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T-MINUS (USA)
SYNOPSIS: To make the leap into space, astronaut Ben Fletcher must leave behind a life that could have been.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: L.M. Oliver
GENRE: Sci-Fi, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 27th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: L.M. Oliver is a writer, director, and modelmaker based in Colorado. His interest in filmmaking grew from a childhood desire to one day build spaceships for George Lucas. When that opportunity dried up, he engineered his own. He is currently part of an international group of early cinema historians who are writing the authoritative biography of Augustin Le Prince, the missing inventor of the motion picture. Additionally, L.M. and his co-writer Jake Price are in pre-production on the science-fiction drama Toscana.
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TEN OF SWORDS (UK)
SYNOPSIS: Jay wakes up dead – obviously murdered – and discovers that everything the agency told him about becoming a zombie was a lie.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Nov. 4th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Scottish writer/director Faye Jackson specialises in horror and fantasy, drawing much of her inspiration from folklore and fairy tales. She shot her debut feature STRIGOI about the “real” Romanian vampires in rural Romania with a Romanian cast and crew. STRIGOI won over 15 festival awards including: Best Independent Film at Toronto After Dark and the Melies D’argent at Neuchatel Fantastic Film Festival. It was distributed internationally on VOD and DVD. Faye’s feature projects in development include period fantasy THE FISHERWOMAN AND THE SEA, sci-fi satire SNOWFLAKES, dark fairy tale ELDRITCH CROON and horror THEY.
Her award-winning shorts LUMP, THE OLD WOMAN WHO HID HER FEAR UNDER THE STAIRS, CHANGELING and SNOWFLAKES have played festivals worldwide including: the New York Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, Fantasia and Sitges. Faye’s feature project SNOWFLAKES (producer Barrington Paul Robinson, Co-producer Fantastic Films) won best pitch at Jets Initiative 2021 and was invited to participate in Fantasia’s Frontieres Co-Production Market and Sitges Pitchbox.
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TERROR (UK)
SYNOPSIS: The sole survivor of a mountain climb struggles to come to terms with a supernatural incident.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Giles Buchanan
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 26th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Giles Buchanan is an aspiring writer/director based in Edinburgh and London. After studying World & European Cinema at the University of Exeter, he served a short career in the British Army, before transitioning into current affairs as a documentary filmmaker which has taken him across the world. He has a number of short film and feature screenplays in development. Terror is his first narrative short film.
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THAT’S OUR TIME (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Danny’s stuck in a dead-end job. It keeps him focused on the clock and unable to connect with those around him. At their final session, his sympathetic therapist tries to help him realize that it’s more important to focus on the time you have left than the time you’ve already spent.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Alex Backes
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Screening on EO App – Pure Terror Shorts Block #2
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Alex has been a working creative in Los Angeles for the past 16 years. From his early days of performing improvisation in underground theaters and comedy staples like Upright Citizens Brigade and The Second City, Alex applies the core philosophies of his time on stage to his work as an award-winning writer/director. While he has worked with studios like The Walt Disney Company, Lucasfilm, and Sony, his real passion shines through in his independently produced projects. His latest work, That’s Our Time, continues its strong festival run through 2023.
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THE 44TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A mischievous, prank loving kung fu master creates fake training for a gullible teenager who still believes fantastical myths about martial arts.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Strong Language, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Jon Truei
GENRE: Comedy, Martial Arts
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Nov. 2nd @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jon Truei is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker from a quiet suburb in New Jersey where he grew up shooting movies about monsters, aliens, and kung fu with his friends. His past work includes SECONDARY EDUCATION, a Japanese Tokusatsu/edutainment homage, and the Chinese sci-fi action eSports television series GAMER’S GENERATION. He is also the fight choreographer of the silent, black-and-white adventure comedy feature film, HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS. Jon’s work has been featured by Nerd Reactor, Geektyrant, Screen Anarchy, IGN, iO9, and Black Belt Magazine.
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THE BLACK BOX (TAIWAN)
SYNOPSIS: A mystical black box turns a homeless man’s daydream into reality but then also, into an irreversible nightmare.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Mild Language, Brief Nudity, Sensuality, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Charles C. Lee
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 26th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Charles C. Lee’s evident passion for art and film led him to pursue his M.S. degree in multimedia and computer graphics from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in the UK. His expertise enabled him to establish TWR Entertainment in 2010 aiming to incorporate advanced graphics technologies into media productions.
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THE CHRIST OF THE SKULL (SPAIN)
SYNOPSIS: Toledo, 13th century. Two friends, Lope and Alonso engage in a deadly duel for the love of Inés. Supernatural forces will determine the destiny between the darkness and the light of a lantern. The best and worst of human nature in a night of horror.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Adult Content, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Chus Lara
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Screening on EO App – Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shorts Block #3
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Originally from La Mancha (Spain), Chus Lara has always been drawn to historical stories, especially those containing elements of mystery and the supernatural, conveying human truths through metaphors. He studied History at UAM (Autonomous University of Madrid) and cinematography at ECAM (School of Cinematography and Audiovisuals of the Community of Madrid).
Since then, he has balanced teaching cinema with cinematography work, capturing several works within the fantasy genre for directors who are now working on their debut feature films, such as Dídac Gimeno’s “El sueño de los perros,” “Saturno a través del telescopio”; or Tony Morales’s “Alicia,” “Abracitos” (a short film with over 20 international awards, including the Audience Award at Fantasia Montreal and Fantasporto Oporto, and selections at Fantastic Fest and Screamfest).
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THE DISCARDED (UK)
SYNOPSIS: A character designer struggles with the design of a cartoon cat and ends up on a short trip through the looking glass.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Uli Meyer
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 2nd @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Animator and filmmaker with a 35 year career on high profile studio films..
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THE DRAWING (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After waking from a nightmare, artist Scarlet is pursued by a malevolent figure eerily reminiscent of her latest drawing
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Jay Salahi
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Nov. 4th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Born in 1993, director Jay Salahi was raised in Irvine, Ca. His debut feature film Northwood Pie was shot there entirely in his hometown & has a 93% on Rotten Tomoates from critics. He started making student films in 6th Grade and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 20 to pursue his dream of filmmaking full-time. Jay Currently works at Moving Parts Inc. working on network promos & ads
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THE FLEDGLING (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Orphan Charlie wakes up in a hospital bed with a mysterious health condition that makes her averse to sunlight, and a hazy recollection of how she got there. If she is to survive, she will have to put the pieces of the night together in the shadows and avoid the light.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Joe Gietl
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 1st @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Joe Gietl is a writer, director, producer, and musician from Albany, NY. He has directed several short films that have played on the festival circuit, written numerous screenplays, and produced both narrative and commercial work. In January, he completed production on phase one of his most ambitious project yet, “The Fledgling”, starring Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Anastasia Veronica Lee (As They Made Us)
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THE FORGOTTEN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a homeless man attempts to kick his fentanyl addiction in order to enter a shelter, he is faced with a bigger problem as a demon begins haunting him.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 1st @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Michael Joseph is a young, ambitious director, writer, and editor. His passion lies in complex storytelling and creating unique, uncomfortable visuals. Michael grew up in New Jersey and at 17 he found his passion for filmmaking. He began filming countless short films and music videos for local bands. After receiving a degree from Hofstra University in Filmmaking in 2018, he moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of telling bigger stories. Over the years of directing music videos, commercials, and films he has developed a unique style that catches the eye and engages audiences. Michael’s work is inspired by filmmakers such as David Fincher and Christopher Nolan. Today he continues telling stories that evoke emotions and give new perspectives to audiences everywhere.
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THE FOUL (UK / WALES)
SYNOPSIS: A public information film about why you need to pick up after your dog.
RATINGS GUIDE: Adult Content, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: James Button
GENRE: Horror, Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: International Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 28th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: James Button has made films about dog poo, goats, robotic butlers, angry Welshmen, silly aliens, deadly dildos and lots more.
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THE GHOST LIGHT (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After the worst audition of her life, a theatre student befriends the ghosts that haunt her high school auditorium.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Nick Burchard
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy, Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 29th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Nick Burchard is a Writer, Director, and Comic Book Artist from The Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. He is the founder of Tiny Viking Productions, a company that focuses on developing stories with the mindset of ‘character first’.
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THE GIRL WITH THE HAUNTED VAGINA (UK)
SYNOPSIS: A Sexually repressed Meghan desperately tries to reach climax but is thwarted at every turn by the ghost that haunts her vagina (no, really).
RATINGS GUIDE: Sensuality, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Samantha O’Rourke
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: USA Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 29th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Sam O’Rourke (she/her) is a queer writer/director originally from the North West of England. Her play Our Town Needs a Nandos was staged at Liverpool’s Everyman Playhouse last year. Sam’s original comedy drama Mincemeat was Nominated for 3 BAFTA Cymru’s. She wrote and directed “Jelly” for Ffilm Cymru / BFI / BBC Wales / Mad as Birds, which went on to win the Chapter Queer Film Prize and feature in Iris Festival. It was also broadcast on Channel 4 and BBC. Sam was also selected for the prestigious BAFTA x Flare program. She has original series in development with The Forge, Story Collective and and Blacklight.
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THE HAUNTED BABY CARRIAGE FROM HELL (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In this LGBTQ+ Comedy Horror Short Film, Spencer and Cameron move into a new house that just so happens to be haunted by an old baby carriage. As the carriage endeavors to scare the couple, the attempts ultimately fail because the couple just doesn’t care… like… you know… at all.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: JT Seaton
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 31st @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ever since JT was a wee lad growing up in Bakersfield, CA., he had always wanted to be an artist, whether it was making stop-motion animation (using Star Wars action figures as actors) with his dad’s Super8 film camera or creating Polaroid collages. Art and artistic expression has always been a huge part of who he is. In addition to his own little terror creations, JT co-founded and ran the NOLA Horror Film Fest (in New Orleans, LA) from 2010 to 2021. In 2022, he founded the Queer Screams Film Festival (in Portland, OR) – a celebration of LGBTQ+ Genre Cinema
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THE HERITAGE (UK)
SYNOPSIS: A man makes a gargantuan discovery when meeting his biological father for the first time.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Andrew Rutter
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 1st @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Andrew is an emerging writer/director from the Black Country whose films have played globally at some of the most prestigious genre festivals in the world. After a successful festival run, his short film Peter the Penguin premiered on ALTER, one of the leading horror short film platforms online. He was then invited to write & direct an episode of Bite Size Halloween for Disney which premiered on Hulu in 2022. He’s currently in early development for his first feature film.
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THE HUNT (USA / ARGENTINA)
SYNOPSIS: Jessica and Olivia’s weekend road trip becomes a nightmare as they’re hunted by a crazed killer in the desert.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Talo Silveyra
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, October 29th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Talo Silveyra is a Writer-Director originally from Argentina, based in Los Angeles. He is known for being the creator of Pocket Films, a groundbreaking platform streaming 1 minute short films. He has written, directed and produced over 50 short films to date. He is also the Writer-Director and Producer of “Tunnel Vision”, online Mini-Series for TNT Latin America.
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THE INFLECTION SCHEME (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A crypto trader is in way over his head when he makes a $10M bet at a nefarious crypto exchange and has to deal with a protégé from his past.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language, Sensuality
DIRECTOR: James Lee
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 31st @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: James is an acclaimed filmmaker known for his unique storytelling style and humorous thought-provoking narratives. His filmography encompasses a diverse range of genres, including a hyper stylized action short, a self shot iPhone hitmen comedy, a cable news farce, and a crime dramedy about a crypto scheme. His films have garnered critical acclaim from Film Threat and been screened at Portland Film Festival, Boston Asian American Film Festival, and Hollywood Comedy Shorts. Notable among his works is his action screenplay, “The Flavor of Fury” which placed him on the 2020 Red List and won numerous awards such as Top 10 Finalist in Filmmatic Short Screenplay Awards and Top 20 in Cinequest Screenwriting Competition. www.tomfesto.com
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THE INVADERS (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A pregnant pioneer woman and her family meet a supernatural fate after breaking from their wagon train to California and ignoring a series of ominous dreams.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Erin Doyle Cooper
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Nov 3rd @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Erin Doyle Cooper is a filmmaker, commercial, and creative director. Major brand work includes MasterCard, Budweiser, and Pepsi, where she led advertising creative for Lady Gaga’s Halftime Show and the 2018 Super Bowl spot starring Cindy Crawford. In 2022, she directed the multiple award-winning #NoApologiesPeriod campaign for Midol. Her short film Believe Her, starring Allison Tolman, won Best Global Short: Narrative at SCAD Savannah.
Between 2021-2022 she shot four shorts – two as a producer for first time female directors titled Big Sur (Dir: Lila Dupree) and Pick Me Up (Dir: Allison Tolman) – and two as a writer/director titled True Love Waits and The Invaders – all have been selected to premiere at Oscar Qualifying Festivals. In addition to a BFA in Acting from SUNY Buffalo, she studied classical acting at LAMDA and sketch/improv at UCB. She lives in LA, where she recently completed the Women in Film Mentoring Program.
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THE JELLYFISH MAN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Spencer’s neighbor won’t turn off his music, but it’s unclear who’s disturbing the peace.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Ben Davis
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 28th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ben Davis is a writer/director born in Dallas who lives in Los Angeles, CA. Ben has Bipolar II and his work explores themes of mental health, family, and faith (whether spiritual or amorphous). He often uses satire in his stories and creates characters who struggle to feel at home in their heads or society. In 2022 and 2015 his feature screenplays Phoenix to Kiev (22) and Chasing Shadows (15) were Nicholl Fellowship semifinalists and he has directed commercials for Mcdonald’s, Netflix, Metro by T-Mobile, Sega, and others. Ben often cries listening to John Williams soundtracks and writing this in the third person nearly killed him.
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THE LEGEND OF KING KANG-MI (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A half-frozen tracker’s arrival sparks fear and doubt as his horrifying tales unfold, leaving everyone to wonder who the true threat is.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Brian Ulrich
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Brian is a LA-based writer, director, and producer with hundreds of projects under his belt. His repertoire includes TV, commercials, and feature films. With his keen eye for storytelling, he has worked with big brands such as LEGO, FORTNITE, Disney, and Marvel. Together with his wife Julianna, Brian co-owns Brotherhood Studios Inc. where they have produced over thirty commercials, a feature film, multiple short films, and documentaries. Brian is passionate about filmmaking and enjoys working collaboratively to create compelling stories. He specializes in action and adventure stories and shares his knowledge as an adjunct professor at Biola University.
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THE LOOP: UNDENIABLE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: The Loop is a dark web platform where strangers anonymously trade murders.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Strong Language, Adult Content, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Adam Hardman
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Adam Hardman is a filmmaker, writer, and art director living in Long Beach, California where he makes quality genre pictures with his partner, Whitney Crowder. Most recently written and directed upcoming horror short “Mysteries of the Desert” (Telluride Horror Show Official Selection). Principal cast member in John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus (Cannes Film Festival Official Selection). Writer and Director of 3 feature films: Blood Money, YouChoose, and The Lower Angels (NYC Horror Film Festival Official Selection)
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THE LURE (UK)
SYNOPSIS: Late at night, a lone fisherman discovers he is not the only one hoping to hook something.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Tony Hipwell
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 1st @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Tony Hipwell is a multi-award-winning filmmaker whose work has screened at Academy Award, Canadian Screen Award, BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festivals such as HollyShorts, Fantasia and the Edinburgh Film Festival. Their debut feature, Whoops! premiered at Raindance and made the Top Ten picks of 2013. It was also the only British film selected for the nationwide Raindance Tour the following year.
Since then, Tony has developed projects with the BBC and Searchlight Pictures, worked as the Video Producer for Young Thugs Records in association with EMI and been selected for the inaugural Future of Film and LHS X FEAR incubators. Tony’s most recent projects include an adaptation of ‘Standing Woman’ by internationally acclaimed author Yasutaka Tsutsui which was nominated for the Yorkshire Film Award at Leeds International Film Festival 2021 and is available on ALTER. Their new short, ‘The Lure’ premiered at FrightFest 2023 and is touring festivals now.
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