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Studies suggest that human laughter might have evolved as a way of communicating that a perceived source of danger is actually harmless. That’s why it makes sense that horror comedies were invented almost immediately after actual horror films, as there’s no better way of dealing with fear than laughing at media-induced collective nightmares.

This ancient custom even applies to more recent and immersive sub-genres, as not even the visceral scares of Found Footage movies are immune to the occasional dose of dark humor. With that in mind, we’ve decided to come up with a list recommending six Found Footage horror-comedies for your viewing pleasure. After all, not every Pov horror flick needs to be an ultra serious compilation of glitches and jump-scares.

While this list is obviously based on personal opinion, we’ll be limiting entries to original Found Footage movies only – which means no spoofs or...

Taylor Sheridan doesn’t hold back when it comes to intense storytelling, and Sicario proved just that. It’s a prime example of what Sheridan can do when he’s at the top of his game. Now, imagine if Yellowstone had that.

Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone as Travis | Credits: Paramount Network

Sicario is the ultimate reminder that Sheridan’s got the skills to deliver something truly epic — when he really wants to. Makes you wonder what Yellowstone could’ve been if he had poured that same grit into every scene.

Taylor Sheridan’s Toughest Sicario Scene Proves Yellowstone Could’ve Hit Even Harder Emily Blunt in Sicario | Credits: Lionsgate Films

In a conversation with Vulture, Taylor Sheridan spilled the behind-the-scenes tea on crafting one of the film’s most pivotal scenes — a s*x scene outside a bar — and why it pushed him to his limits. Sheridan explained that the...

Satranic Panic: "Dark Star Pictures is releasing renowned director Alice Maio Mackay’s Trans slasher/horror Satranic Panic On Digital and On Demand August 13, 2024.

A bloody, demon-infested road movie about the power of claiming one’s identity and the importance of chosen family, Satranic Panic exposes the hypocrisy of the status quo with biting wit, killer drag, and incredible tits.

Satranic Panic made its world premiere at SXSW’s inaugural edition in Sydney before heading to Panic Fest, Salem Horror Fest and more. Dread Central raved that the film is Maio Mackay’s “most ambitious story and style yet.”

At only twenty years old, Australian filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay has already directed five feature films, including So Vam (2021), Bad Girl Boogey (2022), T Blockers (2023), Satranic Panic, and the upcoming Carnage for Christmas. As a transgender filmmaker, Maio Mackay uses camp and comedy to boldly queer the horror genre, crafting vibrant,...

Of all the entertainment franchises that bookend America’s twin pre-Trump eras, “Sausage Party” may be the strangest. When the original film was released in the summer of 2016, the culture was still throwing cash at the alternately shocking and sweet shenanigans of Seth Rogen’s budding bro-euvre. Sandwiched neatly between “Neighbors” (a good movie) and “Neighbors 2” (a great film), the R-rated animated comedy about anthropomorphized edibles fighting to escape their deep-fried fates felt like an innocent indulgence; a bawdy comedy of the “I can’t believe this really exists” variety that was made all the more endearing by its crude jokes and cruder animation. Plus, seeded among the mountain of puns and literal food-fucking was a religious allegory that gave the big-screen adventure enough of an existential piquancy to keep it from tasting like total junk food. (IndieWire’s David Ehrlich described it as “a feature-length Sunday school lesson for budding atheists.

Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keogh don realistic sasquatch suits for Nathan and David Zellner’s eco-dramedy. Here’s our Sasquatch Sunset review.

Many films have explored the possibility of giant, mythical creatures existing in the wild, from the comedic to the horrific.

In Sasquatch Sunset, directors (and brothers) Nathan and David Zellner point their camera towards the human-like, hairy and surprisingly gentle creatures. And while they aren’t real, the story manages to use these characters to explore some real insights about our relationship to nature. The film follows a four-strong sasquatch family over the course of one year as they roam the woods, but their lives are increasingly complicated by humans and the changing nature of… well, nature.

The Zellners have put their actors, Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough and child actor Christophe Zajac-Denek, into realistic sasquatch costumes, while David Zellner completes the pack as the alpha sasquatch. The family...

As we shake off the winter chill and leap into the vibrant embrace of spring, it’s time to rejuvenate our horror watchlist with some great horror movies streaming on Tubi that embody the season’s spirit of renewal. What better way to celebrate the blossoming chaos of nature than with a bouquet of horror movies that are as invigorating as the fresh spring breeze? Tubi, the treasure trove of free streaming, offers a garden of ghoulish delights perfect for this seasonal transition. Let’s unwrap six horror movie gems that are guaranteed to put a spring in your step and a shiver down your spine.

See AlsoHorror Movie ListsWhodunit? 16 Great Murder Mystery Movies to Investigate Tonight! Rlje 6. Mandy (2018)

In the visually stunning Mandy, Nicolas Cage delivers a powerhouse performance, embarking on a phantasmagoric vengeance spree against a demonic cult in a primordial forest. This movie is a full-blown experience,...

It has been a few years since Naruto Shippuden ended, with Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga tying the knot. Nonetheless, it has remained one of the most popular anime of all time. It is considered one of the Big Three of anime and played a big role in making the anime and manga industry mainstream. Even after wrapping up, there seems to be no end to the fan theories.

Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus often made headlines due to wild fan theories. One of those fan theories was surrounding Yamato and Tsunade. Tsunade was one of the legendary Sannin and the Fifth Hokage, so it is not new for her to be the attraction for fan theories. But the one with Yamato managed to grab the audience’s attention pretty firmly.

Tsunade Might Be Yamato’s Mother

Tsunade

Tsunade is the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. The Senju...

Ahead of the first episode dropping on March 19, the podcast Black Velvet Fairies has been officially announced with an audio trailer this afternoon, and you can listen below.

Black Velvet Fairies comes from Mike Monello, Gregg Hale, and Eduardo Sanchez, the minds behind the found footage horror classic The Blair Witch Project.

From podcast publisher Prx, Black Velvet Fairies is the audio diary of Lucy Verdell, a woman whose grandmother leaves her four black velvet paintings of fairies. But not twinkly, little sprites – these are grim warriors, kings and queens.

As she investigates her family’s history with the artwork, disturbing dreams and unexplained encounters pull Lucy toward a dark and dangerous fairy world that some believe is real.

Black Velvet Fairies will be available free on demand across all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Overcast, with new episodes of the 13-episode series released on...

The beginning of Exists echoes those many other horror films set in the deep woods. Hapless folks encounter an unusual threat, likely after trespassing or offending the locals. And as this well-used formula commands, the characters then die in gruesome fashion. Eduardo Sánchez’s 2014 film is, admittedly, derivative of most body-count horrors with rural backdrops, yet it contains at least one novelty to set it apart: a Bigfoot. Hardly five minutes into this film and the young cast hits something on the road. As they assess the damage to their car and figure out what they struck, the characters get the sinking feeling that they are being watched from the nearby woods. Someone finally states the obvious: “That wasn’t no deer, bro.”

On average, found-footage horror films delay their strangeness in an effort to establish a semblance of normalcy. Make everything hypernormal and deliberately tedious so that the bizarre bits are more persuasive.

A city couple relocating to a home in the forest discover a commune on the neighbouring land is home to a cult of sasquatch worshippers harbouring sinister secrets.

Directed and co-written by Jon Garcia, Summoning the Spirit is a strange beast: part meditative melodrama reflecting upon the effects of grief on a relationship, and part solemn eco-horror creature-feature with a strong message about the impact of mankind’s meddling on nature. At the outset it appears to be an intriguing blend of Midsommar meets the likes of Willow Creek, Exists, or The Legend Of Boggy Creek, but to label it as such isn’t fair. While there are parallels with Midsommar – a grieving protagonist struggles through the aftermath of unspeakable loss while being slowly drawn into the ritualistic practices of a strange cult – Garcia’s film is very much its own thing, with its own things to say. ...

The best Bigfoot movies are about as elusive as the creature himself. Despite Hollywood's love for making films about ghosts, man-eating animals, ogres, and dragons, the industry has seemingly snubbed the mythical giant ape some call Sasquatch. But despite Tinsel Town's lack of love for the big guy, there have been some pretty interesting, unique, and downright scary Bigfoot movies, that, while not appealing to mainstream audiences, have been hits with genre fans. While there were movies about all the other horror monsters through the years, the first Bigfoot movie didn't even arrive until 1970.

This is despite the creature getting its first mention all the way back in the 1700s when stories of hairy creatures in the forests would scream loudly and steal livestock. This led to stories of shape-shifting creatures, adding a supernatural tint to the idea of the Bigfoot monsters. By the 1800s, there were stories in different parts of the world,...

After having its World Premiere at Beyond Fest, Screen Media is set to release our newest anthology experiment, Portals, on VOD platforms and in limited theaters this Friday, October 25th! Following in the tradition of our V/H/S trilogy and Southbound, we attempted something with sci-fi roots that includes segments directed by Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project, Lovely Molly, Exists), Gregg Hale (V/H/S/2), Timo […]...

With his previous films, Almost Human (2013) and The Mind’s Eye (2015), filmmaker Joe Begos tapped into a nostalgia for 80s genre cinema that touched me like no other and now he’s back with Bliss – a film that reportedly ups the ante of his previous work, with searing visuals, kinetic energy, an endearing nastiness, and a ferociously all-in lead performance from actress Dora Madison. And this time Begos takes us back to the grimy days of New York City grindhouse cinema, when films like Abel Ferrara’s The Driller Killer and Bill Lustig’s Maniac were the norm!

Known for her dark and macabre artwork, painter Dezzy Donahue (Dora Madison) is in a professional rut. Unable to finish her newest commissioned work, Dezzy looks to reignite her creative juices by letting loose-as in, taking every drug in sight and tearing through raucous house parties and heavy metal bars. After a...

Last year’s “Blair Witch” didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but “The Blair Witch Project” continues to loom large in the mind of horror fans. Now Eduardo Sánchez, who co-directed the found-footage phenomenon, is set to return with “Griffin’s Ghost,” a psychological thriller written by the late Jack Zeman. The new movie is launching sales at the Cannes Film Festival this month.

Read More: Life After ‘Blair Witch’: Why the Writer-Director Team Waited Years to Make a Studio Movie

Per an announcement, “Griffin’s Ghost” is about “Griffin Kidder and her husband John, who buy a dilapidated house in the suburbs to renovate, only to discover the home already has residents of the apparition variety. After relentless torment, Griffin finally confronts the ghost. Only when their unusual connection deepens does she realize the true threat isn’t inside the house.” No word yet on whether...

Stars: Bill Oberst Jr., Jason Vail, David Saucedo, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, D’Angelo Midili, Connor Conrad, Jordan Neslund | Written and Directed by John Portanova

Horror movie monsters don’t get much goofier than the Sasquatch. Sure, Bigfoot is a legitimate part of American folk legend/mythology, but The Missing Link doesn’t exactly inspire fear or terror, no matter how good the ape suit is. Some brave directors have tried, mind – most notably Eduardo Sanchez, with his found footage feature Exists – but we’re a long way off from a definitive, and good Bigfoot feature.

Latest – of a very small queue – to step up to the bat is John Portanova, with his mostly serious Hunting Grounds (or Valley of the Sasquatch to go by its sillier but better title, by which is is known on UK DVD too). In it, we follow a grieving father and son duo (plus cannon-fodder brother-in-law...

Things get tense around the dinner table when a mother looks to her husband to satisfy her sudden cannibalistic craving in our exclusive clip from "Shady Glen," the next episode of From Dusk Till Dawn Season 3 that airs tonight at 9:00pm Et on El Rey Network.

"Shady Glen" was directed by Eduardo Sánchez (The Blair Witch Project, Exists) from a script written by Sarah Wise.

Episode 305 synopsis: "A cannibal attack in a suburban neighborhood forces Seth to bring his makeshift team together to save innocent civilians"

"Season three features a returning ensemble cast including D.J. Cotrona, Zane Holtz, Eiza González, Jesse Garcia, Madison Davenport, Brandon Soo Hoo, Emily Rios and Jake Busey. New cast joining the third season are: Ana de la Reguera ("Jane the Virgin”, "Narcos") who will have a recurring role as Lord Venganza Verdugo, one of the seven remaining culebra Lords; Marko Zaror (“Machete Kills”) as Zolo,...

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...

★☆☆☆☆ For director Eduardo Sánchez - creator of found-footage hit The Blair Witch Project (1999) - his latest Dtv contribution to the canon, Exists (2014), should have been something of a stroll in the park. Yet there's little to recommend in this apparent parody (presumably not its intention) of the genre to which it situates itself. It's a thoroughly ham-fisted affair, from the camerawork to the reveal of the big bad monster. Exists is essentially a found-footage fumbler from a hall-of-famer. The premise is horrendously clichéd: two brothers, Matt (Samuel Davis) and Brian (Chris Osborn), bring three friends out to their uncle's remote cabin in the wilds of Texas.

To celebrate the release of Exists - on DVD 6th April 2015 – we have a DVD copy to giveaway courtesy of Entertainment One.

The creator of The Blair Witch Project, Eduardo Sánchez, returns to found-footage horror, the sub-genre he defined back in ’99 and proves he can still terrify audiences with his masterful ability and technique to create high levels of suspense. This time around, Sánchez turns the lens on America’s favourite monster – Bigfoot, and as Exists’ gang of doomed road-trippers is about to discover, this Sasquatch is the most terrifying incarnation ever seen on screen.

Exists is available to order on Amazon today: http://amzn.to/1ClKAKu

To win a copy of Exists on DVD, just answer the following question:

Who co-directed The Blair Witch Project alongside Eduardo Sánchez? Was it:

a) Heather Donahue

b) Daniel Myrick

c) Michael C. Williams

Email your answer to NerdlyComps@gmail.com, making sure...

Yeah, okay… so it isn’t the real Bigfoot, but this exclusive new clip for the UK release of Eduardo Sánchez’s Exists gives us a glimpse of a particular incarnation of the cryotozoological beastie that isn’t to be trifled with. The… Continue Reading →

The post Bigfoot Caught on Camera! Exclusive UK Clip Proves He Exists… appeared first on Dread Central.

Get ready stateside filmgoers, because the “phoners” (aka “crazies”) are coming to the Us. Stephen King fans know that the master of macabre doesn’t like using cell phones. His 2006 novel, Cell, is a cautionary tale about what can go wrong by pressing portable phones to our ears and keeping them close at hand in our pockets, and its unflinching subject matter contains flocks of murderous lunatics that would be right at home in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later, George A. Romero’s The Crazies, or Simon Clark’s Blood Crazy.

We knew this unique King novel was getting the adaptation treatment, with King co-writing the screenplay and John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson in the lead roles, but we’re now one big step closer to seeing it on the silver screen, as Clarius Entertainment has acquired the Us rights to the movie.

Slated to hit theaters this year,...

With Exists, Blair Witch co-director Eduardo Sanchez makes a feature length return to the aesthetic which launched both his career and 1000 indie horror films: found footage. Fifteen-plus years on from his seminal work, the medium is as popular—at least with filmmakers, if not fans—as ever, but only recently is starting to see some real…

The post Q&A: Exists’ Eduardo Sanchez on Pushing and Playing with Found Footage appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Back in 1999, the first "The Blair Witch Project" was a true phenomenon - amassing a $250 million worldwide gross from a budget of just $60,000. A year later Hollywood attempted a sequel with a proper budget. The $15 million-budgeted 'Book of Shadows' opened to awful reviews and ultimately grossed just $47 million.

Both of the film's directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez have gone on solo career paths to shoot assorted indie horror films that have often gone direct to video. Sanchez has been getting some traction for his sasquatch feature "Exists" lately, and talking about that film with Dread Central he was also asked about a potential third "Blair Witch". He says:

“We have been talking to Lionsgate and there has been a little bit of movement but nothing is concrete. The film seems inevitable to me, but really it’s just a matter of it being the right time. I’m thinking...

It.s only a matter of time before we get Blair Witch 3. Why wouldn.t we? It seems like every classic horror film from It to Pet Sematary to Poltergeist is getting remade, and the rest are getting new installments or a TV show. (We.re looking at you, Halloween and Scream.) So when Blair Witch co-director Eduardo Sanchez was asked about whether another continuation of his found-footage horror film was in the cards, he confirmed what we.re all thinking: probably. Though it was mainly about his new Bigfoot movie Exists, a phone interview between Sanchez and Dread Central unearthed this information: The film seems inevitable to me, but really it.s just a matter of it being the right time. I.m thinking it.s going to happen sooner than later at this point, but I always say that. There.s always rumblings and certain ideas being pushed...

The wise-cracking ass-kicking small town ninjas of Ninjas vs Vampires are back with the action-packed horror film Ninjas vs Monsters; and this time the ninjas take on an army of traditional horror movie fiends in order to save mankind…

Dracula has called upon Frankenstein’s monster, The Mummy, Werewolf, and a coven of Witches to wipe out the Ninjas, but our pizza-loving heroes – tougher and wiser after their battles in the 2011 film Ninjas Vs Vampires – now have their own supernatural powers as well as awesome kung fu skills to counter the threat. What follows is non-stop combat with plenty of laughs and gore along the way in director Justin Timpane’s latest horror adventure, which is Executive Produced by Eduardo Sanchez (director of The Blair Witch Project, Lovely Molly and Exists).

With Ninjas vs Monsters set for a UK release on January 26th and a Us debut on February 3rd,...

Left Films have today released a brand-new trailer for the action-packed horror film Ninjas vs Monsters from Executive Producer Eduardo Sanchez (Lovely Molly, Exists) and director Justin Timpane – which is released on DVD and Bluray in the UK on 26th January 2015 and hits the Us on February 3rd.

Dracula has called upon Frankenstein’s monster, The Mummy, Werewolf, and a coven of Witches to wipe out the Ninjas, but our pizza-loving heroes – tougher and wiser after their battles in the 2011 film Ninjas Vs Vampires – now have their own supernatural powers as well as awesome kung fu skills to counter the threat. What follows is non-stop combat with plenty of laughs and gore along the way in director Justin Timpane’s latest horror adventure, which is Executive Produced by Eduardo Sanchez (director of The Blair Witch Project, Lovely Molly and Exists).

The UK DVD and Blu-ray release of Ninjas vs Monsters...

The wise-cracking ass-kicking small town ninjas of Ninjas vs Vampires are back with the action-packed horror film Ninjas vs Monsters – to be released by Left Films on DVD and Bluray in the UK on 26th January 2015. This time the ninjas take on an army of traditional horror movie fiends in order to save mankind….

Dracula has called upon Frankenstein’s monster, The Mummy, Werewolf, and a coven of Witches to wipe out the Ninjas, but our pizza-loving heroes – tougher and wiser after their battles in the 2011 film Ninjas Vs Vampires – now have their own supernatural powers as well as awesome kung fu skills to counter the threat. What follows is non-stop combat with plenty of laughs and gore along the way in director Justin Timpane’s latest horror adventure, which is Executive Produced by Eduardo Sanchez (director of The Blair Witch Project, Lovely Molly and Exists).

The DVD and Bluray...

We here at Sound On Sight believe horror transcends explicit gore, jump scares or supernatural content, which is why you’ll soon notice our list ranges from independent art films to psychological thrillers to parodies, satire and more. Surprisingly, vampires lead the pack this year, along with found footage flicks, but there are a few comedies, one remake and even some strange love stories as well.

Every other year, I’ve published the list of best horror films based solely on my picks, but this year, Sound On Sight editor Justine Smith and Sos contributor Felix Vasquez Jr. also participated. Since we couldn’t agree with what is the best horror film of 2014, we decided to publish the list in alphabetical order. That said, here are our individual picks:

Ricky D- Under the Skin

Justine Smith – Cybernatural

Felix Vasquez Jr. - The Babadook

****

This list is in alphabetical order

Animal...

“The terrifying urban legend comes to life when Exists arrives on DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD February 3rd from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The film is currently available via On Demand. From the director of The Blair Witch Project, Eduardo Sanchez, Exists takes you back to the woods in this first-person account of a legend on a deadly attack. The Exists DVD includes an audio commentary with director Eduardo Sanchez, deleted scenes and two behind-the-scenes … Continue reading →

Horrornews.net...

Brian sets up cameras around his friend’s cabin with hopes of recording Bigfoot in action, but he probably doesn’t expect those same lenses to capture his friends’ potential final moments. In Exists, Eduardo Sanchez, co-director of The Blair Witch Project, heads back into the woods in search of a beast that does not come in peace, and Lionsgate is bringing the film to DVD early next year with substantial bonus features:

Press Release – “The terrifying urban legend comes to life when Exists arrives on DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD February 3rd from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The film is currently available via On Demand. From the director of The Blair Witch Project, Eduardo Sanchez, Exists takes you back to the woods in this first-person account of a legend on a deadly attack. The Exists DVD includes an audio commentary with director Eduardo Sanchez, deleted scenes and two behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Coverage of ISAs (international sales agents) resumed for the American Film Market. This segment follows leaders, innovation and successful new startups in the world of international film sales and distribution.

The Beverly Hills based International Film Trust (Ift) was started in April 2013 by co-founders Michael Benaroya of Benaroya Pictures and Miscellaneous Entertainment principals D. Todd Shepherd and George Waud.

Since its inception at Cannes in 2013, Ift has acquired 12 films with another set for Berlin 2015. The first titles were successfully presold last year and have since been scheduled for theatrical release.

Ift President Christian De Gallegos brings a wealth of wisdom and experience from his background in the talent agencies and as a sales agent for Voltage Pictures, working on Oscar winners like “The Hurt Locker” and “Dallas Buyers Club”.

De Gallegos talks about the progress of this fairly new sales agency and shares some of Ift’s upcoming films:

How did Ift start?

Michael Benaroya had been an active producer and financier for years, outsourcing international sales to the leading independent companies. His slate was growing and international distribution remained crucial to his business model, so he knew that starting an international sales agency would be financially efficient and would give him a more thorough market awareness which is invaluable when packaging.

Mb: I worked with the top international distributors at Voltage who have thankfully supported Ift since day one and we’ve been lucky to partner with powerhouse companies like Sony, eOne and Universal who are currently scheduled to release half our slate, having come on board in pre-production.

The majority of our lineup to date has been within the Us$ 10 million dollar range, shot with soft money and internationally viable casts, keeping budgets to a reasonable level so presales without confirmed U.S. theatrical distribution are realistic. We comfortably retain production value which validates theatrical upside.

We’re excited to step up to the next level this year. We have two films in which we’re involved with financing and distribution: one at Us$ 33 million and another at Us$ 35 million.

What are some new projects that you’re excited about?

“You Shall Know Our Velocity”, based off Dave Eggers best-selling novel, will start shooting April 2015 with Daniel Radcliffe. Also, we have a film called “Cymbeline” with Dakota Johnson as the lead (from “Fifty Shades of Grey”), which premiered at Venice this year. Grindstone will theatrically release it in early 2015.

What do you look for when considering a film?

Interesting concepts and relevant topics with the right financing structure. I’ve been involved with the passion projects of A-list actors which can be exciting as they attract great ensembles, cameos, crew and their enthusiasm usually leads to a better movie.

How did you enter the business?

I started in the talent agency world, working at Paradigm in film, music and TV. The agencies are the epicenter of the entertainment industry; there you’re exposed to all sides of the business, so it was just a matter of time before I learned about international sales and figured it would suit me best. I found an opportunity at Voltage Pictures working as Nicolas Chartier’s assistant in 2007. After a few months he promoted me to sell on his behalf. I worked there for six years, sold about 100 movies and was lucky enough to be part of great films like “The Hurt Locker”, which won eight Oscars, “Don Jon”, and “Dallas Buyer’s Club”. The founders of Ift approached me early 2013 and I’ve been thrilled to be a part of our growing company ever since.

What do you love the most about your work?

I love deal making and the satisfaction it brings me, whether it’s a quick handshake or a challenging spin on a tough topic. I love the partnerships I’ve formed and friendships I’ve developed, with both clients and competitors. I love the markets but prefer visiting what is a very nice network of people on their home turf, traveling the world to see firsthand where our influence reaches.

More about International Film Trust:

International Film Trust (Ift) is an international sales and distribution company launched by co-founders Michael Benaroya of Benaroya Pictures and Miscellaneous Entertainment principals D. Todd Shepherd and George Waud to represent the theatrical feature film productions from the founding company’s own banners as well as titles from other producers and third party productions. With over twenty years experience in producing, finance, international sales and distribution, Ift has the knowledge and relationships to cultivate strategic partnerships with A-list producers and filmmakers. Transparent by design in their business practices, Ift is a company that understands and honors the four pillars that sustain the global film marketplace: Creativity, Finance, Sales and Distribution.

Making its debut at Cannes 2013, Ift’s slate includes You Shall Know Our Velocity based on Dave Egger's best-selling novel and starring Daniel Radcliffe; Mark Polish's Headlock starring Polish, Andy Garcia, Dianna Agron and Justin Bartha; Michael Almereyda’s Cymbeline starring Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Dakota Johnson and Milla Jovovich; the action thriller Cell starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, and to be directed by Tod Williams (Paranormal Activity 2); The King Of The Kastle starring Clive Owen, Academy Award Nominee Jacki Weaver and Asa Butterfield; Your Voice In My Head based on Emma Forrest's best-selling novel; and the horror thriller Exists directed by Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project) and which was released by Lionsgate in October.

Exists is a Bigfoot movie. Or if you prefer a Sasquatch movie. Or maybe we can go with Hairy Bill (one of the Bigfoot nicknames in the great state of Texas where the film was shot and the story takes place). Which one is politically correct Enquiring beasts want to know Eduardo Sanchez of The Blair Witch Project fame is treading some similar territory with his new horror film. Weve got found footage a heavily wooded area which gets our characters semilost and several very exciting and scary sequences (though none of it can top The Blair Witch Project).

Lionsgate and Digital Media Management have teamed up to create a unique interactive adventure on Tumblr to promote “Exists,” a found-footage creature feature from director Eduardo Sanchez (“The Blair Witch Project”). The experience allows users to interact with the movie's characters and determine which direction the story takes by giving them different scenarios and choices at each turn, making it challenging for users to find their way to safety. Each choice includes a piece of rebloggable content — such as GIFs, videos and images — enabling fans to share their chosen path with their own followers, further promoting the film's content...

The Pictures Got Small: Sanchez Unwisely Revisits Found Footage

The co-director of 1999’s The Blair Witch Project, Eduardo Sanchez, returns to the fold of the found footage genre with Exists, replacing witches with Bigfoot, and a gaggle of clichéd ignoramuses that fail to stand out as anything other than slightly typified personalities. The fact that Sanchez’s film plays like one more forgettable entry in a cost effective indie genre is of significant note considering it was his original success that spawned a whole generation of mimicry, which he’s now become a part of himself. With nary an original flourish in its little brain, despite some fleeting moments of genuine creepiness, the distraction of its mechanics work as resolutely against its effectiveness like a majority of all films in this vein, wherein cameras stay indefatigably in action no matter the dangers faced, and obvious editing and musical cues interfere...

Chicago – Director Eduardo Sánchez has found one bizarre way to commemorate the rogue nature of his horror film “The Blair Witch Project” for its 15-year-anniversary - by crafting an analogously lesser movie with the very rulebook he defied in 1999. In turn, his new Bigfoot found footage film “Exists” becomes a minimal horror project for the GoPro camera era that doesn’t have much of a life of its own outside of its “Blair Witch Project” context.

Rating: 1.5/5.0

The text from the very beginning of the “Exists” clues audiences into the number of recorded sightings regarding Bigfoot, a statistic that could be as fudged as when “Blair Witch Project” actor Joshua Leonard was reported as “missing, presumed dead” on his IMDb page. Sanchez has a generic batch of attractive and camera-savvy twenty-somethings (Dora Madison Burge, Denise Williamson, Roger Edwards, Samuel Davis, Chris Osborn) encounter this woods creature pretty quickly in the movie,...

While it comes across as rather unthreatening, the grainy, super 8 footage of the unidentified subject also known as “Bigfoot” shot way back in 1967 is legend because it is perpetually shrouded in mystery. The found footage subgenre is perhaps one of the better formulas for tapping into the fear of the unknown, and filmmaker Eduardo Sanchez who gave us The Blair Witch Project certainly can attest the strengths of the aesthetic and narrative strategy. Landing at this year’s SXSW, Sanchez’s fifth feature Exists (Lionsgate – October 24th) which drops in select theaters and On Demand this Friday, the clip below reminds us that it’s not all fun and games when you’re in the backwoods.

See if horror truly ‘Exists’ in director Eduardo Sanchez’s upcoming film, which will released in select theaters and On Demand on Friday by Lionsgate. In honor of the new movie from the helmer, who helped shape the present tone and nature of the genre with his 1999 directorial debut, ‘The Blair Witch Project,’ the distributor is holding a special screening tomorrow night in Los Angeles. The event, which will start at 7pm, will be followed by a Q&A with Sanchez. Fans can experience the filmmaker’s latest movie by entering a ticket giveaway. To attend tomorrow night’s screening and Q&A with Sanchez in La, email existsgiveaway@gmail.com. Winners will be notified with [ Read More ]

The post See if Horror Truly Exists in Ticket Giveaway For La Screening and Filmmaker Q&A appeared first on Shockya.com.

It's difficult to fathom how a found-footage saga from The Blair Witch Project director Eduardo Sánchez about kids being pursued in the woods by Bigfoot isn't a parody. Yet against all good sense, Exists plays its material straight, possibly proving itself the year's most laughably derivative and dreary film. At a remote East Texas cabin, three featureless guys and two nondescript girls are hunted by the famed Sasquatch, who moans and wails off in the distance, all while one of the men documents everything on a camcorder that he's incapable of holding steady, and with which he utterly fails to capture the legendary monster for more than a blurry split second. Given its resemblance to Blair Witch, the action — which involve lots of scream...

Are you in Los Angeles and looking for a little Sasquatchploitation to get dirty with? Then You are in luck because we’re giving away five (5) pairs of tickets to the premiere of Eduardo Sanchez’s Exists! The screening takes place… Continue Reading →

The post L.A. Residents: Win Tickets to See the Premiere of Exists appeared first on Dread Central.

Between Bobcat Goldthwait’s Willow Creek and Eduardo Sánchez’s Exists, Bigfoot is having quite a horrifying year. In Willow Creek, the legendary monster goes the “mumblecore” route for some simmering, slow-burn chills, while Exists goes full creature-feature by bringing an animalistic primitiveness to the hairy best. Defying most horror rules, Sánchez wastes no time introducing in Sass to horror audiences that are yearning for some backwoods survival horror. As far as found footage scares go, Sánchez gains major points for bringing intensity in a fast and furious manner, never bullshitting his fans with cheap decoys or distorted jump-scares. Exists delivers Exactly as prompted, being a polar opposite to Goldthwait’s subtle tension. If Bigfoot is your jam yet twenty-minute-long-tent-rustlings aren’t your thing, go with Exists on this one – you’ll thank me while you’re washing your blood-soaked clothes.

The plot of Exists isn’t very complicated, nor...

Eduardo Sanchez's Exists, a Bigfoot found footage horror flick, arrives October 24th in select theaters and VOD.

Today, we have an exclusive photo to share with you. In addition to this, we have 5 pairs of tickets for a 7pm screening on October 23rd at an L.A. theater with director Sanchez (Lovely Molly, The Blair Witch Project) in attendance for a Q&A.

The post Exclusive Photo: Exists – Win Tickets to an L.A. Screening With the Director! appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Continuing to make sure that October remains the scariest month of the year, the Spooky Movie International Horror Movie Festival returns for its ninth annual edition on Oct. 9-18 at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Opening Night: It’s a double slam bang on Oct. 9 with two exciting new entries in insanely popular horror franchises. First up is V/H/S Viral, where the gruesome series goes online with startling Internet videos directed by Todd Lincoln, Nacho Vigalondo and more. Then, that’s followed by The Dead 2: India, another tale of international zombie madness once again directed by Howard J. Ford and Jon Ford.

Closing Night: It’s retro massacre time on Oct. 18 when local horror legend Count Gore De Vol hosts a special screening of Wes Craven’s classic mutant thriller The Hills Have Eyes. This special screening will be presented just like Count...

On the cinematic calendar, the weeks preceding Halloween are often prime real estate for new horror outings. The spooky season has been proven (scientifically!) to increase a filmmaker’s chances of turning their low budget offering into a bona fide box office smash. But hey, it’s not like Eduardo Sanchez needs any pointers in that department, as one half of The Blair Witch Project team returns to found footage terror with Exists.

The tone and style of the movie look poised to recreate the atmospheric chills from Sanchez’s debut. Keeping the urban legend perspective, this time around a bunch of kids head into the Texan hills for a camping trip. We’ve all seen The Cabin In The Woods, which gloriously deconstructed this exact type of scenario, so it should come as no surprise that something terrifying befalls the group.

We’ve already had a steady stream of...

by Seth Metoyer

It's that time of year again and this years Mile High Horror Film Festival is going to bring it!

Check out the full horror film feature film lineup below.

From The Press Release:

The Mile High Horror Film Festival returns to celebrate five strong years with our best film lineup yet.

This year, the festival expands to include 80 independent horror films from 18 different countries. From slasher maniacs to supernatural spirits, this year’s film lineup is sure to make your skin crawl.

We have several special events lined up that pay homage to the genre: a 60th anniversary presentation of Creature From The Black Lagoon in 3D with actress Julie Adams in person, a 40th anniversary presentation of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with the original 'Leatherface,' Gunnar Hansen in person, Candyman with horror icon Tony Todd in person, and a 15-year anniversary reunion for The Blair Witch Project...

Halloween’s nearly upon us and the folks at Lionsgate are gearing up to scare us all silly. It’s been fifteen years since newbie filmmakers Eduardo Sanchez and Dan Myrick brought us The Blair Witch Project, and the found footage genre persists. There’s been the inevitable cash-ins on the pair’s scary witch fable, but nothing has bettered it in the shakycam department. Could Sanchez’s next feature, Exists, be the film to beat it?

If audience response is anything to go by, there’s a good chance that it will. Sanchez’s post-Blair career has been dotted with supernatural horrors and a jaunt into TV. Now he’s steering his work back to what made him a household name – people lost in the woods. Specifically, a bunch of friends who venture out into the Texan plains for a fun, carefree weekend. Their plan to kick back and...

Eduardo Sanchez’s latest won so many over at SXSW 2014 that it went home with the Midnighters Audience Award and come October 24th, we’ll all get to find out why. Exists stars Chris Osborn and Samuel Davis as Brian and Matt, brothers who opt to take their friends out to their uncle’s abandoned cabin in East Texas for a weekend of partying. Little do they know, their getaway is in Sasquatch territory. With Exists making its way to select theaters and VOD on October 24th courtesy of Lionsgate, we’ve got the opportunity to debut a brand new clip from the film. Hit the jump to check out what happens when you’re within the beast’s reach in our exclusive Exists clip. The film also stars Dora Madison Burge, Roger Edwards, Brian Steele and Denise Williamson. ComplexEmbed.Application.initialize({cId: "1zeHBwcDqbs1qxvuW9mWWALdBWlp-C1y",adSetCode: "67a3ff...

Director Eduardo Sanchez best known for The Blair Witch Project will bring fans a found footage Bigfoot film called Exists. In the film a group of friends who venture into the remote Texas woods for a party weekend find themselves stalked by Bigfoot. Check out the blood soaked image below. Exists will be in theaters and available on iTunes October 24 2014. The film stars Chris Osborn Dora Madison Burge Roger Edwards Samuel Davis Denise Williamson and Brian Steele and is produced by Jane Fleming Mark Ordesky Robin Cowie and J. Andrew Jenkins.

We’re back with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes a trailer for Exists, Don’t Blink, and The Wolves of Savin Hill, an announcement of the Fifth Annual PollyGrind Film Festival, Dead Rage first details, and more:

New Clip from Exists: “For five friends, it was a chance for a summer getaway – a weekend of camping in the Texas Big Thicket. But visions of a carefree vacation are shattered with an accident on a dark and desolate country road. In the wake of the accident, a blood curdling force of nature is unleashed – something not exactly human, but not completely animal – an urban legend come to terrifying life and seeking murderous revenge.

Opening in select theaters and On Demand on Friday, October 24th, 2014. Directed by Eduardo Sanchez and written by Jamie Nash, Exists stars Dora Madison Burge,...

A clip from Exists, the latest film from the co-director of The Blair Witch Project Eduardo Sanchez, has hit the web and we're hosting it for you here. The film follows five friends on a camping weekend in the remote woods of East Texas, who struggle to survive against a legendary predator that is stronger, smarter, and more terrifying than anything they would have ever believed exists.

The film stars Chris Osborn, Dora Madison Burge, Roger Edwards, Samuel Davis, Denise Williamson and Brian Steele and is produced by Jane Fleming, Mark Ordesky, Robin Cowie and J. Andrew Jenkins.

The post Here’s the First Clip from Eduardo Sanchez’s Bigfoot Film Exists appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Exists, the new found-footage movie from the co-director of The Blair Witch Project and V/H/S/2, now has a clip. Shown below, fans of Eduardo Sanchez and Gregg Hale’s V/H/S/2 segment will see shades of that in this clip as a BMX biker is chased down by Bigfoot, who looks fuckin’ pissed. If this doesn’t get […]...