SCHEDULE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
_____________________
PARALIAN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In the wake of a personal tragedy, a vengeful man returns to an island to hunt a creature of local legend.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Evan Gorski
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Nov. 1st @ 6:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Evan Gorski is a Boston-bred filmmaker best known for his work in the horror genre. Most notably, “The Trick r’ Treat Ghoul Log” On Shudder and “Witch Hunt,” which can be found streaming on Tubi as part of the third entry in the “All Hallows Eve” franchise.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER: Coming Soon!
_____________________
PARASOMNIA (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Grieving for a loss, Lara Cassidy seeks help from a specialist to overcome a demon that has rooted itself in her subconscious
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 26th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Michael is a senior producer at Warner Bros. Discovery leading award-winning campaigns for HBO and MAX Originals. A few recent shows he’s had the pleasure to work on include House of the Dragon, Peacemaker, Watchmen, The White Lotus, The Righteous Gemstones, and Harley Quinn. In his spare time, Michael continues to pursue his creative ambitions by producing, directing, and editing horror short films.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
PIZZA PANIC PARTY (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Picture this: a group of teenage girls, a night of harmless fun, and a pizza delivery that brings anything but comfort. What unfolds is a descent into madness—a grotesque dance of terror, where the familiar turns sinister, and the ordinary becomes a waking nightmare. It’s a chilling reminder that even the simplest cravings can unleash the darkest horrors. You’ll never look at pizza the same way again.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Language
DIRECTOR: Graham Denman
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 31st @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Graham Denman is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He has directed short films for Eli Roth’s Crypt TV, FOX and his feature film debut Greenlight which is now on Tubi won Best Picture in 2019 at Shriekfest. His latest horror short film Pizza Panic Party has over 300K views on YouTube in just 3 weeks of premiering online and is currently receiving critical acclaim from genre fans all around the world. His favorite horror films are John Carpenter’s The Thing & Demon Knight.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
_____________________
POCKETMAN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A wedding is terrorized by a supernatural being who can steal things from pockets. Things escalate when the wedding party tries to get their stolen ring back.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Ericka Clevenger
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ericka Clevenger is a comedy film director who weaves between commercials, branded content, music videos and film. She has worked with legendary brands such as Fortnite, Mattel and Disney. Her work has been seen on Pitchfork, Times Square, Topshop London and International television.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
_____________________
PORCELAIN (UK)
SYNOPSIS: Porcelain is the story of ‘Child’ – A street urchin who leaves behind the cold streets of a disparate city to discover mystery and wonder within the walls of the Porcelain makers mansion.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Tim Wildgoose
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: USA Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 27th @ 1:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Tim Wildgoose started working in movie production 25 years ago with a career starting in film at age 18. He has worked on over 50 movie productions as well as TV and theatre shows. Tim has worked in many departments of film production and most notably as concept artist and designer, specializing in weapons design and production of weapons and props for multiple movies. He has worked alongside many notable actors and directors including Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay and Guy Ritchie to name a few.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
PRETTY AS A PICTURE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A young model becomes the focus of a mysterious photographer who will do anything for the perfect image
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Adult Content, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Ryan Nielsen
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Writer/Director from Fort Dodge, Iowa. Currently living in Los Angeles with his fiance and his cats.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
PRINCETON’S IN THE MIX (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When the wealthy mother of a high schooler discovers that her son can get extra time on the SAT if he gets injured, things spiral out of control.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Adult Content, Mild Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Jonathan DiMaio
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 29th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jonathan DiMaio is a filmmaker and co-founder of the education and human rights non-profit, Yspaniola. His 2014 short film, Without the Ancestors, played at numerous festivals in the U.S. and Europe, and his music videos for Dominican rappers Chokola y Gimby helped launch the duo to national prominence in the Dominican Republic. Jonathan’s first feature, Unconformity, premiered at Heartland International Film Festival and is currently available to stream on multiple platforms.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
PU EKAW TNOD (UK)
SYNOPSIS: A couple watching a horror film about a strangely familiar basement realise they’re dreaming when they suddenly find themselves in the very same basement. And that’s when it sees them… it knows they shouldn’t be awake…
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Rebecca Culverhouse
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Rebecca Culverhouse is a neurodiverse visual artist from Burnley, Lancashire with a strong background in commercial filmmaking. Based in London, she makes experimental work that challenges notions of reality, normality and perception. Her work often incorporates animation or in-camera effects amongst live action footage, and have screened on Channel 4’s Random Acts, art exhibitions and Oscar and BAFTA qualifying film festivals worldwide.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
PUSHOVER (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A man’s life is upended by increasingly threatening phone calls demanding he leave a review for a paperweight purchased online.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Brian Lederman
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 30th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Brian is an emerging writer/director based in the New York City area. Over the past few years he’s done things like direct dramatic narratives, edit reality television, and write sketch comedy. “Pushover” is his second short film and, after working almost exclusively in the YouTube space for several years, a return to his more passionate, cinematic roots.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
QUEEN OF HEARTS (CANADA)
SYNOPSIS: In a dusty old western bar, a gang leader and his men play a poker game. Their evening takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious stranger joins the game.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language
DIRECTOR: Adam Chase
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 25th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Adam Chase is a filmmaker and stunt performer from Vancouver, Canada, with over a decade of experience in the film industry. His passion lies in crafting meaningful action design that elevates the storytelling in his projects.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
RAT! (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a disgruntled music journalist accuses a global pop star of queerbaiting, the singer’s devoted fans descend on his remote cabin to seek retribution.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Strong Language
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 30th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Neal Suresh Mulani is a queer filmmaker and actor whose genre-bending work explores themes of self-perception, masculinity, and identity in the digital age. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Mulani’s shorts include psychological thriller FISH TANK (2018) and comedy-thriller TELL ME SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW (2022) which starred Mulani and reached festivals such as Outfest and Nashville Film Festival before premiering on Short of the Week, where he received praise as “a compelling rising voice, both in front of and behind the screen.” Mulani can be seen in Fernando Andrés’s ensemble comedy feature RENT FREE, which premiered at Tribeca 2024 to critical acclaim and most recently wrote, directed, produced and starred in the horror-comedy short RAT!, which just started its festival run at Palm Springs International ShortFest.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
RECURSIVE DREAMS (UK)
SYNOPSIS: Set in the distant future. Zin, a desperate mother, breaks into a reclusive man’s home to extract and steal valuable memories that will fund her sick daughter’s medicine.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language
DIRECTOR: Max Vanderspuy
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 31st @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Born in Singapore, raised in Switzerland, and graduated from NYU Tisch in 2019. Max Vanderspuy is a writer/director with a passion for science fiction who aims to untangle questions of memory, empathy, and vulnerability through the eyes of compelling characters and the unique worlds they inhabit.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
RED FLAG (SWEDEN / USA)
SYNOPSIS: A newly-single woman, fresh out of a dysfunctional relationship, is introduced to the concept of ‘red flags’—but takes it a bit too literally as she heads back into dating.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Malin Barr
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 25th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Malin Barr is a Swedish Writer/Director and Actor who divides her time between Los Angeles and Stockholm, where she graduated from the esteemed Alma Löv Script Academy, 2022. Malin’s passion lies in telling female-centric stories and she is drawn to exploring uncomfortable, everyday situations of complex, real human characters through a female gaze, both with a sense of humor and a playfulness of pushing the boundaries of genres. Malin is a fellow of the Cine Qua Non Storylines Lab, as of 2022, where she began developing her feature film, the dance drama “See Me”. Previous work include award-winning comedy short film “Hedda Needs Help” (2017) which screened internationally and was acquired by ShortsTV. Her second short film and debut as a director, award- winning psycho-thriller “Evergreen” (2022) premiered at the esteemed Brooklyn Horror Film Festival and screened at Hollyshorts, Ravenna Nightmare, Film Maudit etc. Cleo Handler is a writer, actor, and director in Los Angeles/Brooklyn. She has created & directed several original films, including The Living, Olympian, Routine, and #LifeOnAir, and has written several others, including Bye Bye Baby, Out to Lunch, Moon Party, and the musical web series Young Like Us. Her work has screened at and been recognized by Frightfest, the Flickers Rhode Island Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, Brooklyn Film Festival, Film Shortage, and more, and her screenplay Good Girl was a 2022 finalist for the Sundance Institute Development Track/Sloan Commissioning Grant. She has directed and edited multiple music videos for Sun Records, and her musicals From The Fire and Glass Act have been featured in Broadway’s Future Songbook at Lincoln Center, winners of the Players Theater Off-Broadway Musical Production Program, and semi-finalists for the O’Neill National Music Theatre Conference. She has worked in production for SYFY/ USA’s Chucky and Showtime’s Couples Therapy, and recently released an album called gold. She studied at the William Esper Studio and at Yale, where she was an O’Neill Playwriting Fellow.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
REJECTED (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In “Rejected,” three twisted tales unfold, linked by a 1997 digital camera.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Rene Rivas
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: USA Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 25th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Rene Rivas is an award-winning writer, director, and cinematographer based in Arizona. In 2015, he founded Rene Rivas Productions LLC, an independent production company dedicated to creating high-quality, compelling short and feature films.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
_____________________
REPLACEMENT (SPAIN)
SYNOPSIS: The fourth technological revolution is already underway and the new robotic workers are taking over our jobs. At only 45 years old, Nicolas has already been replaced and is unable to adapt to his premature retirement. To help him, he is visited by ANN, an emotional bot that will put his violent survival instinct to the test
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Alberto Ortega
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: North America Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 28th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Upon finishing his cinematography studies at the TAI school in Madrid (2003), he began his career directing two short films: “Oculto” (2005) and the award-winning “Día de perro” (2006) while beginning his career on various television channels such as graphic designer (FOX Spain, Globomedia and La Sexta). As a director, he has since signed multiple advertising pieces for brands such as Movistar, Amazon Prime, Sony, Warner, VISA, Cartoon Network, among others. In 2016 he premiered the award-winning documentary film “Even though you don’t know it” (RTVE, Canal Sur) which he co-directs with Charlie Arnaiz, with whom a year later he will found the production company Dada Films & Entertainment to create and develop new formats and content. He immediately directed the fiction project called “EI Punto Frío” (RTVE, 2018), Branded Content projects such as “Poesía tú tú” (Loewe, 2018), advertising campaigns and new formats such as “Memoria de futuro” (RTVE, 2017 ) and “Call it X” (PlayZ, 2021). In 2021 he received a Goya nomination with the documentary film “Anatomía de un Dandy”. In 2022, he premiered the documentary series “Raphaelismo” (Movistar+), which he co-directed and produced with his partner Charlie Arnaiz, and premiered the fiction short film “Denali”, with a futuristic cut. He has recently become a member of the Film Academy.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
RETREAT (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A woman completes a grueling pilgrimage to discover there is one more sacrifice she must make.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Brief Nudity, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Anna Parsons
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 24th @ 9:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Anna Parsons is a New Zealand born, international filmmaker who naturally gravitates toward the metaphysical. Enchanted by movie magic since she was a child growing up in rural NZ, Anna has explored many aspects of film production both in front and behind the camera. Retreat is her directorial debut.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
_____________________
ROBUTLER (WALES)
SYNOPSIS: Cwnt Jones from the Welsh council gets an AI robotic butler to help with her stressful life.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Strong Language
DIRECTOR: James Button
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: International Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 25th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Welsh BAFTA nominated writer/director James Button has fun making fun films for fun!
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER: Coming Soon!
_____________________
RODENT (UK)
SYNOPSIS: In the not too distant future, a rat transports us through the last vestiges of humanity as it forages for food for its family. Confronted by a formidable threat, we discover the true magnitude of recent global events.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Joe Fereday
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: North America Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 25th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Emmy award winning Shooting-Director Joe Fereday is renowned for high-end cinematography and impactful storytelling in wildlife and factual docs which has taken him across the world, working on ‘David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet’ and Netflix’s ‘Life on our Planet.’ He is always keen to blur genres and push boundaries.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
_____________________
ROGER IS A SERIAL KILLER (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A podcaster implicates her step-father in a series of unsolved murders, which makes for a compelling show but an awkward family reunion.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Mild Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 25th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Don Swaynos is a filmmaker, producer and director based out of Austin, TX
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
_____________________
RONCES – LOVELY THORNS (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After a traumatic marital incident, Maud is preparing to leave the town. But on the eve of her departure, Jacob, her ex-lover who has been missing for several months, is back home.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Brief Nudity
GENRE: Fantasy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 25th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: After several years working as Cinematic Director in Gaming Industry, J.P. Bouix continues to craft his own style with RONCES, his latest short. He’s now working on his first feature, MOSHPIT, a crazy and dark survival in the music industry.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER: Coming Soon!
_____________________
ROOM TONE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a sound guy’s attempt to capture “room tone” is constantly thwarted by the noisy antics of his coworkers, he takes extreme measures to achieve silence.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Mild Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 30th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Michael Gabriele began his filmmaking career in Chicago working for top ad agencies directing commercials for big brands. He’s won multiple awards including three midwest Emmys including one last year for his horror short Room Tone. In the narrative space he directed a web-series with over 45 million views. In 2023, his horror short Get Away screened at over 40 festivals including five top tier Oscar Qualifying Film Festivals. It won a slew of awards including Audience Choice Best International Short at Fantasia.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM:
TRAILER:
