Dir: Ursula Dabrowsky
Australia/2023/84 min
WORLD PREMIERE
Thursday, September 28
6.30pm for a 7pm start
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A young couple’s romantic weekend away at a remote cottage turns into a harrowing fight for their lives when they are terrorized by an unhinged, homicidal sibling.
THE DEVIL’S WORK is the third instalment of Ursula Dabrowsky’s award-winning Demon Trilogy (FAMILY DEMONS - ANOH 2009, INNER DEMON – ANOH 2014). All three films stand alone, yet share similar themes of survival, revenge, and the loss of innocence. In an approach inspired by THE SILENT HOUSE, a film shot in an apparent single take, Dabrowsky elicits a star turn from Luca Sardelis, and expertly pulls the audience into a terrifying, nerve-shredding, all-consuming cinema experience that will linger long after the final haunting image fades.
PLUS: Complimentary cocktail courtesy of Ester Spirits upon arrival
PLUS: Q&A with writer/director Ursula Dabrowsky & actors Cassandra Kane and Mark Fantasia
Screens with MOTHER TONGUE (Dir: Glenn Fraser/Australia/36 min) A childless couple desperate for motherhood turn to the dark arts to craft a most unique solution. Sydney Premiere.
Dir: Jack Dignan
Australia/2023/73 min
Australian Premiere
Friday, September 29
7pm
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A young drug addict and her older sister arrive at a house in the woods to self-rehabilitate. While her sister documents the process on video, the house and their reality begin to shapeshift, trapping them inside a nightmarish, inescapable labyrinth.
Following up his award-winning debut feature AFTER SHE DIED (Best Austalian Director & Best Performance in an Australian Feature - ANOH 2022) Jack Dignan returns with a riveting, deeply unsettling found footage purgatory tackling addiction and inner demons. Two sisters frantically race against time to try and piece together broken memories and break free from the evil clutches that threaten to consume them. You’ll be at the edge of your seat on this super-creepy, psychological ghost train ride that twists and turns with ferocious energy.
Official Selection – Popcorn Frights 2023
PLUS: Q&A with writer/director Jack Dignan and actors Kaitlyn Boyé, Cassandre Girard and Laneikka Denne
Screens with MERGER (Dir: Daniel Negret/UK/8 min) A man’s commitment to his job takes a dark and surreal turn for the worst. NSW Premiere.
Dir: Marie Alice Wolfszahn
Austria/2022/71 min
German language with English subtitles
Australian Premiere
Friday, September 29
9.15pm
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1975. A young nurse in a new position for an eccentric elderly aristocrat discovers they are bound by a shared longing, and as she becomes entangled in the Baroness’s secret SS past, she finds herself caught within a sinister realm of “völkisch” occultism.
Sumptuously shot with authentic period detail Marie Wolfszahn’s unique delve into witchcraft and folk horror is a sensual, atmospheric, phantasmagorical take on delusional ideologies and pagan esotericism with a remarkable central performance from Isabella Händler. At once vintage and modern, beautiful and bewitching, MOTHER SUPERIOR weaves its spell, a powerful and affecting debut feature with prescient themes, and style to burn.
Winner - Best Film & Best Director (Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2022)
Official Selection – FrightFest 2023
Official Selection – Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival 2023
“Triumphant, yet terrifying” – The Kim Newman Website
“A meticulously crafted work of art” – Nightmarish Conjurings
“A real treat for fans of the Gothic” – Eye for Film
“Part Suspiria, The Witch, and Hereditary” – Horror Society
Screens with
ANTIQUES (Dir: Stephanie Paris/US/10 min) When a jaded shop girl discovers a vintage gold dress inside a mysterious case, a vengeful spirit is released. Australian Premiere.
TOAD BOY (Dir: Phillip J. McLaughlin/US/13 min) When an amphibian-obsessed boy comes into possession of a book with ancient occult secrets, his concerned principal intervenes. World Premiere.
Short film program/105 min
Saturday, September 30
1pm
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The fresh Oz blood is spilled! A selection of the very best fright fare from Australia. These short films are guaranteed to prickle the hairs on the back of your neck. Join the fray and meet the talented filmmakers at our festival’s signature event. Get your tickets quick, ‘cos this session sells out fast, and vote for the Audience Award at the end of the session.
STREET NO. 4
(Dir: Lark Lee/8 min) Determined to prove to her partner that their new eucalyptus house is perfect for their family, a pregnant woman discovers there’s more to the house than what was advertised. NSW Premiere.
SIERRA-98
(Dir: Jessica Trinity Fisher/15 min) After a deadly attack by an unknown creature out in the middle of the woods, a young park ranger tries to survive in her isolated cabin. Australian Premiere.
ATTICUS
(Dir: Kieton Beilby/16 min) When a young man is confronted by his demons, he turns to drugs to escape the dark secrets that hide within his home. World Premiere.
THE FOLLOWED
(Dir: Emma Louise Leonard/9 min) When two best mates find themselves in a zombie apocalypse, staying relevant becomes a matter of life and death. World Premiere.
ANA
(Dir: Vanessa Babic/12 min) A teenage girl must navigate her family and confront the fractured relationship with her mother, amid an eating disorder that has manifested into an unrelenting monster. World Premiere.
SOMETHING TO CHEW ON
(Dir: Ryan Casey/5 min) When the son of a middle-class Satanic family confesses that he must give up cannibalism to pursue higher education, he must convince them that dentistry serves Satan too.
GET HOME SAFE
(Dir: Noah Janssen/15 min) A girl walks home alone at night. A killer in red follows. You think you know the story. NSW Premiere.
SVENGALI
(Dir: James Robert Woods/18 min) An eloquent Sydney real estate agent manoeuvres his way to the top.
THE DAM
(Dir: Andrew Sully/7 min) Flo likes Jesse, the boy at the neighbouring farm. Down at the dam, first love becomes a last rite. NSW Premiere.
Dir: Sarah Tice
US/2023/101 min
International Premiere
Saturday, September 30
3pm
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A young woman attempts to navigate her life with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), but begins to see flashbacks of memories she had no part in creating. Nervous of how dangerous she may be, she descends into psychological hallucinations as she approaches the origin of her trauma.
With her debut feature, and in close collaboration with husband Zachary Beckler, Sarah Tice has fashioned the best-looking micro-budget film of the year, a whip-smart, giallo-inspired study of alter personalities and the effects of trauma on the mind, body, and soul. Tightly constructed (and deconstructed!), tense and twisted, DID I? spins a spiraling mystery that unravels around the superb central performance(s) of Alexandra Pica (a name to watch), right to its brilliant, subversive end.
Official Selection – Florida Film Festival 2023
“Never a dull moment … A must-see movie” – Women in Horror
“Not just refreshing; it’s absolutely chilling” – Morbidly Beautiful
“Mindbending, in the best possible way” – Film Threat
Screens with RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY (Dir: Sebastiano Pupino/UK/13 min) Haunted by strange visions and nightmares, a young woman receives a mysterious call from a long-lost friend who hides a dark secret from their past.
Dirs: Gareth Carr & David Sullivan
Australia/2022/89 min
Australian Premiere
Saturday, September 30
5.10pm
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After discovering her patient has passed away, a live-in carer decides to start a new position in a more remote location. She is assigned to look after an elderly woman who is bed-bound and mute, with a suspicious gardener as her neighbour. Soon she starts to have strange visions and has no choice but to face her demons head-on.
Featuring a fierce and compelling central performance from Kirsty Mckenzie, SAVING GRACE begins as a drama, evolves into a psychological thriller, then veers in an increasingly unpredictable way, tearing at a more potent nightmare fabric. A portrait of a woman plagued by an inner torment desperate for release and threatening to consume her, it’s a bold, slick, and surprising debut feature that belies its modest budget.
Winner – Best Horror Feature (Washington DC International Cinema Festival 2023)
Winner – Best Horror Feature (Liverpool Indie Awards 2023)
PLUS: Q&A with writers/directors Gareth Carr & David Sullivan and actor Gary Boulter
Screens with NIGHTCAP (Dir: Corey Benson Powers/US/ 8 min) A couple end their first date by going to his place for one last drink. After the young man claims it’s his aggressive dog locked up in his office, the young woman’s curiosity gets the better of her. International Premiere.
Dir: Nicholas Tomnay
US/2023/102 min
Australian Premiere
Saturday, September 30
7.30pm
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A chef with gambling problems flees to the Latin American villa of an old friend who appears to be living an extravagant life. Envy soon turns to greed and then to something deeply unsettling for the chef when he assumes his friend’s identity and discovers the darkest of truths.
Former Sydneysider Nick Tomnay’s fifteen-year career as a commercials editor and director serves him superbly on his second feature, a spellbinding neo-noir thriller with a bite like a croc. Slick and tangy, it’s a sly morality tale roasting greed, told with crisp efficiency, and laced with the sharp smack of horror. Cult fave Nick Stahl (BULLY, SIN CITY, IN THE BEDROOM) holds fort, but there’s strong support, including another ex-pat Aussie, Penelope Mitchell. We heartily recommend you chow into this one as cold as gazpacho.
Official Selection – Fantastic Fest 2023
Official Selection – Fantasia 2023
Official Selection – FrightFest 2023
“A very twisted thriller with a dark sense of humour … 4 stars” – Sean Kelly on Movies
“Will leave the viewer fully satisfied … 4 stars” – The Hollywood News
“Chillingly nasty … 4 stars” – Shadows on the Web
“A rollercoaster ride of tension and fear … 4 stars” – Mulderville
“Elegantly styled and smoothly delivered … 4 stars” - Eye for Film
Screens with THE QUEUE (Dir: Michael Rich/US/11 min) An internet content moderator confronts the darkness within the videos he screens. Australian Premiere.
Dir: Jonas Trukanas
Original title: Rupintojelis
Lithuania/2022/87 min
Lithuanian language with English subtitles
Australian Premiere
Saturday, September 30
9.40pm
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After classmates destroy life-sized wooden folk-art statues during a wild high school graduation party on a remote rural property, a mysterious killer starts picking the students off one by one.
The slasher flick might’ve been done to death, but there’s a vibrant pulse to be found in Eastern-European Jonas Trukanas’ clever subversion of the usual slice’n’dice tropes. Tackling social responsibility and identity roles in a very contemporary vein the result is a tightly-wound shocker, with terrific characterisation and performances, witheringly sharp dialogue, brutal kills, and finished with a wicked sense of humour. The scourge and suffering of young adulthood hits the sly nail on the head, as the US title hints, We Might Hurt Each Other.
Official Selection – Torino Film Festival 2022
Official Selection – Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2022
Official Selection – FrightFest Glasgow 2023
“Tells a very familiar story in a unique, refreshing, surprising, and ultimately shocking manner” – The Kim Newman Website
“Checks all the boxes on its way to slasher royalty … 4 stars” – Josh at the Movies
“It boldly defies traditional rules … Notably, the ending packs a nice punch” - Cinedump
Screens with
RED GLOVES (Dir: Santiago Saba Salem/US/11 min) A dancer at the top of her class is accosted during a lonely night of rehearsing by a shadowy figure wearing red gloves. International Premiere.
MY SCARY INDIAN WEDDING (Dir: Ramone Menon/US/11 min) A bridesmaid has to forcefully get married to her soulmate before dawn in order to escape the wrath of a vengeful demon. International Premiere.
Short film program/114 min
Sunday, October 1
1pm
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A selection of the creepiest, freakiest new short films from around the world. Guaranteed not only to raise the hairs on your neck, but pluck them straight from your cold, damp skin. These filmmakers are the emerging nightmare-mongers. Be prepared to shiver, shudder, squirm and scream!
RIDE BABY RIDE
(Dir: Sofie Somoroff/US/7 min) This 1978 Camaro was her dream car. Now it’s her nightmare. Australian Premiere.
IN YOUR HANDS
(Dir: Luigi Sibona/UK/12 min) An awkward stranger becomes enamoured with a charming barber, but things take a turn when the stranger sees the barber shaving and charming another customer. International Premiere.
SPELLBOUND
(Dir: Robin Rippmann/Switzerland/11 min) A young man’s dull daily routine is disrupted by a strange apparition that begins to haunt him in his waking moments and dreams alike. Australian Premiere.
VALLEY OF SOULS
(Dirs: Edileuza Penha de Souza & Santiago Dellape/Brazil/15 min) A family tries to defend their land against invaders but gets caught between a mischievous witch and a tortured spirit eager for revenge. Australian Premiere.
HIGH FUN
(Dir: Adesh Prasad/India/13 min) A desperate young man seeks the one vice that may not solve all his problems, but can at least numb or distract him for a while. Australian Premiere.
SURGICAL PRECISION
(Dir: Adam Harvey/NZ/11 min) A doctor researching the medical uses of telekinesis finds his Hippocratic Oath challenged when his home is invaded by those seeking to exploit his ability. World Premiere.
MIRA
(Dir: Eva Louise Hall/US/11 min) A dejected street musician gets a taste of recognition – and more - when she meets a charismatic performer who takes an interest in her talents. Australian Premiere.
MANTRA
(Dirs: Stef Meyer & Pascal Bourelier/France/17 min) After her partner leaves on a work trip a woman is left alone in an old mansion and develops a strange bond with a praying mantis. Australian Premiere.
IHRUQAX
(Dir: Rasmus Safarnia/Denmark/12 min) When a young blind woman visits her father, she finds him obsessed with something through his telescope that is making him delusional. Australian Premiere.
ALICIA
(Dir: Tony Morales/Spain/6 min) A mother will have to deal with the childhood fears of her daughter who has just gone blind and believes that an old woman lives in her room. World Premiere.
Dir: Caye Casas
Original title: La Mesita del Comedor
Spain/2022/90 min
Spanish language with English subtitles
Warning - content may disturb
Australian Premiere
Sunday, October 1
3pm
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A married couple going through a difficult time in their relationship have just become older parents. They find themselves in a furniture warehouse where the new father is captivated by a gaudy gold and glass coffee table, and ends up purchasing it. A decision that will change their lives irrevocably.
Without doubt the most shocking, tense film you’ll see all year, perhaps ever! But also, the darkest, most pitch-black comedy you’ve ever been confronted with (if you’ll allow yourself that comic relief). This extraordinary piece of work balances farce, melodrama, tragedy, and absurdism… and, of course, horror. Oh, God, the horror! You won’t be prepared for where THE COFFEE TABLE goes, suffice to say, you have been warned, and it works best knowing as sweet little as possible. A truly unique, taboo-breaking film that despite its nature and content succeeds due to the exceptional writing, direction, and performances.
Official Selection – Fantastic Fest 2023
Winner – Best Film (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival “Rebels Without a Cause” 2022)
Winner – White Raven Prize (Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2022)
“Wickedly funny” – Dirty Movies
“The cinematic experience of this film is nothing short of sublime” – Mother of Movies
“The curious, the adventurous, and the brave should give this one a go … 4 stars” – The Scariest Things
Screens with JANELLE’S BABY (Dir: Michael Squid/US/10 min) A young woman’s desire to have a baby takes a very dark turn when she finds out she’s infertile. Australian Premiere.
Dir: Chris Cronin
UK/2023/120 min
Australian Premiere
Sunday, October 1
5pm
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A woman is approached by the father of her murdered childhood friend to help investigate the haunted moor he believes to be his son’s final resting place. With the help of two others, they find more than just the ghost of dead children – something dark and evil stirs beneath their feet.
Harnessing the ominous shroud of the vast English moors of the Yorkshire region, this creeping tale of guilt, grief, and obsession is as visceral and compelling as the harsh landscape is unforgiving. Pushing the boundaries of folk horror (and found footage format) into Lovecraftian territory, the atmosphere is thick with dread. Excellent performances from the small cast, in particular Sophia La Porta, Elizabeth Dorma-Phillips, and the always reliable Bernard Hill, leading to a profoundly horrifying epilogue that fuses the icky otherworldliness firmly to the tendrils of genuine nightmare fuel.
Official Selection – FrightFest 2023
“Effective, and disturbing … made my skin crawl” - Voices from the Balcony
“Haunting … harrowing … an exceptional feature debut” - The Hollywood News
“A hymn to rugged, barren, misty, treacherous countryside … but also an effective, gripping character piece” - The Kim Newman Website
Screens with STOP DEAD (Dir: Emily Greenwood/UK/8 min) When detectives try to stop a disheveled girl staggering down the middle of a country road, they discover she’s been stalked by an unseen malevolent entity. Australian Premiere.
Dir: Steven John Mihaljevich
Australia/2023/102 min
Australian Premiere
Sunday, October 1
6.45pm for a 7.15pm start
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A series of strange child disappearances have plagued a small rural town. A mother fears the unspeakable evil will soon snatch her young daughter. Disconnected from her husband the mother’s paranoia escalates and bizarre and disturbing visions threaten her sanity. Soon she will discover the whole ghastly truth.
One of the most striking Aussie debut features (not yet snatched up by A24), a surreal exploration of trauma, abject grief, and destructive self-preservation, constructed like a poetic puzzle, it operates like a dark and dangerous dream, shards of which pierce the reality of the unhinged woman’s existence. Stunningly lensed, with an extraordinary central performance from Georgia Eyers, Steven Milhaljevich’s sophomore feature is a gorgeous purgatory funneling toward a shattering denouement.
“One of the most potent horror films in recent memory … A poisonous knockout” – The Movie Sleuth
“Modern masterpiece of terror … 5 stars” – Reel Reviews
PLUS: Q&A with writer/director Steven John Milhaljevich and actor Georgia Eyers
PLUS: Complimentary glass of Angus Brut sparkling wine upon arrival
PLUS: Festival Awards Ceremony, incl. CUT! Teaser Trailer Competition finalists & winner - sponsored by Panavision Australia
Screens with THE UNDOING (Dir: Cameron Gallagher/US/5 min) When a teenage slumber party reveals hidden jealousy for one girl, a spell book promises her a tempting opportunity to change her life. Australian Premiere.
