Get spooked at the Shriekfest Horror Film Festival this fall
Are you ready to get spooked! You are? Well you’re in for a treat, because today we’re turning our film festival spotlight to the top horror fest in Los Angeles – Shriekfest. Founded in 2001, Shriekfest is the City of Angels’s longest running genre event of its kind and in 2017, it expanded to include an Orlando festival location. Accepting submissions from all over the world in a variety of subgenres, Shriekfest is dedicated to celebrating the work of independent artists in the horror, thriller, sci-fi, and fantasy film genres.
Film Daily caught up with director Denise Gossett, who founded the festival after starring in the horror movie Chain of Souls. “I have always loved horror films and when I realized there weren’t any horror film festivals, I started one,” explained Denise. Little did she know the festival would grow to the size it is now. The first festival was put together in two months and received just 45 film submissions. “Shriekfest now gets submissions from every country out there and we are the only bi-coastal genre fest. It’s amazing to me!”
The event is a chilling, blood-splattered mix of superior screening facilities, parties, and panels, making it a great spot for genre filmmakers and film buffs looking to see the next big thing in horror while networking with their peers. Awards are handed out in numerous categories, from Best Horror Feature Film to Best Short Film to Best Special FX to Best Feature Screenplay – the list goes on. Shriekfest has highlighted some of the best rising talent in film world, including: Diego Hallivis, who won the 2017 Best Thriller Feature Film Award for Curvature; Nick McAnulty & Brian Allan Stewart, who won Best Horror Feature Film in 2016 for Capture Kill Release; and Iqbal Ahmed, who nabbed the 2015 Best Sci-Fi Feature Film prize for The Answer.
“There have been many great filmmakers to have featured at our event over the years,” mused Denise. “Alumni include such indie icons as Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), Gregg Bishop (Siren, The Other Side, Dance of the Dead), Kevin Greutert (Saw VI, Saw 3D), Kenneth J. Hall (Puppetmaster), Olatunde Osunsanmi (The Fourth Kind), Tammi Sutton (Killjoy 2, Isle of Dogs), Darin Scott (Tales From the Hood, Darkhouse), Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin of Evil, Before I Wake, Gerald’s Game, Oculus, Absentia), Hiroshi Katagiri (Special FX Master), and many more! We have lots of horror actors who come and enjoy the festival as well . . . that list is a long one!”
Of course, Shriekfest centers itself around the spookiest time of year – Halloween. The LA event is held at Raleigh Studios on Melrose Boulevard in the Charlie Chaplin Theatre from October 4 to 7, while Shriekfest Orlando is held on Nov 3, “so we will start and close the Halloween season,” noted Denise.
When discussing the 2018 event, Denise explained there’s a lot in store this year, including contests to get more horror fans involved and to celebrate its eighteen year LA anniversary and two year mark in Orlando. Shriekfest Presents will also continue, which is held in association with Nuart Theatre and features screenings of classic horror films, the next one being Friday the 13th Part 2. “We are planning more networking parties as well,” concluded Denise.
All in all, it looks like LA’s finest horror film event is set for a jam-packed year ahead. For emerging and established filmmakers looking to get involved, Shriekfest is now accepting submissions. Or if you’re simply a horror buff looking to quench that bloodthirst, tickets are available at the Shriekfest website. So what are you waiting for? Get on down to Shriekfest and get yourself spooked!
