studios (5300 Melrose Avenue), in Hollywood,...

He's methodical, sinister, and calculating, but the killer in The Basement may have met his match with his eighth would-be victim, and you can watch the blood-smeared chess match between the two characters when the new horror film from Brian Conley and Nathan Ives makes its world premiere at Hollywood's Shriekfest Film Festival this October. To help hold you over until then, we've been provided with two exclusive stills to share with Daily Dead readers.

You can view our two exclusive stills below, along with the official poster for The Basement, co-starring Mischa Barton. We also have the official press release with full details on the film's world premiere at Shriekfest, and you can check here if you're interested in learning more about getting tickets for the screening. To learn more about The Basement, visit Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the film's official website.

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (September 14, 2017) – Pasadena,...

In today's Horror Highlights, we take a look at Free Fire events at SXSW, a Comet network March contest, and the announcement of Shriekfest Orlando.

Free Fire at SXSW: "Armie Hammer, Sharlto Copley and writer/director Ben Wheatley joined SXSW press and attendees yesterday for paintball, explosions, BBQ lessons, and other ill-advised activities at Austin's Stunt Ranch to celebrate A24's Free Fire. The out-of-control film received an appropriately outrageous event ahead of the sold-out Us premiere at the Paramount, where the audience went wild for Wheatley's action-comedy."

Synopsis: "Bold, breathless and wickedly fun, Free Fire is an electrifying action comedy about an arms deal that goes spectacularly and explosively wrong. Acclaimed filmmaker Ben Wheatley (Kill List, High Rise) propels the audience head-on into quite possibly the most epic shootout ever seen on film as he crafts a spectacular parody -- and biting critique -- of the insanity of gun violence.

For the better part of two decades, the Shriekfest Film Festival has celebrated scares on the big screen in Hollywood, and this year will be no exception, as the festival has officially announced its October dates for its 17th annual event.

Press Release: Los Angeles – The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film and screenplay competition, has announced its annual event will take place October 5 – 8, 2017. The festival begins with an opening night party on Thursday, which the public is welcome to attend. This is a red carpet event to kick off the party. Then, it will continue its tradition of screening feature length and short films Friday through Sunday at the iconic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, and culminate with an awards presentation on Sunday night.

Shriekfest was created in July 2001 by festival director Denise Gossett and has grown into the longest-running and one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the country.

Folks in the Brooklyn area are in for a treat. Nitehawk Cinema is hosting a screening of the highly anticipated horror anthology, Xx. Also in today’s Horror Highlights: the Twenty Twenty-Four screening details, Shriekfest 2017 call for submissions, Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween home media info, a new trailer for Diane, and Child Eater release details.

Nitehawk Cinema’s Brooklyn Xx Screening Details: “Nitehawk presents a preview and midnite screenings of the new all female-helmed horror anthology, Xx. We also ask the Xx directors to select a couple of their influential films for midnite screenings and they chose: Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon and Mary Lambert’s Pet Sematary.”

To learn more, visit Nitehawk Cinema’s official website.

———

Twenty Twenty-Four North American Premiere Details: “We have two screenings in San Francisco, hosted by San Francisco Independent Film Festival. Twenty Twenty-Four is making its North American premiere at...

By Jonathan Weichsel

MoreHorror.com

The Filmmaker's Book of the Dead is written by Danny Draven with a forward by Charles Band, owner of Full Moon Pictures.

The book features interviews with Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers, Bag of Bones, Desperation, The Stand,) John Ottman (Composer/Editor of X:Men: Days of Future Past, The Usual Suspects,) Mark Ordesky & Jane Fleming (Producers of Lovely Molly, Exists,) Kane Hodder (Jason from the Friday the 13th, part 7 to 10, Hatchet,) Tibor Takacs (Director of The Gate, Spiders 3D, Megasnake,) John Debney (Composer of Predators, Sin City, End of Days,) Jojo Draven (Composer of Patient Seven, Ghost Month, Reel Evil,) Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, Weird Science,) Mike Mendez (Director of The Gravedancers, Big Ass Spider,) Neal Marshall Stevens (Screenwriter of Thir13en Ghosts, Hellraiser: Deader,) Chris Alexander (Former Editor in Chief of Fangoria Magazine, Filmmaker,) Jessica Cameron (Actress/Director of Truth or Dare,) Denise Gossett (Founder...

Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys have created a new figure based solely on the mercenary's depiction in Twentieth Century Fox's Deadpool. Also: Shriekfest 2016's call for submissions, details on Scream Factory's upcoming Blu-ray release of You'll Like My Mother, a trailer for Vicious, and Satanic Panic video show event details.

Deadpool Figure: From Sideshow Collectibles: "Marvel’s most unconventional superhero, Deadpool, will finally hit the silver screen in full glory with his over-the-top personality, dark twisted sense of humor, and tendency to break the fourth wall which fans have always loved!

Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys are very excited to officially introduce the one and only Deadpool sixth scale collectible figure based on the upcoming Deadpool movie!

In this new film, the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson will be unfolded, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers,...

Clinger, the first to be announced in the second wave of films in Shriekfest 2015's lineup, takes the concept of "the clingy ex" to a whole new level. Also: details on the Halloween party happening on the Terminus set from The Walking Dead, a new Shark Lake trailer, and three images from Girl in Woods.

Shriekfest 2015: Press Release: "(Los Angeles, CA) - Shriekfest International Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival is thrilled to announce its second surge of films for the Fifteenth annual festival! Shriekfest brings you the Best in independent horror and sci-fi! "We are so excited for our 15th year and this slate of films!" says festival director Denise Gossett. Shriekfest is Oct 1-4. www.shriekfest.com

Clinger: Directed by Michael Steves. When her possessive high school boyfriend dies in a gruesome accident, Fern Petersen’s life is thrown into turmoil. Things go from bad to worse when...

The first wave of films to be shown at this year's Shriekfest International Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival all look like they are going to be a bloody good time! Also: The Cleansing Hour's Kickstarter campaign and Ballet of Blood premiere details.

Shriekfest 2015: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA - Shriekfest International Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival is thrilled to announce its first surge of films for the Fifteenth annual festival! Shriekfest brings you the Best in independent horror and sci-fi! "We are so excited for our 15th year and this slate of films!" says festival director Denise Gossett. Shriekfest is Oct 1-4. www.shriekfest.com

Granny Of The Dead: Directed by Tudley James. In a small town unknowing and free from betrayal, an evil is looming to rewrite their tale. From deep within hell a curse rises up, to strike down the old and never give up. The elderly dead...

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today's feature includes casting news for Pilgrimage, details on the 15th Annual Shriekfest Call for Entries, release details for 3 Easy Steps to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, new posters from The Events Surrounding a Peeping Tom & the Horror That Followed, and much more:

Exclusive Stills from The Dark Below: An update to our coverage from earlier this week, we now have new exclusive stills from The Dark Below. You can the view new stills and release details below, along with the recently released stills:

"Dead Wait Productions announce the completion of principle photography for their new genre film the Dark Below. Award winning genre director Douglas Schulze (Mimesis, Dark Fields) and Executive Producer Seth Willenson bring us a survival thriller that explores the fear of entrapment beneath a frozen lake.

The film...

Shriekfest International Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival has announced the full, expanded schedule for the 14th annual horror film festival, returning to Raleigh Studios Chaplin theaters in Los Angeles October 2nd - 5th.

Festival Director Denise Gossett says, "We are so honored to once again be at the same location we've been at for all 14 years! That says a lot about a location's quality and a festival's continuity, filmmakers walk out of their screening saying their film has never looked so good!"

The post Shriekfest Reveals 2014 Line-Up appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

It's that time of year again, kids. Can you smell it? Something wicked this way comes as Halloween season has officially begun! One of Los Angeles' finest horror film festivals, Shriekfest, has announced its full schedule; and we have everything you Need to know!

From the Press Release

Shriekfest International Horror/Sci Fi Film Festival is thrilled to announce the full, expanded schedule for the Fourteenth annual horror film festival, returning to Raleigh Studios' Charlie Chaplin Theater October 2-5, 2014.

Festival Director Denise Gossett says, "We are so honored to once again be at the same location we've been at for all 14 years! That says a lot about a location's quality and a festival's continuity; filmmakers walk out of their screening saying their film has never looked so good"!

Festival goers will once again enjoy the finest in independent cinema from around the globe, selected from submissions that came in...

Another Shriekfest has come to a close, this year's 13th annual event wrapping up in Los Angeles over the weekend. As always, we've got the full list of winners for ya. Check 'em out below!

From the Press Release

Shriekfest, the Los Angeles International Film Festival & Screenplay Competiton, was a huge success! Denise Gossett, festival director, once again hosted Shriekfest Oct 3-6th at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Shriekfest screened almost 45 films and had 30 screenplay finalists and 10 original song finalists. "An American Terror" directed by Haylar Garcia took the Grand Jury prize for Best Horror Feature Film, "Abducted" directed by Glen Scantlebury and Lucy Phillips took the Best SciFi Feature Film award, and "The Last Light" directed by Andrew Hyatt took the Best Thriller Feature Film award.

"Desolate Road" directed by Marwan Abderrazzaq took the Best Horror Short Film prize, "Incident on Highway 73" directed by Brian Thompson won the Best SciFi Short Film Award,...

by MoreHorror in Hollywood

Denise Gossett is the Founder / Festival Director of the highly successful movie festival Shriekfest.

The festival just completed its 2012 season and has released its winner lineup. Check out the winners below, as well as an exclusive video interview with Gossett, by our Hollywood correspondent Dawna Lee Heising.

Shriekfest screened almost 40 films and had 30 screenplay finalists & 10 original song finalists. "Nailbiter" directed by Patrick Rea took the Grand Jury prize for Best Horror Feature Film, "Found In Time" directed by Arthur Vincie took the Best SciFi Feature Film award, and "It's In the Blood" directed by Scooter Downey took the Best Thriller Feature Film award.

"Blackout" directed by James Bushe took the Best Horror Short Film prize, "A Light in the Darkness" directed by Fed Wetherbee won the Best SciFi Short Film Award and "The Sleepover" directed by Chris Cullari took the best Super Short Film Award.

The...

Shriekfest 2012 was a huge success! Denise Gossett, festival director, hosted Shriekfest October 4th-7th at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Shriekfest screened almost 40 films and had 30 screenplay finalists and 10 original song finalists. Read on for the winners.

From the Press Release:

Nailbiter directed by Patrick Rea took the Grand Jury prize for Best Horror Feature Film, Found in Time directed by Arthur Vincie took the Best SciFi Feature Film award, and It's in the Blood directed by Scooter Downey took the Best Thriller Feature Film award.

Blackout directed by James Bushe took the Best Horror Short Film prize, A Light in the Darkness directed by Fed Wetherbee won the Best SciFi Short Film Award, and The Sleepover directed by Chris Cullari took the Best Super Short Film Award.

The winner of the Best Horror Feature Screenplay was Nevermore written by David Beran, and the winner of the Best SciFi Feature Screenplay...

The 12th Annual Shriekfest Horror/SciFi Film Festival and Screenplay Competition kicked off with a raucous Opening Party last night, and of course we were there to photograph the talent on the carpet and get the lowdown on this year’s event. Read on!

Running October 4th-7th at Raleigh Studios (5300 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, CA), Shriekfest commenced with a heavily attended soiree at the B-52 Club at Boarders, just off Hollywood Boulevard. In attendance on the carpet and at the festivities were Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes), producer Brian Ronalds, actress Michelle Tomlinson, filmmaker Kenneth Hall, literary legend John Skipp, Dread Central’s Andrew Kasch and better half Annette Slomka, Isle of Dogs director Tammi Sutton, Fangoria’s Rebekeh McKendry and Lianne Spiderbaby, and more.

Speaking with Shriekfest festival head Denise Gossett at the event, she said of this year’s lineup, “We have a little bit of everything,...

The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film and screenplay competition, has announced that it has teamed up with LiveParanormal.com, an online horror and paranormal community, to present Shriekfest Radio. The bi-weekly show's March 1 premier will feature Shriekfest founder and director Denise Gossett. Shriekfest was created in July 2001 by Ms. Gossett and has grown into the longest-running and one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the country. Since its inception, Shriekfest has offered young and upcoming writers, actors, and producers a chance to have their work screened and rated by peers. Shriekfest Radio, which airs on www.liveparanormal.com on Thursdays at 10 p.m. Est, 7 p.m. Pst beginning in March, will spotlight Shriekfest Film Festival...

by Michael Pickle, MoreHorror.com

I talked to founder Denise Gossett who was beaming after another successful year of Shriekfest. Here's what she had to say in this Exclusive MoreHorror Interview:

MoreHorror: Why Horror?

Denise Gossett: I'm a big fan. I starred in a horror film 12 years ago and wanted it in festivals. When I discovered there weren't any horror film festivals I started Shriekfest.

Mh: What do you think sets Shriekfest apart from other Horror festivals?

Dg: Shriekfest focuses on indie films. Most other fests show studio films, but it's not the studio films that need the recognition.

Mh: Are there any particular films that you are especially proud to have screened in past years?

Dg: I am proud of all the winners and even some that didn't win! I'm proud of our Shriekfest family!

Mh: What are the main criteria for a film to be screened at Shriekfest?...

by Michael Pickle, MoreHorror.com

Founder of Shriekfest Denise Gossett was voted one of the top women in Horror for a reason. She puts together one of the biggest and longest running genre festivals out there. She's such a sweet and down to earth lady that it's hard to believe that she's responsible for bringing so much horror into the world. This year was no different.

2011's line-up of films was stellar. Some were more well received than others, but overall it was a pretty impressive batch of feature and short films alike as well as fascinating and enlightening Q&A's after some of the better films. Feature films like The Dead Inside, Absentia, Pig and short films like Certified and Negative Image simply wowed the audience and left people talking long after the screenings were over.

These weren't your run-of-the-mill studio films like some other genre festivals. These were genuinely groundbreaking,...

I’ve been a fan of Shriekfest ever since I moved to Los Angeles. Not only because of how down-to-earth and cool the founder of it is, Denise Gossett, but because I was a newbie to La, and with all my geekdom was taken in by other, fellow, horror film geeks not unlike myself. Those who share a passion for not just film, but specifically horror. And not just share a passion for them, but make them.

Filmmakers who strive to achieve a goal, of not just completing a horror film, but having it seen, and quite possibly awarded and distributed (which is an award in itself). Shriekfest has been around for quite some time, along with other local horror film festivals, but it stands out of from the rest for myself for it continuity to achieve a better year than the one before. And in most cases, it succeeds.

On Thursday September 29th the 2011 Shriekfest Film Festival kicks off in Los Angeles. The festival annually celebrates the best filmmakers working on the independent horror scene and to get you indie horror loving fans out there ready for this year's films, Dread Central will be bringing you a series of exclusive Q&A interviews with many of this year's Shriekfest featured filmmakers over the next week or so.

Check out our first interview with writer/director/producer Devi Snively who's short film Last Seen on Dolores Street will be screening at Shriekfest as part of "Shorts Program #2" on Sunday, October 2nd which begins at 12:00 pm. Snively is no stranger to Shriekfest as several of her other projects have made the festival cut over previous years.

Snively's other short films include Death In Charge, Meat is Murder, I Spit on Eli Roth, Raven Gets a Life, Confederate Zombie Massacre! and Teenage Bikini Vampire.

Can you smell it, kids? It's the faint aroma of fall all around us; the kids are back to school, the days are shorter and the nights are longer which all indicate one thing- Halloween, our favorite time of the year, is fast approaching!

Rejoice, fiends!

And if you live in the Los Angeles area, one of the best ways to kick off the Halloween season every year is definitely Shriekfest: The Los Angeles International Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival & Screenplay Competition, created by co-founder Denise Gossett in 2001 and recently heralded as "L.A's most successful and entertaining horror film festival" by La Weekly.

Celebrating some of the finest filmmakers, writers and in the independent horror world, Shriekfest is slated to run this year from September 29th through October 2nd at the Chaplin Theater located at Raleigh Studios (5300 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA) in Hollywood.

This year, Shriekfest kicks off with...

What began as a feature-length documentary two years ago has now evolved into a webseries about women and horror films directed by Montreal filmmaker Maude Michaud, debuting April 3rd, 2011.

When we first reported on the making of Bloody Breasts, interviews were still being conducted. Now, Michaud has changed the way we'll experience her exploration of the intersection of gender and horror films.

The first episode is titled “Women love horror?” and features interviews with directors and festival owners such as , Devi Snively, Reyna Young, Shannon Lark, Katt Shea, Kier-La Janisse, Denise Gossett, Heidi Martinuzzi and Elisabeth Fies.

A new webisode will be released each month on the official website for free starting tomorrow. We can't wait! Bloody Breasts is bound to be a scholarly, well-made take on a fascinating subject.

One of the film festivals I became immediately impressed with when I moved to Los Angeles was the Shriekfest Film Festival. Being unfamiliar with a lot of the more genre-focused festivals, I found Shriekfest and festival founder Denise Gossett’s passion for supporting independent filmmaking refreshing amidst a city filled with people who generally are motivated by their own selfishness.

Shriekfest (which is also properly known as The Los Angeles International /Sci-Fi Film Festival & Screenplay Competition) celebrated its tenth anniversary last October and now with the festival gearing up for an 11th successful year of celebrating indie genre fare, in celebration of Indie Horror Month, Dread Central caught up with founder Gossett to chat about how Shriekfest got its start, the world of independent horror, and what keeps her motivated to come back every year.

Gossett, who’s also a celebrated indie horror actress, said her inspiration for Shriekfest came...

Derek Cole alongside his brother Shane Cole are the directors behind the recent "Saw" / "I Know What You Did Last Summer" inspired horror film "M" starring Stephen Twardokus, Sabrina Carmichael, Jon Gale, Jaime Seibert, Rich Lowe, Ed Cole, Russ Kobrin, Jessica Lowe and Denise Gossett. Derek and Shane Cole created a film that was competently made and acted. "M" was made on a budget of just $3000, yet the film looked like it cost far more money to produce and featured special effects that transcended the film's budget. The fact that "M" was produced for so little, yet was well made on such a tiny budget,  makes one wonder what these brothers are capable of if they had a bigger budget and better facilities to make their own brand of horror films. So over here at Big Daddy Horror Reviews, we are keeping an eye out on these possible up and...

By James Morgart

“There is no pleasure. There is no pain. There is only skin.” - Pinhead, Hellraiser III

“Women tend to be more tolerant about visceral things because they have more direct personal experience with them. They cope with periods once a month, they go through childbirth and they are usually the ones who look after the bleeding and battered limbs when the kids take a tumble. They can put blood and gore in context and generally cope better than men.” - Bela Lugosi

Most scholarship on the horror film has assumed that males are the primary spectators of horror; however, there have been developments, both in scholarship as well as in mainstream media, to contradict this point. In 2009, journalist Michelle Orange pointed out, in an article written for the New York Times, “Recent box office receipts show that women have an even bigger appetite for these [horror] films than men.

“Carnies” is now available on Amazon.com. The upcoming film “Carnies” by director Brian Corder stars Doug Jones (Hellboy 2, Pan’s Labyrinth, Frankenstein), Reggie Bannister (Phantasm), Chris Staviski, David Markham (Carnivale) and Lee Perkins. Synopsis: In 1936, during The Great Depression, a traveling sideshow sets up shop to mystify yet another dustbowl town with freaks and illusions. When a sinister force begins taking the carnies’ lives one-by-one, Detective Ellison (Reggie Bannister of “Phantasm”) is put on the case. Is it the cryptic carnival owner, Helen (Denise Gossett)? What about the strong man, Virgil (Chris Staviski)? Or how about Ratty, the snake handler (Doug Jones)? Step Right up folks, step right [...]...

Now in its 10th year, the Shriekfest International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival took place this past weekend at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Celebrating the independent spirit of filmmaking, the festival screened 36 films and had 32 screenplay finalists and 12 original song finalists. On Sunday evening winners were announced to a packed theater and then those in attendance hit the after-party at Boardners in Hollywood.

Shriekfest winners included Ashes, directed by Elias Matar, which took the Grand Jury prize for Best Horror Feature Film. Transfer (review here), directed by Damir Lukacevic, took the Best Fantasy Feature Film award; and Serum 1831, directed by Anand Kanna, took the Best Short Film prize. Rise of the Appliances, directed by Rob Sprackling, took the Best Super Short Film prize, and Best Webisode honors went to "Shady Texas", directed by Jack Daniel Stanley (who also took home Best Original Song in the festival for his submission "Rekindled...

On October 10th at 2 p.m., Dark Delicacies will hold an exclusive Carnies DVD release event with (tentative) Doug Jones, Reggie Bannister, Chris Staviski, Brian Corder, John Corder, David Markham, Gigi Bannister, Denise Gossett, and Mike Murga. The upcoming sideshow thriller “Carnies” by director Brian Corder stars genre favorites Doug Jones (Hellboy 2, Pan’s Labyrinth, Frankenstein), Reggie Bannister (Phantasm, Wishmaster), Ford Austin, Gigi Fast Elk and Lee Perkins (Dahmer vs. Gacy, Live Evil, The Red Machine). Click Here for more photos, news and videos from Carnies. Synopsis: In 1936, during The Great Depression, a traveling sideshow sets up shop to mystify yet another dustbowl town with freaks and illusions. When a sinister [...]...

It's that time once again! Another one of our favorite film festivals, Shriekfest 2010, has unveiled its first round of films for you lovers of indie terror out there, and we got the scoop on what to expect!

Shriekfest Film Festival's 2010 lineup includes such recognizable names as Doug Jones, Lance Henriksen, Danielle Harris, and Tiffany Shepis in the West Coast Premiere of Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer; Sybil Danning and Domiziano Arcangeli in the World Premiere of H1N1: Virus X; Robert Picardo and Richard Gross in the World Premiere of The Awakened; John Savage, Bronson Pinchot, Travis Schuldt, and Natalie Zea in From a Place of Darkness; and Brian Krause, Kadeem Hardison, Barbara Nedeljakova, John Gulager, and Richard Gant in the World Premiere of Ashes.

The roster encompasses 36 films and 32 screenplay finalists. Awards will be awarded in many categories, including an award for the Best Feature Film and Best Under 18 film/screenplay.

Fangoria.com got their hands on a brand new movie trailer for the upcoming sideshow thriller “Carnies” by director Brian Corder starring genre favorites Doug Jones (Hellboy 2, Pan’s Labyrinth, Frankenstein), Reggie Bannister (Phantasm, Wishmaster) and Lee Perkins (Dahmer vs. Gacy, Live Evil). Click Here for more photos, news and videos from Carnies. Synopsis: In 1936, during The Great Depression, a traveling sideshow sets up shop to mystify yet another dustbowl town with freaks and illusions. When a sinister force begins taking the carnies’ lives one-by-one, Detective Ellison (Reggie Bannister of “Phantasm”) is put on the case. Is it the cryptic carnival owner, Helen (Denise Gossett)? What about the strong man, Virgil [...]...

Carnies DVD ArtThe official DVD art and special features for director Brian Corder's Carnies is here. The film is being distributed by R Squared Films and included on the DVD, aside from the film, are the following: an interview with actor Doug Jones, an on set interview with actor Reggie Bannister, a behind the scenes featurette, a music video entitled "Flying or Falling," and a Carnies slideshow, with movie stills. The film is set within the Depression of the '20s and the show follows a possessed, travelling circus of freaks and geeks, where the fun and games can be deadly.

The synopsis for Carnies here:

"Having sawdust in the blood is a carny compliment, but blood in the sawdust is another story. In 1936, during The Great Depression, a traveling sideshow sets up shop to mystify yet another dustbowl town with freaks and illusions. When a sinister force begins taking the carnies' lives one-by-one,...

R-Squared will release Brian Corder's Carnies on DVD, VOD, and in theatres beginning October 12th. Carnies involves a series of murders at a travelling circus where the suspects are larger than life e.g. the sword-swallower, and the strong man. Have a look at an official for the trailer before the release.

The synopsis for Carnies here:

"Sawdust in the blood used to be a Carny compliment...not a description of a crime scene.

There are a thousand sideshows playing thousands of small towns in 1936 when the Knuckles Brothers Show rolls into yet another town, ready to delight and dazzle the town folk with amazing acts and puzzling oddities. As they set up their tents they could not know that within days several of them would be dead, ripped savagely apart by a seemingly inhuman force, their souls stolen from their limp and bloody bodies.

Meet Helen, the owner of the Carny,...

Tired of sitting back and watching everyone around you doing all of the heavy lifting in the film industry? Have a gazillion and one ideas for a movie but just can't catch a break? Thanks to a new short film competition put together by our very own Heather Wixson, that break could be a lot closer than you think!

From the Press Release

Final Girl Films LLC is proud to announce a new short film competition for independent horror filmmakers looking to make their next short film project.

From May 20th through June 20th, 2010, interested filmmakers may enter the competition where, if chosen, the recipient will win $500 towards making his or her short film, and when completed, the project will be entered into the 2010 Shriekfest Short Film Competition for a chance to be a part of the 10th Anniversary Shriekfest Film Festival this upcoming October.

How to Enter:

Filmmakers can...

That's pretty awesome. Pretty/Scary editor Heidi Martinuzzi (me) gets mentioned in this ChicagoNow list of the top 13 influential women in horror history along with contemporaries Jovanka Vuckovic (journalist), Denise Gossett (film festival director), Devi Snively (filmmaker), and Debbie Rochon (actress) and icons Kathryn Bigelow (director), Debra Hill (producer), Anne Rice, Ida Lupino (actress/director), Karen Walton (screenwriter), Maila Nurmi (Vampyra), Stephenie Meyer, and Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein.)

I'd have loved to see Cassandra Peterson, Brinke Stevens, or Mary Lambert up there instead of myself and Stephenie Meyer. But let's just pretend we didn't say that!

Last Thursday night, following hosting a screening and ensuing Q&A of Matt Zettell’s Resurrection County at The Los Angeles Film School (and the after-party at Kung Pao Kitty in Hollywood, CA), Dread was tipped off by the director that he’d just received a script for a sequel to his 2007 flick Cellar Door.

Entitled Cellar Door 2: Preymate, Zettell (pictured l to r with Resurrection County screenwriter James Cotton and stars Kathryn Michelle and Adam Huss) revealed of the film’s plot, “Herman has been locked away in a institution for the criminally insane. There should be nothing to fear. But Jody is running scared. A mysterious copy cat killer is stalking her, taunting her with the last words on earth she wants to hear; “Herman wants to play!.”

Penned by Chris Nelson who scripted the first in the now-burgeoning series, actors James DuMont and Michelle Tomlinson return...

Brooke Lewis is a prolific actress with dozens of acting credits to her name. However, Brooke is not only a previous off Broadway actress, but an executive producer, producer, director, and promoter of horror films and now one of several stars in the upcoming "iMurders," which, as previously reported here, will show in a limited engagement in Pasadena this July 25.

Small in stature, curvaceous, and big in heart Ms. Vampy talks of "iMurders" and several other upcoming features in this one of a kind interview from one of the most beautiful actresses in the horror genre. Check out the interview and get a sense of Brooke's passionate personality on camera and off just past the break

(Michael Allen) When did you realize your passion for acting?

(Brooke Lewis) "I feel like I have been very fortunate to know what I wanted to do with my life at an early age.

Director Brian Corder passed on a trio of new pics featuring the cast of his recently completed chiller Carnies. Check ’em out below the cut.

The photos feature (left to right) Phantasm veteran Reggie Bannister, Katiebird’s Lee Perkins and little person Mighty Mike Murga. Carnies also stars Chris Staviski (who produced the movie with John Corder), regular Guillermo del Toro collaborator Doug Jones, David Markham and Denise Gossett in a story of murder and mayhem among the denizens of the Knuckles Brothers traveling carnival in 1936. You can see our previous story on Carnies here and the movie’s official website here.

Director Brian Corder sent along some new, exclusive photos from his circus-of-horrors opus Carnies, with the latest poster (by artist Alexandre Tuis) and the news that the movie is finished. “It has been a long process,” he says, “but the movie is finally complete and we’re shopping for potential distributors.

{rokbox size=|400 575| title=|Carnies| album=|carniesnewpics|}images/stories/news/carniesnewpicsnews1.jpg{/rokbox}{rokbox size=|400 575| title=|Carnies| album=|carniesnewpics|}images/stories/news/carniesnewpicsnews2.jpg{/rokbox}{rokbox size=|400 575| title=|Carnies| album=|carniesnewpics|}images/stories/news/carniesnewpicsnews3.jpg{/rokbox}{rokbox size=|400 575| title=|Carnies| album=|carniesnewpics|}images/stories/news/carniesnewpicsnews4.jpg{/rokbox}

“Over the last year, we shot several new scenes and dialed in the audio and music,” Corder says of the film, which stars Chris Staviski (who also produced with John Corder), Pan’S Labyrinth’s Doug Jones, Phantasm stalwart Reggie Bannister (first photo), David Markham, Lynn Ayala, Denise Gossett (second photo...

Take a look at a brand new movie poster from the upcoming horror film “Carnies” by director Brian Corder and starring Chris Staviski, Doug Jones (Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Quarantine), Reggie Bannister (Phantasm, The Quiet Ones), David Markham, Denise Gossett and Lee Perkins (Edges of Darkness, KatieBird). This poster is by artist Alexandre Tuis, who recently worked as a concept artist for “Dragonball: Evolution” and is a creature designer from the remake of “Spider Baby”. Synopsis: Sawdust in the Blood used to be a Carny compliment…not a description of a crime scene. There are a thousand sideshows playing thousands of small towns in 1936 when the Knuckles Brothers Show [...]...