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AMERICAN ZOMBIE – LOLO (USA)
SYNOPSIS: He might be dead but he’s also her boyfriend.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Danin Jacquay
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Danin Jacquay is a director, writer, and photographer based in Los Angeles, California. Danin is renowned for her distinct and artistic aesthetic, with a strong focus on styling and imagery. She has a passion for fantasy, horror, and drama.
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BAZA – RICHARD AKAM (UK/SPAIN)
SYNOPSIS: BAZA isn’t just a rap video; it’s a stylized fusion of worlds, weaving the ancient and the alien into something bold and memorable.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Lewis Andrews is a British filmmaker whose career spans Hollywood blockbusters, global streaming platforms, and independent artistry. He has contributed to productions such as Blade Runner 2099, No Time To Die, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, while also directing commercials for Nike, Puma, and Vogue and music videos for Sony Music artists. Founder of Wonderfilm Pictures, Lewis works across directing, cinematography, editing, and VFX, fusing storytelling with cutting-edge production tools.
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BEGIN AGAIN – MATT FARREN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A Zombie. A Log Cabin. A Love Story.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Ava Acres
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ava Acres is an actress, screenwriter, director, and producer with 19 years of experience working professionally in the film industry. She has acted in over 100 film and television productions and has written, directed, and produced multiple projects. Her most recent narrative work is a feature film that she stars in, called “No Right Way,” which has earned her multiple awards for her performance. At just 21 years old, Ava is a passionate filmmaker who devotes her life to the craft and business of film.
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BORN AT NIGHT – PILE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A prisoner connects telepathically with a woman to stop a death cult.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Strong Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Joshua Echevarria
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Joshua Echevarria works primarily as a cinematographer but in recent years has begun to expand into directing to explore topics and themes that resonate with him.
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BUDDAH WAS A RICH BOY – THE HANDSOME DEVIL (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After a concert flyer turned paper airplane lands into the laps of two kid sisters, they infiltrate the venue to find a mindless mosh crowding a supernatural bathroom.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language
DIRECTOR: Hunter Wayne
GENRE: The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Hunter is an LA transplant from Texas that has created a variety of smaller projects spanning across magazines, music, software, comics, toys, and VR haunted houses. Their newest ventures in making weird art are two music videos.
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TRAILER: Coming Soon!
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CHOKIN’- KAI STRAW (USA)
SYNOPSIS: The undoing of a suicide becomes the starting point for a journey through depression, addiction, and redemption, told in a layered form that unfolds like a cinematic ambigram. With music and visuals crafted entirely by Kai Straw, it stands as a deeply personal and singular creation.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Kai Straw
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Kai Straw is a musician and filmmaker over a decade sober whose work explores the human capacity to overcome. From his bedroom during the pandemic, he released music that reached millions, earned multiple songwriting awards, and ultimately landed a distribution deal with EMPIRE. Now living nomadically, his filmmaking debut Chokin’ has already won recognition across the country, opening the door to many chapters yet to be written.
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DARK THINGS – STARSET (USA)
SYNOPSIS:A man feeds the machine.
RATINGS GUIDE: Sensuality
DIRECTOR: Nick Peterson
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Nick Peterson graduated from the Experimental Animation program at CALARTS. Nick’s films have been screened in festivals such as SUNDANCE, and SXSW. His award winning music videos have garnered over 700 hundred million views. And his Chrysler Commercial played during the Super Bowl. He lives in Los Angeles.
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DEAR SARA – LOLA BLANC (USA)
SYNOPSIS: 62-year-old dancer Paula Ayotte stars in this oner music video as a ‘horror movie hag’ who breaks out of the role of scary old lady through movement.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Lola Blanc
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Lola Blanc is a filmmaker, music artist, actor, and podcaster whose directorial work has screened at festivals like Fantastic Fest, Sitges, and Fantasia, and been spotlighted by Pitchfork, Fangoria, Bloody Disgusting, and Alter. Her music has over 200 million streams across platforms; her podcast Trust Me has been featured by Apple, the New York Times, and Harper’s Bazaar.
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TRAILER: Coming Soon!
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EMBALMED – DIE SHINY – UTAH (USA)
SYNOPSIS: “Embalmed” is an anti-capitalist anthem, darkly depicting the elite ruling class motive of profiting from every part of the human life cycle.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Ryan Margetts
GENRE: The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 27th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ryan Margetts is a Salt Lake City-based cinematographer and director known for his emotionally resonant visual storytelling across narrative, commercial, music video, and documentary work. His credits include festival-winning short films and music videos, including 2024 FilmQuest’s Best Music Video, commercial campaigns that have aired during the Olympics and Super Bowl, and narrative and documentary feature films. You can view his work at www.ryanmargetts.com
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EVERYBODY – LOLA BLANC (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Lola Blanc will do anything – anything at all – to win the love of her audience in this self-directed horror music video.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense / Scary Images
DIRECTOR: Lola Blanc
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 29th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Lola Blanc is a filmmaker, music artist, actor, and podcaster whose directorial work has screened at festivals like Fantastic Fest, Sitges, and Fantasia, and been spotlighted by Pitchfork, Fangoria, Bloody Disgusting, and Alter. Her music has over 200 million streams across platforms; her podcast Trust Me has been featured by Apple, the New York Times, and Harper’s Bazaar.
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GOOD LIFE – JEFF HILLIARD (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Blaster is living the good life on the streets of Los Angeles
RATINGS GUIDE: Brief Nudity, Sensuality
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jeff Hilliard is an award winning American film maker, actor and recording artist. Jeff has starred in films directed by Paul Schrader and Bernard Rose.
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GRAN BUFFALO – LABORATORIOS MORENO (MEXICO)
SYNOPSIS: Gran Buffalo explores the creative processes. Guided by a disruptive narrative it follows the band while trying to get a new sound. Each musician transforms the studio into its own space where surreal things start to happen.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Alejandro Espinosa
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: International Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 25th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Creative filmmaker born in 1997, co-founder of Fugaz Studio. Mexican director, cinematographer and writer that has worked in music videos, tv shows, short films, documentaries and advertising. Currently working on his first feature film as a writer & director
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HATMAN – CAPITAL VICE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A music video for the song “”HATMAN”” by Capital Vice out of Austin, Texas.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Andrew Ducky Dutkiewicz
GENRE: Horror, Comedy, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: A lover of cinema and literature, Andrew Ducky Dutkiewicz is a first-generation American originally from Connecticut. He is primarily interested in reality, and it’s balance with the unknown, focusing on finding the tonal balance of real world consequences, and the mysteries in the corner of our eye. Find more on Ducky at byducky.com
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IRL – LOWSWIMMER (UK)
SYNOPSIS: Two new clones are born into the dark world of a basement laboratory and learn about music, life and friendship from their deranged creators.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTORS: Victor Nauwynck & Leo Villares
GENRE: The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: USA Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Victor and Leo are a London-based directing duo with a passion for creating surreal storyworlds. They founded Picloc Productions, a company specializing in narrative shorts, commercials, and music videos, and recently produced a campaign for AliExpress starring Jaime Lorente while also collaborating with brands such as EY, Kraft Heinz, Sky, Tecno Mobile, and the British Library. Their work has been showcased at leading festivals including BFI London Film Festival, PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights, Berlin Commercial Awards, Aesthetica, and HollyShorts. Most recently, they received the Young Director Award at Cannes, marking them among the most exciting emerging voices in narrative and branded storytelling.
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LAMENTO – GABBY MORENO (GUATAMALA/USA)
SYNOPSIS: LAMENTO is a poetic and metaphorical reflection on time, memory, the immigrant journey, and the looming impact of climate change, starring Grammy – winning artist Gaby Moreno and actor Tony Revolori. Set against the surreal, haunting backdrop of an abandoned Guatemalan beach resort slowly reclaimed by the sea and teetering on the edge of disappearance, the film follows Gaby on a poignant journey to rediscover a place from her childhood, now on the brink of destruction.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Diego Contreras & Ernesto Abrego
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 26th @ 1:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: LAMENTO is a poetic and metaphorical reflection on time, memory, the immigrant journey, and the looming impact of climate change, starring Grammy – winning artist Gaby Moreno and actor Tony Revolori. Set against the surreal, haunting backdrop of an abandoned Guatemalan beach resort slowly reclaimed by the sea and teetering on the edge of disappearance, the film follows Gaby on a poignant journey to rediscover a place from her childhood, now on the brink of destruction.
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LOSER – ELLI MOORE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Loser is a classic heist film reimagined through vibrant, playful visuals. It’s a queer, campy celebration of the power artists have when they refuse to be controlled.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language, Sensuality
DIRECTOR: Andie Arbo
GENRE: The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 26th @ 10:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Andie Arbo is a Los Angeles-based director with a lifelong love of music videos. She began her career in 2014 as a dancer and uses her sense of choreography and rhythm in her storytelling. She’s known for her hands-on approach, often building sets and props herself.
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OMAR, PRAY FOR THE PROPHET – OMAR HOSNI (SAUDI ARABIA)
SYNOPSIS: A chilling EDM tale of survival and fear inside a serial killer’s lair.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Bader al-Hakami
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Block #1 – Horror & Thriller Shorts
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Bader al-Hakami is a first-time Saudi director with a passion for immersive storytelling. His debut, Omar, Pray for the Prophet, blends suspense and horror with themes of faith and survival, marking his entry into the world of filmmaking.
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POSTCARDS FROM THE CHALET (UNITED KINGDOM)
SYNOPSIS: A love affair between a freshly jilted guy and a robot vacuum cleaner takes a gruesome and unexpected turn..
RATINGS GUIDE: Adult Content
DIRECTOR: David Winston
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 27th @ 10:30 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: David Winstone won a Student Oscar for his short film FOR ELSIE, which was his graduation film from the University of Westminster. After the success of FOR ELSIE, David was awarded the David Lean scholarship to attend the National Film and Television School,where he completed a two year MA in Directing. Having made several successful short films, David’s credits also include TV Drama, working on RIVER CITY for the BBC and directing second unit on HANNA Series 3 for Amazon, GANGS OF LONDON for Sky and Neil Cross’ drama HARD SUN for Euston Films / BBC One.
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SILICONE WAVE – TAL ROOM REMIX – JEFF HILLIARD (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A man goes his own way.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Sensuality
DIRECTOR: Jeff Hilliard
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jeff Hilliard is an award winning American film maker, actor and recording artist. Jeff has starred in films directed by Paul Schrader and Bernard Rose.
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THEY LOOK LIKE SHADOWS – NEON NIGHTMARE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: It’s the 1990s. Three bloodthirsty vampires leave their lair for a nocturnal hunt, craving the sweet taste of human blood. Equal parts campy B horror and gothic spectacle, the film drips with lurid color, dark humor, and hidden nods to Type O Negative. Avid fans of black metal and ’90s horror will delight in the subtle, shadowy details hidden throughout the night-stalking carnage.
RATINGS GUIDE: Sensuality
DIRECTOR: Emmanuella Zachariou
GENRE: Horror, Comedy, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS:
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Emmanuella Zachariou is a first-generation American filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist of Greek heritage whose work explores the intersections of memory, spirituality, hidden truths, and embodied experience. Her visual language is deeply rooted in gnosis, often working with experimental and intuitive approaches to explore themes of her own encounters beyond the veil. Her deep passion for music as an intuitive and cinematic force permeates her creative process serving both muse and medium within her body of work. At the heart of her practice, Emmanuella believes in filmmaking as a ritualistic and transformational act; one that channels authenticity into collective experience while serving as a conduit for deeper alignment with one’s creative essence and inner truth.
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W.H.W.D. – TIMOTHY HAUTEKIET (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A comedy metal song about the state of mankind in the internet age.
RATINGS GUIDE: Language
DIRECTOR: Timothy Hautekiet
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Block #4 – Comedy Shorts
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Timothy Hautekiet is a director with over a decade of experience seeing projects through from inception to distribution. His first feature “”Me, Myself & The Void”” screened at FilmQuest in 2023 and was spotlighted among the top 5 science fiction movies by the NYTimes upon it’s streaming release the following year.
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