Shriekfest Film Festival announces 2009 Schedule

Posted on by Chip Street

shriekfest-postersShriekfest Film Festival announces 2009 Schedule:

40 FILMS *  4 NIGHTS * 3 THEATRES!

OCTOBER 1-4, 2009
(Los Angeles, CA) SHRIEKFEST INTERNATIONAL HORROR FILM FESTIVAL is thrilled to announce the full, expanded schedule for the ninth annual horror film festival, returning to Raleigh Studios Chaplin/Pickford/Fairbanks theatres, October 1-4, 2009.

Festival goers will once again enjoy the finest in independent cinema from around the globe, selected from hundreds of submissions that came in everywhere from London to New York; from Utah to Spain. From our opening night screening of the never before seen MANEATER starring Dean Cain, to the shorts from Spain, United Kingdom, Canada,  and finally to the World Premiere of Darin Scott’s “Dark House”.  The 9th Annual Shriekfest International Horror Film Festival has worked hard to present a festival as diverse as the fans of the Los Angeles city itself.

Shriekfest Screenplay Competition finalists include "Faeries" by Chip Street and Sean Meehan.
Shriekfest Screenplay Competition Finalists include "Faeries" by Chip Street and Sean Meehan

American independent films are also well represented this year, on Friday, October 2nd – HOW TO BE A SERIAL KILLER, as well as SHELLTER and DAWNING, both of which are screening on Saturday, October 3rd.  We can’t leave out SURVIVING EVIL starring Billy Zane, Evilution, and Evil Angel starring Ving Rhames.

Not to leave out our fabulous selection of short films. Movies like HOWLING BRAT, MAROONED?, 2095, DEATH IN CHARGE, THE HORRIBLY SLOW MURDERER…,DARK ROOM THEATER, REKINDLED, AND FANTASY and the stunning RIFT challenge the viewers with provocative, well crafted original stories.

We have an amazing documentary, NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE that examines the idea that horror films reflect the times and places in which they are made…narrated by horror icon Lance Henriksen and features exclusive interviews with legendary auteurs like John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Joe Dante, Larry Cohen, and Roger Corman, as well as film historian John Kenneth Muir and Fangoria editor Tony Timpone.

Once again SHRIEKFEST Film Festival exceeds at challenging the idea of what a horror film festival should screen, with eclectic selections (NO-DO: THE BECKONING), to science fiction (ENIGMA), comedy (COLD CALLS), Gothic Fairytale (SPIKE),  and even the bizarre (LO).

Entrance to SHRIEKFEST Film Festival 2009 is $8.00 per block, an All-Fest Pass, good for all four days of the festival, is now available on our  website, for just $90.00, this pass includes the opening night party.

All films are un-rated, and unless specifically noted no one under 17 will be admitted without a parent or guardian’s accompaniment or permission. For more information on THE 2009 SHRIEKFEST FILM FESTIVAL, as well as news about other related events, including the Opening Night Party and the monthly networking events, please visit our website: www.shriekfest.com

scion – short film

Posted on by Chip Street
Earlier this year I was a screener for the Santa Cruz Film Festival. I had to watch a truckload of crap… most of it was crap, frankly. Being a screener (or a screenplay reader) is a real eye opener, really… because most of it is crap. But I found a few gems, and I thought I’d get around to sharing them with you. Not all of them made it into the fest (not for lack of quality or vision, more for programming reasons) but I still think you should know about these films.

Scion_artSCION
Written and Directed by Michael Rosetti

Deep in an abandoned factory lives Scion; lonely and crippled, he hobbles along, trying to create a companion.  When a mysterious man stumbles into the factory Scion eagerly follows him and the two develop an odd relationship, ultimately changing Scion’s insulated existence forever. Creation and destruction are bound together in a story of the search for meaning and existence.

I was stunned by Scion. At only 12 minutes long, and with only a single line of dialogue, Scion is a beautiful movie with delicate performances. Shot on 35mm by Greg Mitnick, Scion’s urban grunge post-apocalyptic setting is filmed with the light and composition of a Vermeer.

In fact, my recommendation to the programming committee went something like this: Continue reading scion – short film