NEW U.S. FILM FESTIVAL FROM FOUNDER OF AUSTRALIA'S A NIGHT OF HORROR & FANTASTIC PLANET

MidWest WeirdFest is a new U.S. film festival founded by Dr. Dean Bertram, the founder and festival director of Australia's two leading genre film festivals: A Night of Horror International Film Festival and Fantastic Planet, Sydney Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival.

The inaugural MidWest WeirdFest will run March 3-5, 2017 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“MidWest WeirdFest is a cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, off-beat, alternative and just plain weird”, says festival director Dean Bertram. “A film festival that not only champions and showcases independent genre cinema - horror, sci-fi, fantasy and thriller - but one that welcomes all types of underground film. From experimental and avant-garde to offbeat documentaries.”

The festival is currently accepting film submissions until January 20, 2017. You can enter your film on FilmFreeway or Withoutabox.

For more details visit the festival's official website: www.midwestweirdfest.com

Like MidWest WeirdFest on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MidWestWeirdFest

And follow the fest on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MidWestWeird

A NIGHT OF HORROR / FANTASTIC PLANET 2016 WINNERS!

Presented by Deadhouse Films, the 10th annual A Night of Horror International Film Festival and Fantastic Planet, Sydney Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival were loaded with a cornucopia of the latest and greatest horror, sci-fi, thriller and fantasy films from around the globe. Here are the winning films from the 2016 event:

Matt Stuertz's transgressive blood fest TONIGHT SHE COMES took A Night of Horror's “Best Film” award. While the stunningly disturbing black comedy THE NIGHT OF THE VIRGIN won “Best Foreign Language Film.” The Spanish stand out also captured “Best Male Performance” for lead actor Javier Bódalo, as well as “Best Female Performance” for Miriam Martin: an award that the jury split with Jenna McDonland from TONIGHT SHE COMES. A Night of Horror's “Best Director” award went to Scott Schirmer for his confronting tour de force PLANK FACE.

Fantastic Planet Film Festival's top honour, “Best Film”, was won by the Portuguese/Spanish co-production the stunning sci-fi/romantic thriller GELO. The film's captivating lead Ivana Baquero (PAN'S LABYRINTH, THE NEW DAUGHTER) took the “Best Female Performance” award. While “Best Director” was awarded to Erik Reese for the thrilling neo-western DEAD BULLET. A stunning performance from that film's lead actor, John T. Woods, captured “Best Male Performance”.

A Night of Horror's “Independent Spirit” award went to the action-packed Canadian zomedy PEELERS. While the “Independent Spirit Award” for Fantastic Planet was awarded to the hilarious sci-fi comedy NEIL STRYKER AND THE TYRANT OF TIME. The fascinating Canadian documentary TAX SHELTER TERRORS took A Night of Horror's “Director's Choice” award. While Fantastic Planet's “Director's Choice” award went to the confronting, W. B. Yeats inspired, THE SECOND COMING: VOLUME 2, from Melbourne's Richard Wolstencroft. Jury president, Simon Foster, bestowed Fantastic Planet's “Head of Jury” award on the US sci-fi thriller TELEIOS.

A Night of Horror's “Best Short Film” was awarded to the pulse-charging New Zealand slasher NO CALLER I.D. The festival's “Best Animated Short Film” award was also won by a New Zealand production, the bloody charming SHMEAT. The powerful and disturbing HEIR won “Best Lovecraft Short Film”. The audience choice award for “Best Australian Short Film” went to the brooding existential nightmare MOTH. While “Best Music Video” was awarded to the frenetic demon-possessed dancethon SKINNY DAYS – ALRIGHT RIGHT NOW directed by Mats Udd.

Fantastic Planet's “Best Short Film” was taken by AMO, a haunting examination of human/android relations from Spain. And the “Best Animated Short Film” was won by the hilarious time travel adventure SUPER SCIENCE FRIENDS – EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM PRESENCE. The audience choice award for “Best Australian Short Film” went to the stunning space opera BLOOD AND STEEL. And the winner of “Best Music Video” was the melancholic and apocalyptic animation ANCESTORS – JED WHEDON AND THE WILLING by director Efehan Elbi.

Both festivals also host screenplay competitions. The winning screenplay of A Night of Horror's feature screenplay competition was Stephen Anderson's LEFT OF THE DEVIL. The competition's 1st runner-up was Carol Pritt's DEVILTRY AFOOT. The 2nd runner-up was COVETOUS by Jared Bentley, Eric C. Storley and Darrin Scane. A Night of Horror's short screenplay winner was WALTER'S DAYS by Nathan Ludwing and Charles Devin Hall. The short screenplay competition's 1st runner-up was Mike Wedderburn's THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TEDDY WHALLEY. The second runner-up was DAKOTA CAVES – 2 MILES by Robert J. Rogers.

The winner of Fantastic Planet's feature screenplay competition was COLD IMAGE by Ian Keiser and Shaun Lapacek. The 1st runner-up was Mark Gunnion's NIGHTBREAK. And Jim Carroll's RESURRECTION TIME CONSPIRACY captured the 2nd-runner up spot. Fantastic Planet's short screenplay competition was won by MESSAGE THROUGH THE STARS by Vijay Varman. The 1st runner-up was Dan Horrigan's POPULACE. And the competition's 2nd runner-up was LOVEIN' IT by Stuart Creque.

GENRE FILMMAKERS INVADE SYDNEY FOR 2 WEEKS, NOV 24 - DEC 4!

Dozens of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and thriller filmmakers come to Sydney for the next two weeks, as guests of Australia's longest running genre film festival.

Presented by Deadhouse Films, the 10th annual A Night of Horror International Film Festival, and Fantastic Planet: Sydney Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival, screen simultaneously at Dendy Cinemas Newtown from this Thursday, November 24 to December 4, 2016.

As the festivals' audiences have come to expect, the event is loaded with filmmaker Q&As, special events, and after parties where filmmakers and audience members mingle.

“My first feature film SKEW world premiered at A Night of Horror Film Festival in 2011, and I'm delighted to be back this year with my latest feature”, says Sevé Schelenz, the Canadian director of PEELERS, the festival's opening night film: a riotous, action-packed and gore-soaked zombie movie. “After having screened PEELERS at dozens of festivals around the world, coming back to A Night of Horror feels like returning home. It's a festival loaded with talented filmmakers, wonderfully enthusiastic audiences, and a festival team second to none in their hospitality. A place where long lasting friendships and even filmmaking partnerships are made.”

Sevé Schelenz on the set of PEELERS, opening night film of the 10th annual A Night of Horror

Other guests of the 2016 festival include:

Michael St. Michaels, the star of the festival's closing night film, and Sundance hit, THE GREASY STRANGLER presented by Monster Pictures.

Hiroshi Katagiri, longtime special effects artist (A.I., WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE HUNGER GAMES) and director of the nightmarish GEHENNA: WHERE DEATH LIVES.

Rob Taylor (writer/director/star) and Bryna Smith (lead actress) of cult film in the making, the hilarious and off-beat sci-fi caper NEIL STRYKER AND THE TYRANT OF TIME.

Devin Goodsell producer and lead actor of the demon-filled and blood-drenched chiller BORNLESS ONES.

Steven Kastrissios (festival alumnus), Australian director of the cult revenge thriller THE HORSEMAN, and the highly anticipated Australian/Albanian co-production BLOODLANDS.

Deke Richards, the co-director and producer, of the fascinating documentary about the history of Canadian exploitation films TAX SHELTER TERRORS.

Richard Wolstencroft, award winning Australian film maverick and director of the W. B. Yeats inspired conspiratorial and apocalyptic THE SECOND COMING: VOLUME 2.

Kathryn Castaneda (co-producer) of the thrilling neo-western heist flick DEAD BULLET.

In addition, over two dozen international and Australian short genre filmmakers will be attending their screenings across the festivals' six dedicated short film programs.

Filmmaker guests will be partaking in Q&As following their screenings, as well as interacting with audience members at special events and after parties. Several of the filmmakers will be part of the festival's Horror Filmmaking Master Class, that takes place at Dendy Cinemas Newtown, Saturday November 26. Hosted by leading film journalist David Michael Brown, this event will provide an in depth look at the horror feature filmmaking process: from developing and financing, through production and post-production, to distribution and festival strategies.

For tickets, full schedule of films, and more information about the festival and guests, visit: www.anightofhorror.com

FANTASTIC SCI-FI THRILLER - MORGAN - EXCLUSIVELY AT DENDY NEWTOWN FROM NOV 17

A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.

Morgan stars Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch) and is the directorial debut of Luke Scott.

Screening exclusively at Dendy Cinemas from November 17. Click here for more info and to book tickets.

A NIGHT OF HORROR/FANTASTIC PLANET 2016 PROGRAM ANNOUNCED & TICKETS ON SALE!

Presented by Deadhouse Films, The 10th annual A Night of Horror International Film Festival, and Fantastic Planet: Sydney Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival, screen simultaneously at Dendy Cinemas Newtown from November 24 to December 4, 2016.

“The 10th annual festival is going to be our biggest event yet.” Says festival director Dean Bertram. “Featuring over 100 films, several international filmmaker guests, multiple parties and a horror filmmaking master class; Sydney's genre fans and filmmaking community are going to be treated to eleven days of the best and freshest horror, sci-fi, and fantasy from around the globe.”

The festival opens on Thursday November 24, with the Australian premiere of the international festival hit PEELERS, plus a Q&A with special international guest: Canadian director Sevé Schelenz. And in keeping with the spirit of the bloody hilarious film, the screening will be followed by a “zombie and strippers” themed after party.

The closing night film, presented by Monster Pictures, is the outrageous Sundance hit THE GREASY STRANGLER. The screening will be introduced by the film's stars Michael St. Michael and Sky Elobar, and followed by a special “Greasy Gala” after party. Audience members who come in GREASY STRANGER inspired costumes have a chance to win prizes given to them by the stars of the film themselves!

On Saturday, November 26 the festival presents a Horror Filmmaking Masterclass. Several guest feature filmmakers will present an in depth look at the horror filmmaking process: from developing and financing, through production and post-production, to distribution and festival strategies. This is must attend event for anyone wanting to produce their own feature film.

Along with the full program of feature films listed below - most of which are Australian premieres - the festivals maintain an impressive commitment to short films: Showcasing over seventy of the world's most stunning genre shorts from twenty different countries.

Click here for complete 2016 festival schedule and to book tickets.

Full list of feature films screening at the 2016 event also follows below:

THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE (dir: André Øvredal) From the director of TROLLHUNTER! Brian Cox (THE BOURNE IDENTITY, TROY) and Emile Hirsch (INTO THE WILD, LONE SURVIVOR)  play father and son coroners who receive a mysterious homicide victim with no apparent cause of death. As they attempt to identify the beautiful young "Jane Doe," they discover increasingly bizarre clues that hold the key to her terrifying secrets.

BORNLESS ONES (dir: Alexander Babaev) Fans of EVIL DEAD will eagerly devour this atmospheric and demon-filled fright-fest. Starring Australia's own Mark Furze, this is the best and bloodiest cabin-in-the-the-woods film in years.

DEAD BULLET (dir: Erik Reese) Desperate to turn his life around, a hard-luck gambler risks everything to sell stolen casino chips to a ruthless criminal. It's the worst bet of his life. With a fantastic cast, non-stop thrilling twists, and the spectacular backdrop of desert and casinos, DEAD BULLET is a top notch addition to the neo-western heist movie.

FOUND FOOTAGE 3D (dir: Steven DeGennaro) In the same way that SCREAM deconstructed the slasher sub-genre in the 90’s, FF3D takes a found-footage horror movie and populates it with people who are aware of all of the rules, tricks, and clichés of the genre. They know how to make a found footage movie. But do they know how to survive one?

GEHENNA: WHERE DEATH LIVES (dir: Hiroshi Katagiri) The terrifying directorial debut from special effects artist Hiroshi Katagiri (A.I., WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE HUNGER GAMES). When a group of property developers are trapped in a bunker beneath sacred native land, they soon discover that there are worse fates than death waiting in the claustrophobic darkness. Appearances from genre favourites Lance Henriksen (ALIENS, MILLENNIUM) and Doug Jones (HELL BOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH) add to one of the most frightening films of the festival season.

GELO (dir: Gonçalo Galvão Teles, Luís Galvão Teles) Ivana Baquero – star of PAN'S LABYRINTH, THE NEW DAUGHTER and THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES - captivates in this emotionally charged and unforgettable sci-fi mystery. Born from the DNA of a frozen ice age corpse, Catarina grows up incarcerated in an isolated palace. A film student named Joana, falls madly in love with Miguel - only to see him tragically ripped from her hands during a journey to a snowy mountaintop. What can possibly unite Joana and Catarina? How many lives are there in one lifetime?

THE GREASY STRANGLER (dir: Jim Hosking) Every year at Sundance one film takes pundits totally by surprise, in 2016 that film was Jim Hosking’s THE GREASY STRANGLER. This is a film like no other, a greasy smorgasbord of filth and depravity that is as repulsive as it is sweet – part comedy, part horror, part love story, all greasy mayhem! The kind of film that festival audiences adore and the kind of film that once seen cannot be erased from the mind.

NEIL STRYKER AND THE TYRANT OF TIME (dir: Rob Taylor) If DOCTOR WHO was genetically spliced with STAR TREK, by a mad scientist with a wicked sense of humour (who also threw in a sprinkling of malevolent goblin puppets just for giggles), you might have something resembling this soon to be cult classic. And with STAR TREK's Walter Koenig on board, this film boldly goes to new comedic heights.

THE NIGHT OF THE VIRGIN (dir: Roberto San Sebastián) On New Year's Eve a desperate and lonely young man is lured back to the apartment of an attractive older woman. The man thinks he is in for a night of pleasure, and perhaps the night of his life. He is half way right... because he is never going to be the same after he experiences what this night will bring. A dark - and darkly humorous - journey into strange and forbidden territories. Some scenes are so outrageous that you won't be able to sit still in your seat.

ORION (dir: Asiel Norton) In a desolate future, where science is a memory, and mysticism and savagery rule the wasteland, a hunter (David Arquette in a transformative performance) must save a virgin (Lily Cole, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS) from a cannibalistic shaman. ORION is a visionary thriller and unique exploration of the post-apocalytpic sub-genre.

PARANORMAL DRIVE (dir: Oleg Assadulin) Russian genre cinema continues to accelerate with this jump-in-your-seat supernatural chiller. A Russian family road tripping across country in their newly purchased car, are unaware of the vehicles horrifying history. Will they survive its dark secrets and reach their final destination?

PARASITES (dir: Chad Ferrin)  The industrial barbarianism of downtown Los Angeles is equal parts player and punisher in this survive-at-all-costs tale of a group of friends who get lost in the seedy streets where they encounter a crazed gang of homeless derelicts. One surviving man escapes on foot, naked and unarmed. With only instinct to guide him, can he survive this coliseum of horror?

PEELERS (dir: Sevé Schelenz) The festival horror hit - with over 50 international festival screenings - is premiering in Australia at A Night of Horror. Festival alumni Sevé Schelenz (SKEW) serves up a riotous horror action flick: filled with zombies, strippers, gore, gags and chainsaws!

PLANK FACE (dir: Scott Schirmer) From festival alumni, and emerging master of confrontational horror cinema (FOUND, HEADLESS, HARVEST LAKE), comes this shockingly original tale of a man forever transformed by a savage clan of back-woods women.

SCANNERS (dir: David Cronenberg) A Night of Horror is delighted to present a special 35th anniversary screening of SCANNERS, the mind-bending blend of horror and sci-fi from genre master David Cronenberg (THE FLY, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, EASTERN PROMISES).  The film is one of most important and best loved gems of the 70s-80s exploitation boom. Here's your chance to see the film the way it was meant to be seen: On the big screen, in all of its head-exploding glory!

THE SECOND COMING: VOLUME 2 (dir: Richard Wolstencroft) Australian film maverick Richard Wolstencroft won the “Best Australian Film” award at Fantastic Planet last year, for Volume 1 of his SECOND COMING series. Now, Richard returns with Volume 2. Based on the poem by W. B. Yeats, this final confronting instalment continues to delve into the underbelly of occultism, physics, and political paranoia, as it travels over multiple continents, and through the lives of an eclectic group of fascinating characters.

SHE'S ALLERGIC TO CATS (dir: Michael Reich) Indie hit of this year's Fantasia Film Festival, SHE'S ALLERGIC TO CATS is a genre-defying mind-trip filled with mesmerising imagery formed by an 80s video art aesthetic. A video artist and reluctant dog groomer (Mike Pinkney), falls head over heels for a gorgeous client (Sonja Kinski). One problem: his run down Hollywood home is infested by rats, and she's coming to visit.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS: THE TOM SAVINI STORY (dir: Jason Baker, USA) A legend in the modern horror movie business, Tom Savini revolutionised special effects makeup in cult classics such as DAWN OF THE DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13TH, and CREEPSHOW.  This fascinating portrait on his life and career features interviews with George Romero, Robert Rodriguez, Greg Nicotero, and many more, along with juicy clips of Savini’s work, and exclusive behind the scenes.

SOMNIO (dir: Travis Milloy) Trapped in a futuristic prison cell, and watched over by a faceless warden, a wrongfully imprisoned man must escape his intolerable present by travelling into a violent yet romantic-tinged memory from his past. A Kafkaesque nightmare blended with a sci-fi premise reminiscent of the best of P. K. Dick. Lovers of cerebral science fiction will adore this haunting film.

TAX SHELTER TERRORS (dir: Xavier Mendik, Francesco Giannini, Deke Richards) Fans of exploitation cinema will be mesmerised by this Canadian documentary - reminiscent ofAustralia's NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD -  which explores Canada's golden age of horror and sci-fi, from the 1970s into the '80s, when a lucrative tax incentive program enabled the production of a slew ofgenre classics from DEATH WEEKEND through BLACK CHRISTMAS and MY BLOODY VALENTINE to David Cronenberg's early masterpieces SHIVERS, RABID, THE BROOD, and SCANNERS.

TELEIOS (dir: Ian Truitner)  A genetically perfected crew are on a rescue mission to recover a deep space mining vessel. All that remains of the drifting space ship's crew is a catatonic male human, and a subservient female android. But with its precious cargo missing, and the rescue party themselves becoming unhinged, they must race to discover not only the location of the ships's missing cargo, but what happened to the rest of its murdered crew. A taught sci-fi action/thriller which brings to mind sci-fi classics from ALIEN and EVENT HORIZON to BLADE RUNNER and EX MACHINA.

TONIGHT SHE COMES (dir: Matt Stuertz) After a girl goes missing, two of her friends and a mysterious set of strangers find themselves drawn to the cabin in the woods where she disappeared. They will laugh, they will drink, they will kiss, they will have sex, and THEY ALL MUST DIE. A clever and often hilarious film that spins into unpredictable and shocking directions. With plenty of gore, laughs, and shocks: TONIGHT SHE COMES will leave even the most jaded horrorphile satiated.

WE ARE NOT ALONE (dir: Daniel Rodriquez) Based on terrifying true events. Mateo, his eight-year-old daughter Sofía, and his fiancée Mónica move into an old house. Sofía feels a disturbing presence in their new home. Mateo attributes the child’s warnings as a ploy to come between him and his new bride to be. But as the supernatural presence grows, the family's salvation might require the ultimate sacrifice... Fans of paranormal and haunted house films will shiver in delight at this atmospheric tale of terror.
 

BRIAN TRENCHARD-SMITH'S THE HEADSMAN'S DAUGHTER - AVAILABLE NOW!

Cult filmmaking legend Brian Trenchard-Smith (DEAD END DRIVE-IN, TURKEY SHOOT, BMX BANDITS) - whom we are delighted to welcome as the special guest jurist at Fantastic Planet Film Festival 2016 - has recently released his genre-bending novel THE HEADSMAN'S DAUGHTER.

It's a fantastic yarn. from one of Australia's greatest story-tellers. Order your copy today! Available from Amazon and Kindle here.

Alice awakens in a psychiatric hospital believing she is the daughter of a 16th century executioner. Is she insane, or has a portal opened to a past life where she and her outlaw lover are hunted by a corrupt noble and his henchmen? What is the true agenda of Paul, the handsome young doctor who befriends her? Why will intelligence agencies kill to possess her? Are cosmic forces in play to change both past and future? The Headsman's Daughter is a thrilling genre mash-up in novel form. Think Games Of Thrones meets The Bourne Identity on Freaky Friday. It's a ripping yarn for progressives, a sardonic take on agitprop fiction that explores themes of political corruption, social change, justice, destiny, and timeless love. It's an action packed roller coaster ride with surprising twists and turns along the way, plus a bit of metaphysics thrown in for good measure. This is the first in a series of adventures for Alice, an 18 year old girl, both pure and fierce of heart...

SCI-FI FILM FESTIVAL AT THE RANDWICK RITZ! OCTOBER 19-23

The 2016 Sci-Fi Film Festival tessellates into our continuum at The Ritz, Randwick, this week premiering the best bleeding-edge science fiction features and short films from around the world over five film-filled days: Wednesday, October 19 – Sunday, October 23. Check out trailers and blurbs for the amazing program below!

Opening Night will see the Australia premiere of Equals, which sees maverick filmmaker Drake Doremus (Like Crazy, Breathe In) take on his first sci-fi, with big screen superstars Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Kristen Stewart (Twilight) falling in love against all odds in an emotionally sterile utopia.

Making its only big-screen appearance in Australia, The Purge: Election Year is the third installment in the cult dystopian franchise whose brilliant central conceit sees a future society where one day a year citizens are allowed to break the law. In the latest film, our hero (Frank Grillo) must protect a Presidential candidate targeted for death on Purge night! Perfectly timed to precede November’s US elections, this screening will allow audiences to live vicariously through the power of cinema.

Rupture puts forth the tried and tested combination of sci-fi and horror, with singular director Steven Shainberg (Secretary, Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus) returning after a ten-year hiatus with this story of a mother (Noomi Rapace) kidnapped by a secret organisation intent on turning her into a monster! This tension-filled nightmare also stars Michael Chiklis, Kerry Bishe, Peter Stormare and Lesley Manville.

For the Love of Spock is a lovingly made access-all-areas documentary about Leonard Nimoy by his son Adam, with all the insight and sensitivity only an offspring could bring to a project. Our special presentation will mark the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, and expectations are high that cosplaying Trekkies of all ages will attend in droves.

The Similars owes a great debt to Rod Serling’s classic Twilight Zone, but in the hands of Mexico’s most exciting young filmmaker Isaac Ezban (‘the new Guillermo Del Toro’) this story of a rainy night in 1968 and a group of disparate people stuck at a bus depot is all kinds of freaky and enigmatic. The Similars will be presented at a late night session as befits this future cult film, and will be followed by a Skype interview with the filmmaker direct from Mexico!

Another cult film waiting to happen, This Giant Papier Mache Boulder is Actually Really Heavy is not only a contender for the longest film title of all time but it is also a lovingly made New Zealand indie which is taking the sci-fi world by storm, winning Best Comedy at London and Boston Sci-Fi Film Festivals, Best Sci-Fi Film at Gencon and Best Independent Film at Starburst. Appropriate for its tongue-in-cheek story of three lads who are transported to a ‘50s sci-fi movie when they enter a booth at a fan convention, patrons will be encouraged to cosplay at this late night screening. Lead actor, co-writer and director Christian Nicolson will be flying in from New Zealand for the screening and will take part in a post-film Q&A!

These feature presentations will play alongside two sessions of the best short films from Australia and abroad.

Screening the best Sci-Fi from around the world isn’t the end of it! Saturday, October 22 will see free side events held at the cutting edge facilities at AFTRS in Moore Park, and will include snippets of 3 upcoming Australian sci-fi feature films screened and discussions with the filmmakers, and a workshop with concept illustrator/storyboard artist Tani Kunitake (Star Wars: Episode VIII, The Matrix) who not only provided the image that adorns the festival keyart, but is also in development on the highly ambitious sci-fi project Cerulean, which will form the basis of his presentation with the project’s producer, and actress, dancer and motion capture performer, Australian Dani Swan.

More details visit the festival's official site: http://scififilmfestival.com/

A special AAA festival pass is available from here: https://www.ritzcinema.com.au/Shop/Ritz-Cinema-Online-Shop/Sci-fi-Film-Festival-Vip-Pass/2016-Sci-fi-Film-Festival-Vip-Pass

A NIGHT OF HORROR: VOLUME 1 - NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND!

A NIGHT OF HORROR: VOLUME 1 hits the DVD shelves and streaming platforms of Australia and New Zealand today!  Fresh from its "SPECIAL JURY PRIZE" win at Melbourne Underground Film Festival, here's your chance to own A Night of Horror's first anthology feature film, produced with Deadhouse Films and released by Umbrella Entertainment.  Check out the trailer, and more details about the film, below!

Available from:

JB Hi-Fi - Sanity -  Ezy DVD - Google Play - iTunes - Fetch - Vimeo On Demand - Video Ezy -  Leading Edge - Civic Video - Network Video - Umbrella Entertainment

Synopsis

When a disoriented woman finds herself in a warehouse, she wanders around and is consumed by the encroaching darkness, uncovering a string of mysterious elements that will either elucidate her creepy predicament or haunt her to the very core.

Ten tales of spine-tingling terror unfold - where zombies and demonic entities linger, macabre scenarios of self-surgery, cannibalism and evisceration play out and the threat of the malevolent unknown seize the senses.

A horror anthology in the wicked tradition of V/H/S, Creepshow, Tales From The Crypt and The ABCs of Death capturing the essence of fear, A Night of Horror is a terrifying journey into the heart of darkness, where nothing is quite as it seems and every bump and shadow has the potential to slice the nerves into a million quivering pieces.

Extra Features

• The Making Of / Trailer

Cast

• Bianca Bradey
• Emily Wheaton
• Tegan Higginbotham

Directors

• Bossi Baker
• Carmen Falk
• Daniel Daperis
• Enzo Tedeschi
• Evan Randall Green
• Goran Spoljaric
• Justin Harding
• Matthew Goodrich
• Nicholas Colla
• Rebecca Thomson

A NIGHT OF HORROR / FANTASTIC PLANET 2016 FIRST PROGRAMMING WAVE

Presented by Deadhouse Films, the 10th annual A Night of Horror Film Festival and Fantastic Planet: Sydney Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival announce the first wave of feature programming for the 2016 event. “We started over ten years ago with the idea of hosting a one night showcase of the world's best and bloodiest new horror short films, hence the festival's name. We've since grown to an eleven day festival, that screens dozens of feature films and a plethora of shorts; a rich tableau of fantastic genre cinema ranging from blood drenched horror, through action filled sci-fi, to cult films that defy easy categorisation,” says festival director Dean Bertram. “Despite this growth, we have always remained committed to a simple idea: bringing the freshest and most original genre offerings from around the planet to our Sydney audience”.

The first ten feature films, all of which are Australian or international premieres, follow below. Click on the films' titles to visit their respective websites. More program details, guest announcements, and special events will be revealed in the weeks to come. The two festivals screen together at Dendy Cinemas Newtown from November 24 to December 4, 2016.

BORNLESS ONES (dir: Alexander Babaev) Fans of EVIL DEAD will eagerly devour this atmospheric and demon-filled fright-fest. Starring Australia's own Mark Furze, this is the best and bloodiest cabin-in-the-the-woods film in years. (The image above is a still from this fantastic film).

GEHENNA: WHERE DEATH LIVES (dir: Hiroshi Katagiri) The terrifying directorial debut from special effects artist Hiroshi Katagiri (A.I., WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE HUNGER GAMES). When a group of property developers are trapped in a bunker beneath sacred native land, they soon discover that there are worse fates than death waiting in the claustrophobic darkness. Appearances from genre favourites Lance Henriksen (ALIENS, MILLENNIUM) and Doug Jones (HELL BOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH) add to one of the most frightening films of the festival season.

NEIL STRYKER AND THE TYRANT OF TIME (dir: Rob Taylor) If DOCTOR WHO was genetically spliced with STAR TREK, by a mad scientist with a wicked sense of humor (who also threw in a sprinkling of malevolent goblin puppets just for giggles), you might have something resembling this soon to be cult classic. And with STAR TREK's Walter Koenig on board, this film boldly goes to new comedic heights.

ORION (dir: Asiel Norton) In a desolate future, where science is a memory, and mysticism and savagery rule the wasteland, a hunter (David Arquette in a transformative performance) must save a virgin (Lily Cole, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS) from a cannibalistic shaman. ORION is a visionary thriller and unique exploration of the post-apocalytpic sub-genre.

PARANORMAL DRIVE (dir: Oleg Assadulin) Russian genre cinema continues to accelerate with this jump-in-your-seat supernatural chiller. A Russian family road tripping across country in their newly purchased car, are unaware of the vehicles horrifying history. Will they survive its dark secrets and reach their final destination?

PEELERS (dir: Sevé Schelenz) The festival horror hit - with over 50 international festival screenings - is premiering in Australia at A Night of Horror. Festival alumnus Sevé Schelenz (SKEW) serves up a riotous horror action flick: filled with zombies, strippers, gore, gags and chainsaws!

PLANK FACE (dir: Scott Schirmer) From festival alumnus Scott Schirmer, emerging master of confrontational horror cinema (FOUND, HEADLESS, HARVEST LAKE), comes this shockingly original tale of a man forever transformed by a savage clan of backwoods women.

SHE'S ALLERGIC TO CATS (dir: Michael Reich) Indie hit of this year's Fantasia Film Festival, SHE'S ALLERGIC TO CATS is a genre-defying mind-trip filled with mesmerising imagery formed by an 80s video art aesthetic. A video artist and reluctant dog groomer (Mike Pinkney), falls head over heels for a gorgeous client (Sonja Kinski). One problem: his run down Hollywood home is infested by rats, and she's coming to visit.

SOMNIO (dir: Travis Milloy) Trapped in a futuristic prison cell, and watched over by a faceless warden, a wrongfully imprisoned man must escape his intolerable present by travelling into a violent yet romantic-tinged memory from his past. A Kafkaesque nightmare blended with a sci-fi premise reminiscent of the best of P. K. Dick. Lovers of cerebral science fiction will adore this haunting film.

TELEIOS (dir: Ian Truitner) A genetically perfected crew are on a rescue mission to recover a deep space mining vessel. All that remains of the drifting space ship's crew is a catatonic male human, and a subservient female android. But with its precious cargo missing, and the rescue party themselves becoming unhinged, they must race to discover not only the location of the ship's missing cargo, but what happened to the rest of its murdered crew. A taught sci-fi action/thriller which brings to mind sci-fi classics from ALIEN and EVENT HORIZON to BLADE RUNNER and EX MACHINA.

A NIGHT OF HORROR VOLUME 1 AT MELBOURNE UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL! SEPT 9-17

This September, Melbourne Underground Film Festival returns for its 17th year! You can check out the incredible 2016 program at the official MUFF site here:  http://www.muff.com.au

A Night of Horror is delighted to announce that the Melbourne premiere of the fest's first feature film anthology, co-produced with Deadhouse Films, will be at Melbourne Underground. A Night of Horror: Volume 1 screens Wednesday September 14, 9:00pm at the Alex Theatre, 1/134 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Melbourne horror fans don't miss out! Book your tickets online here:  http://www.muff.com.au/tickets/

You can check out the anthology's terrifying trailer below. We'll see you at the grindhouse!

BULLETS FOR THE DEAD AT DENDY NEWTOWN AUGUST 18

Winner of A Night of Horror Film Festival's 2015 "Director's Choice Award", the bloody fantastic BULLETS FOR THE DEAD screens at Dendy Cinema Newtown, Thursday August 18 at 7pm! Presented by Monster Pictures, the screening will be followed by a Q&A with cast and crew hosted by the fest's own head of jury and Screen Space editor Simon Foster!

A beautifully-lensed horror western out of Queensland that puts a gang of thieves in the charge of a bounty hunter as they attempt to avoid zombie cannibals while traversing the Old West. With the feisty and outspoken Annie Blake (played by Vanessa Moltzen) chewing the scenery as much as the zombies are munching on the cast, the eye-patched bounty hunter James Dalton has more to contend with than just forming a zombie hit squad. Cathy Rodda (IRON SKY) and Norm Wilkinson (TIME GUARDIAN) produced BULLETS FOR THE DEAD in league with Griffith University as a way to give new graduates a let up into professional production.

Watch the trailer below! And book tickets and get more info at: http://www.dendy.com.au/Movie/Bullets-For-The-Dead

A NIGHT OF HORROR AT REVELATION PERTH INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST: JULY 9 & 11

The always incredible Revelation Perth International Film Festival kicks off this Thursday July 7 and runs through July 17! You can check out the entire stellar schedule of films here. 

A Night of Horror's first anthology feature film - A Night of Horror: Volume 1 - co-produced with Deadhouse Films will be having its Western Australian premiere at Revelation. The film screens at the Luna Leederville on Saturday July 9 at 11pm, and Monday July 11 at 8:45pm. For more details and to book tickets online check out the film's page on the Revelation site. Perth peeps book now so you don't miss out!

You can check out the anthology's terrifying trailer below. And we'll see you at the grindhouse!

GREEN ROOM ONLY AT DENDY CINEMAS FROM MAY 11

GREEN ROOM, the brutal siege horror film - and highly anticipated follow up feature from Jeremy Sauinier (BLUE RUIN) - opens in Australia from Wednesday May 11, only at Dendy Cinemas!

Down on their luck punk rockers The Ain’t Rights are finishing up a long and unsuccessful tour, and are about to call it quits when they get an unexpected booking at an isolated, run-down club deep in the backwoods of Oregon. What seems merely to be a third-rate gig escalates into something much more sinister when they witness an act of violence backstage that they weren’t meant to see. Now trapped backstage, they must face off against the club’s depraved owner, Darcy Banker (Stewart), a man who will do anything to protect the secrets of his nefarious enterprise. But while Darcy and his henchmen think the band will be easy to get rid of, The Ain’t Rights prove themselves much more cunning and capable than anyone expected, turning the tables on their unsuspecting captors and setting the stage for the ultimate life-or-death showdown.

Check out the trailer below and book your tickets online here (or purchase at the Dendy box office): http://www.dendy.com.au/Movie/Green-Room

CRUSHED - "BEST OZ DIRECTOR" AT 2015 FANTASTIC PLANET - IN CINEMAS MARCH 15!

FanForce is pleased to announced the release of brand new award-winning mystery thriller, CRUSHED to cinemas on demand nationally from March 15th.

In a brilliant directorial debut, CRUSHED is direct from a successful international film festival run including it's Sydney premiere at Fantastic Planet Film Festival 2015, where director Megan Riakos won the fest's "Best Australian Director" award.

The film, also written by Riakos (50-50, THE SHED), is the story of Ellia, who returns to her family vineyard after her father dies in a winery accident.

When the death of her father is ruled a murder, and her mother becomes the prime suspect, Ellia is determined to uncover the truth. As she uncovers secrets about her family and the winery, she becomes the murderer’s next target. Will she discover the truth before it’s too late?

CRUSHED was filmed on location in the stunning Mudgee wine region in NSW, and features a stellar cast including Sarah Bishop (Skit Box and TVs DEADBEAT DADS) as Ellia, Les Hill (TVs UNDERBELLY, HOUSE HUSBANDS), Roxane Wilson (HOLDING THE MAN, TV’s WATER RATS, STINGERS), Millie Spencer-Brown (THE BLACK BALLOON) and Remy Brand (SAM FOX EXTREME ADVENTURES, CROSSED WIRES).

CRUSHED will screen at Randwick’s The Ritz Cinema on March 15th, before it screens nationally on demand via FanForce.com.

For screening information and requests, visit www.crushedfilm.com or www.Fan-Force.com

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 10TH ANNUAL A NIGHT OF HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Australia's oldest genre specific film festival announces its 2016 call for entries.

“For ten years A Night of Horror International Film Festival has remained true to its original mandate: showcasing independent horror cinema from emerging filmmaking talent”, says festival director Dean Bertram. “Most festivals of similar scope source the bulk of their programs from sales agents, distributors and other festivals. But A Night of Horror remains committed to selecting the majority of films screened at the festival from those entered through the festival's open submission process.”

In 2016, A Night of Horror will again be taking place in conjunction with Fantastic Planet Film Festival. Together they provide Australia's leading showcase of independent genre specific films. Combined, the festivals screened over 100 films in 2015.

Both festivals retain independent programs and their own specific award categories. And together they remain dedicated to presenting Sydney audiences with a stunning showcase of the latest in independent horror, sci-fi, fantasy and cult cinema.

Full entry details can be found for each festival at the links below:

A NIGHT Of HORROR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

FANTASTIC PLANET, SYDNEY SCI-FI & FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL

THE WITCH ONLY AT DENDY CINEMAS FROM MARCH 17

The highly anticipated Sundance hit THE WITCH is finally coming to Australian cinema screens from March 17. And in New South Wales the film screens exclusively at Dendy Cinemas!

New England, 1630. Upon threat of banishment by the church, an English farmer leaves his colonial plantation, relocating his wife and five children to a remote plot of land on the edge of an ominous forest —within which lurks an unknown evil. Strange and unsettling things begin to happen almost immediately — animals turn malevolent, crops fail, and one child disappears as another becomes seemingly possessed by an evil spirit. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, family members accuse teenage daughter Thomasin of witchcraft, charges she adamantly denies. As circumstances grow more treacherous, each family member's faith, loyalty and love become tested in shocking and unforgettable ways. Writer/director Robert Eggers’ debut feature, which premiered to great acclaim at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival — winning the Best Director Prize in the U.S. Narrative Competition — painstakingly recreates a God-fearing New England decades before the 1692 Salem witch trials, in which religious convictions tragically turned to mass hysteria. Told through the eyes of the adolescent Thomasin — in a star-making turn by newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy — and supported by mesmerizing camera work and a powerful musical score, THE WITCH is a chilling and groundbreaking new take on the genre.

Check out the trailer below:

Coming To Cinemas In 2016 #TheWitch Follow us for the latest movie updates YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Universal... Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UniversalPict... Twitter: https://twitter.com/UniversalPicsAU Instagram: https://instagram.com/universalpicsau In this exquisitely made and terrifying new horror film, the age-old concepts of witchcraft, black magic and possession are innovatively brought together to tell the intimate and riveting story of one family's frightful unraveling in the New England wilderness circa 1630.

TRAILER & POSTER FOR A NIGHT Of HORROR: VOLUME 1 RELEASED TODAY!

Ten directors come together for one night of horror with the first annual A Night of Horror: Volume 1 anthology. The feature film world premieres on opening night at A Night of Horror International Film Festival, which runs from Thursday November 26 – Sunday December 6 at Dendy Cinema Newtown.

Produced by A Night of Horror International Film Festival’s director Dr Dean Bertram and Deadhouse Films’ Enzo Tedeschi, A Night of Horror: Volume 1 trailer and poster have been released today. Check out the trailer below!

Consisting of nine short films submitted to and invited into the anthology for the first time this year, A Night of Horror: Volume 1 anthology brings together genre filmmakers from across Australia and the world and is a 90 minute pulse-charging horror featuring zombies, demonic entities, self-surgery, cannibalism and much more.

Featuring Bianca Bradey of Wyrmwood and Starting From Now fame, Enzo Tedeschi’s Life Imitates is the tale of a young woman that wakes up in a macabre art gallery, her experience leading audiences through the short films that make up the anthology.

From the screenwriter of The Pack Evan Randall Green, Dark Origins, tells of a psychologist that discovers the terrifying trauma haunting her young patient may in fact lurk beyond the girl’s fractured mind.

Bossi Baker’s Hum takes us inside a woman’s apartment where a mysterious humming does way more than keep her awake at night.

Escape for a weekend away with Melbourne duo Nicholas Colla and Daniel Daperis’ Flash and risk being invaded by a dark presence. 

Ravenous from Carmen Falk leaves us alone with a young girl and her grandmother who has a compulsive urge to eat raw animal flesh.

Matthew Goodrich delivers a family split apart in Scission.

Justin Harding’s Point of View sees a tired coroner stalked by the living dead…but only when she isn’t looking.

Take the train ride from hell with an unfaithful woman in Goran Spoljaric’s The Priest.

I Am Undone from Rebecca Thomson sees a cosmetic surgeon suffer spectacularly from oversampling her products.

“We have managed to curate an incredibly high-level of production value segments for this first instalment of the ‘A Night of Horror Volume 1’ anthology.  I am super-impressed with the quality, but also the variety on display, ranging from the hilariously macabre to the seriously dark and unsettling - all the ingredients for a good 90 minutes of chills and entertainment.  I reckon horror fans familiar with recent anthologies will find this one a breath of fresh air” said Deadhouse Films’ Enzo Tedeschi.

Tickets for A Night of Horror International Film Festival are on sale and can be purchased at www.dendy.com.au/Promotion/A-night-Of-Horror-Fantastic-Planet-Film-Festivals-2015

DEADHOUSE PRESENTS A NIGHT OF HORROR & FANTASTIC PLANET FILM FESTIVALS 2015! TIX ON SALE NOW!!

Deadhouse Films presents the 9th annual A Night of Horror International Film Festival and the 6th edition of Fantastic Planet Film Festival. Combined the festivals provide Australia's premier showcase of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller and cult cinema. 

The full 2015 program has now been announced, and tickets are available to purchase online at www.dendy.com.au. You can also check out the full program here: www.anightofhorror.com

This year the event promises another amazing line-up to transport audiences to strange and wonderful worlds, action filled landscapes, and blood drenched nightmares. Whatever your taste in fantastic cinema the incredible joint program has your genre appetite covered. And as the festivals' audience has come to expect, they will be able to meet and mingle with an array of Australian and international filmmakers at the fests' Q&A sessions and welcoming after parties.

The festivals run Nov 26 to Dec 6 at Dendy Cinema Newtown. Some sessions will sell out fast, so don't miss out, buy your tickets today!

A Night of Horror and Deadhouse Films call for short films for Anthology Feature!

Australia's number one horror film festival, A Night of Horror International Film Festival and independent production and distribution company Deadhouse Films are calling for short horror film submissions to include in their upcoming feature film anthology.

Now in its 9th year, Sydney's horror film festival has opened up a special new entry category to coincide with the 2015 event. The competition calls for filmmakers from across Australia and around the world to submit a short film containing the signature theme: “blood”. (The festival's regular categories are also open for submissions, including: feature films, horror short films, animated shorts, and H. P. Lovecraft inspired shorts).

Finalists in the anthology competition will be part of the first annual A Night of Horror anthology: a feature length film showcasing terrifying filmmaker talent from around the world which will premiere at A Night Of Horror International Film Festival 2015. Each finalist will also receive a share in profits from sales of the film.

A Night Of Horror International Film Festival has a long and proud history of highlighting "fresh blood" in the genre. "The curators at A Night of Horror have a deep passion for showcasing the best new talents in the industry. And it's a great way for fans and artists to bond and share knowledge amongst each other to expand both the art of filmmaking and the evolution of the genre to new heights", said director Peter Cornwell, whose debut Hollywood feature THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT screened at the festival in 2010.

The anthology film will be produced by Australian producer Enzo Tedeschi (THE TUNNEL, EVENT ZERO, AIRLOCK) and A Night Of Horror festival director Dean Bertram, and distributed by Deadhouse Films.

Tedeschi says of the project: "I've been a regular at the festival for years now, and have even had the pleasure of screening my own films here - it's a standout genre festival in Australia, and I'm excited to be a part of this unique next stage of evolution for A Night Of Horror."

For more details, or to submit your short to be considered for the anthology competition visit: http://www.anightofhorror.com/anthology-competition/

Help visionary festival alumni make their latest highly anticipated film: THE VOID

THE VOID is an original horror film from A Night of Horror Film Festival alumni the writer/director team Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie. Best known for their work as part of the Astron-6 collective (MANBORG, FATHER'S DAY), they are also design and FX veterans of major Hollywood productions (PACIFIC RIM, ROBOCOP, NBC's HANNIBAL).

"With this project we are pooling over ten years of experience to conjure up a terrifying film that will combine the aesthetic attitude of modern horror cinema as it emerged in the 1970s with the splatter and sophisticated practical special effects that ruled the creature features of the 1980s and early 90s,” Kostanski and Gillespie explain. “But make no mistake, unlike MANBORG and FATHER'S DAY, this time we aren't joking around. We are committed to introducing audiences to a unique horror-mythology."

The film is also co-produced by Peter Kuplowsky. In addition to several producing credits (MANBORG, BIO-COP, THE ABCs of DEATH 2, THE INTERIOR), and his programming role at Toronto After Dark Film Festival, Kuplowsky played the hat-wearing villain you loved to hate in the rip-roaring sci-fi splatter comedy TEDDY BOMB (an audience favourite at Fantastic Planet 2014).

So check out the film's awesome and perk-loaded Indiegogo page now, and support indie horror: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-void--10

THE VOID is an original horror film from writer/director team Steven Kostanski & Jeremy Gillespie. Help us build monsters at: http://www.igg.me/at/thevoid In the middle of a routine patrol, officer Daniel Carter happens upon a blood-soaked figure limping down a deserted stretch of road. He rushes the young man to a nearby rural hospital staffed by a skeleton crew, only to discover that patients and personnel are transforming into something inhuman. As the horror intensifies, Carter leads the other survivors on a hellish voyage into the subterranean depths of the hospital in a desperate bid to end the nightmare before it's too late.