Winners of A Night of Horror's 16th Edition Announced

The 16th A Night of Horror International Film Festival wrapped last week at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The festival served up a terrifying bounty of the the best and bloodiest genre films from around the world. Today, A Night of Horror announces the winning films of the 2024 event.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS captured the festival's “Independent Spirit Award”; an award which recognizes the tenacity and creativity of independent filmmakers producing amazing films, regardless of budgetary and other limitations. The film, a unique found footage offering, deftly blurs the line between documentary and narrative filmmaking, utilizing 20 years of real archival footage, and starring the filmmakers themselves.

Nick Toti (center) and Rachel Kempf (right) at the Q&A for IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. Left: Festival Director Dean Bertram. Photo by Samantha Krause.

“A Night of Horror is the kind of festival where two maniacs who made a movie with no money and no crew can find an appreciative audience among their fellow weirdos...which is exactly the kind of festival that the horror genre needs,” write Nick Toti and Rachel Kempf, the filmmaking duo behind IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. “We're honored to have won the 'Independent Spirit Award' for our film. Our only hope is that we inspire more people to move to the middle of nowhere, buy a rundown old squatter's hovel, and make the kind of horror movies that no Hollywood executive in their right mind would ever greenlight.”

An overview of the festival's other award-winning films follows:

James Morris on the set of HE NEVER LEFT, “Best Film” at A Night of Horror 2024. Photos courtesy of Witching Hour Films.

The festival's prestigious “Best Film” award was won by the brilliant and refreshing HE NEVER LEFT, from filmmaker James Morris. The film deftly spins the slasher sub-genre in new and pulse-charging directions.

“Best Director” was taken by Richard Elfman for his side-splitting and subversive horror comedy BLOODY BRIDGET. The titular role is played by Anastasia Elfman, who won “Best Female Performance” for her gutsy and priceless portrayal of a burlesque dancer turned gore-hungry vampire.

Writer/director Tyler Eaton at the world premiere of MYSTERIOUS WAYS at A Night of Horror 2024. Photo by Luong Huynh.

“Best Horror Comedy” was awarded to MYSTERIOUS WAYS from writer/director Tyler Eaton, the hilarious and irreverent feature, about a church youth group that inadvertently summon world-ending demonic spirits.

The stunning Macedonian feature M - part touching coming-of-age tale / part dystopian nightmare – from Varda Tozija, won “Best International Film”. And Russia's Anna Zaytseva captured Best Director for artfully weaving the thrilling social media-fueled narrative of #BLUE_WHALE.

ALEC BONK, director of BLIND COP 2 at the Q&A of the film’s sold-out screening. Photo by Luong Huynh.

“Best Male Performance” was awarded to George Fearing for his pitch-perfect, dead-pan portrayal of the visually challenged, and vengeance seeking, titular action anti-hero of BLIND COP 2 (from director Alec Bonk).

Genre icon Tony Todd (CANDYMAN) won “Best Supporting Male Performance” for his charismatic portrayal of a psychic in the emotion-ladened supernatural thriller THE ACTIVATED MAN, from writer/director Nicholas Gyeney. While “Best Supporting Female Performance” was awarded to the UK's Katie Sheridan for her nuanced portrayal of a meek - then empowered and vengeful - wife in the terror-ific British anthology LORE, from directors James Bushe, Patrick Ryder, and Greig Johnson.

“Best Practical Effects” was awarded to the stunning Japanese monster movie from Doug Roos, for its incredible visceral creature effects. And “Best Visual Effects” was won by the potent, moving, and nightmare-inducing THE ACTIVATED MAN.

“Best Short Film” was captured by the touching father and son drama, come terrifying werewolf flick, SCRATCH, from writer/director Michael Trainotti.

Left: Ben Manhanke introducing his short SMILEY. Right director of SENTINEL Jake Viaene. Photo by Luong Huynh.

While “Best Director – Short Film” was won by Ben Manhanke for his incredible realization of the bloody and gorgeously stylized SMILEY.

The “Best International Short” award went to Denmark's THE CURSE OF THE VELVET VAMPIRE, a sumptuous homage to 70s and 80s horror from Christoffer Sandau Schuricht. And Spanish director Javier Chvanel captured “Best International Director - Short Film” for the pulse charging and sleep destroying NAP.

SAPERE AUDE, a stunning Lovecraft inspired piece, from Australian animator Chadai Chamoun, won “Best Animated Short”.

Animator Nick Rohr (center) at the 16th edition of A Night of Horror International Film Festival. Flanked by filmmakers Jake Viaene (left) and Steven C. Chappell (right).

On the topic of the influence of horror maestro H. P. Lovecraft, the festival's long-standing “BEST LOVECRAFT SHORT” was awarded to the evocative and nightmarish AMYGDALA from Swedish filmmaker Oskar Johansson. While “Best TV / New Media” was awarded to director Nick Rohr for his touching and comedic WEEKEND DAD – “LOVECRAFT”.

Erik Bauer introducing I WANT YOU at the 16th A Night of Horror International Film Festival. Photo by Luong Huynh.

And “BEST OF THE MIDWEST SHORT FILM” went to the bloody mesmerizing I WANT YOU from director Joe Greening. The film was gorgeously lit and shot my DP Derek Bauer.

A Night of Horror also hosts both a feature and short screenplay competition.

“Dead babies, faith, caves, pigs, clowns, dogs, owls, gangs, creatures, serial killers, aliens, vampires, Elvis, ninjas, curses... 2024 was chock-full of amazing and unique scripts submitted to A Night of Horror”, said returning screenplay competition head, Sevé Schelenz, the writer/director know for SKEW and PEELERS. “Making this year one of the strongest competitions I've ever seen at the festival.”

The winning feature screenplay MORBIDLY was written by Don Stroud. Mark Steensland's A CHINESE VAMPIRE STORY took the 1st Runner-up spot. And the competition's 2nd Runner-up was awarded to Chad Ferrin for his screenplay UNSPEAKABLE: BEYOND THE WALL OF SLEEP, based on the work of H. P. Lovecraft.

The short screenplay competition was won by Jason Rice for R.I.P. JENNY LEE. The 1st Runner-up was HIDDEN by Taiyen Stevenson. And Christopher Eric Outridge's TEDDY CUDDLES was awarded 2nd Runner-up.

A full list of the finalists and winners of both the short and feature screenplay competitions is available here.

The 17th edition of A Night of Horror International Film Festival will again take place simultaneously with MidWest WeirdFest, at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, March 6-9, 2025.

16TH A NIGHT OF HORROR OPENS THIS FRIDAY - FIRST TIME IN USA!

For over 15 years, A Night of Horror International Film Festival, has screened and championed the best and bloodiest genre films from around the world. This year, it moves from Sydney, Australia to the USA. Its 16th edition will see the screens of Micon Downtown Cinema, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, run red with blood. And it's this weekend: March 1-3, 2024!

Rachel Kempf on location for IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS

“When we made It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This, we knew that it was going to be a weird movie,” writes filmmaking team Rachel Kempf & Nick Toti. “Was it a horror film? Was it a documentary? Was our approach too experimental? Would anyone care about this uncomfortably personal, odd little movie from two unknown filmmakers in rural Missouri? Thankfully, the fearless programmers at A Night of Horror have been beyond enthusiastic in their support for our movie, and we're honored to be involved with such a terrific festival.”

Nick Toti co-creator of IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS

Kempf and Toti will introduce their compelling documentary-come-found-footage horror feature when it screens Friday, March 1, at 10pm. The duo join dozens of other filmmakers presenting their films this weekend at the Micon, when A Night of Horror's first US edition, screens simultaneously with its sister festival MidWest WeirdFest.

Taking advantage of the Micon's two screens, each festival will run its own array of new cutting edge genre and underground cinema; Offering audiences constant choices throughout the festival, with a different film playing on each screen throughout the long weekend. There's also an added bonus for festival pass holders. A Night of Horror passes also allow entry into any MidWest WeirdFest session, and vice versa.

Full list of attending filmmakers of the 16th A Night of Horror along with head-shots and biographies here

View A Night of Horror’s full 2024 program here

MidWest WeirdFest's full 2024 program and schedule can be viewed here: https://www.midwestweirdfest.com/program

Tickets to all films screening at A Night of Horror, along with discounted festival passes, are available to purchase here (and during the festival will also available to purchase at the Micon Downtown Cinema box office):

A NIGHT OF HORROR'S FULL 2024 PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

A Night of Horror International Film Festival announces its full program for 2024 today. Taking place for the first ever time in the United States, the 16th edition of the festival runs March 1-3, 2024 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The festival's tradition of championing and screening the best and bloodiest new horror films continues, with another stellar line-up of feature films and shorts from around the world, including several world, international, and US premieres. One such feature film is MYSTERIOUS WAYS, an irreverent and bloody hilarious horror comedy, world premiering at the fest Saturday, March 2, at 4pm.

MYSTERIOUS WAYS

“Getting MYSTERIOUS WAYS from the initial germ of an idea I had in 2019 to the finished movie we have now was equal parts exhausting and therapeutic,” says the film's writer/director Tyler Eaton.

“I grew up a homeschooled pastor’s kid in Texas churning through Left Behind books, praying that demons would attack my youth group so I could save the day while the rest of the world read Harry Potter. So this movie allowed me to process a lot of childhood weirdness while also fulfilling a super normal fantasy. It was 11 overstuffed shoot days with a phenomenal crew and supportive friends all hellbent on making the funniest, most demonic movie we could. We truly can’t wait to premiere the movie for the first time ever at A Night of Horrror.”

MYSTERIOUS WAYS is just one of a bevy of amazing feature films to be showcased at the festival next month, along with dozens of short films.

The other feature films screening at the festival include:

THE ACTIVATED MAN (dir: Nicholas Gyeney ) MIDWEST PREMIERE

As Ors Gabriel struggles with the grief and pain from losing his best friend and beloved dog, Louie, to cancer, the shock from the trauma brings on strange visions only Ors can see. While he questions whether his mind has fractured or if it's actually real, a mysterious rise in murder-suicides takes hold of the city, and Ors becomes haunted by images of a shadowy figure known to many as “The Fedora Man”. Evoking a mood akin to the best 80s “nightmare” films, THE ACTIVATED MAN thrills and chills with a killer cast including horror icons Tony Todd and Kane Hodder.

BAKEMONO (dir: Doug Roos) MIDWEST PREMIERE

A multitude of guests visit the same cheap Tokyo airbnb at different times, unaware of the gruesome monster waiting for them. A terrifying, gore-drenched, and unique creature feature, told with a disjointed and unsetting narrative structure: Think PULP FICTION or MEMENTO as a bloody Japanese monster film. Loaded with incredible practical FX (and no CGI), the film delivers a visceral and unsettling experience.

BLIND COP 2: (dir: Alec Bonk ) THEATRICAL WORLD PREMIERE

A sequel to a film the doesn't exist, this is a riotous homage and parody of 80s action cinema. Blind Cop, the former beacon of justice, is consumed by grief after the mysterious death of his partner in the first movie. (Again there is no first movie.) His once-illustrious career has been reduced to drunken disorderly conduct, putting him at odds with the police force. Fired for his reckless behavior, Blind Cop ventures into the dark underworld of the city to continue his investigation into his partner's death. The truth he seeks may not be what he expects, but he will stop at nothing to avenge his fallen partner and bring the criminals responsible to justice.

BLOODY BRIDGET (dir: Richard Elfman) MIDWEST PREMIERE

Voodoo deity Baron Samedi transforms a down on her luck burlesque dancer into a "Valentine Vampire." But blood only whets her appetite; to satiate her gory desires she must eat her victims' beating hearts! A bloody - and bloody fun - horror comedy from director Richard Elfman, music by Danny Elfman and Ego Plum. Fans of comedic horror and camp will delight!

#BLUE_WHALE (dir: Anna Zaytseva) MIDWEST PREMIERE

Rebellious schoolgirl Dana grieves for her younger sister, a once-happy kid who suddenly stepped in front of a train. Desperate to learn what happened, she explores her sister's online history, discovering a sinister social-media game. A non-stop, brutal, and twisting thriller that draws you into a sinister and masterfully crafted online world.

EROS THANATOS (dir: Felipe Eluti ) US PREMIERE

Eros Thanatos is a self-destructive journey, narrated in a choral way in which each character is dominated by their emotional shortcomings. Florencia, Gustav, Judith and Martin are incomplete people who bond in a sickly affective and sexual way. The encounter of each of them with Joseph, who carries a supernatural secret, will force them to fight with an entity that will bring out their worst demons. This film disturbs and resonates, striking the audience at the most visceral of levels.

H. P. LOVECRAFT'S THE OLD ONES (dir: Chad Ferrin) MIDWEST PREMIERE

In 1930, sea captain Russel Marsh saw the light, and for 93 years his body was not his own. Inhabited by a Great Old One, he committed unspeakable acts in the name of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. Now free, he is in search of a way to go back in time to reverse the horrors wrought upon the world. But the cult has other plans and will stop at nothing to destroy him. The latest gore-drenched nightmare from fest alum, and modern master of the genre, Chad Ferrin (PARASITES, NIGHT CALLER, THE DEEP ONES).

HE NEVER LEFT (dir: James Morris) WISCONSIN PREMIERE

After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend inadvertently become targets of the notorious "Pale Face" killer, whose legend has consumed and haunted the local community for decades. The most impressive, inventive, and refreshing take on the slasher sub-genre that A Night of Horror's programming team have seen in over a decade.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS (dir: Rachel Kempf & Nick Toti)

Blending fact and fiction, this compelling found footage horror film features nearly 20 years of archival video. When filmmakers Nick Toti and Rachel Kempf buy an abandoned duplex to shoot their next indie horror film in, they are delighted to find random strangers are drawn to the building, gathering outside to stare at it in a zombie-like trance. What begins as an effort to document the cult quickly escalates into an increasingly ecstatic quest to see just how scary their real-life horror movie can get. You'll find yourself trying to work out what in this enthralling film is real and what is fiction.

M (dir: Vardan Tozija) MIDWEST PREMIERE

In a secluded forest, young Marko lives under the watchful eye of his overprotective and mysterious father. Their sheltered existence is all he knows. Marko seeks solace in his cherished picture book, finding comfort and answers within its pages. One day, an encounter with a kind-hearted boy with Down Syndrome named Miko, brings a glimmer of warmth and connection into Marko's isolated world. As his curiosity grows, Marko yearns to uncover the secrets that lie beyond the confines of the wilderness. A cruel turn of events grants him his wish sooner than he expects. A grim journey awaits him, filled with unknown dangers, unexpected twists, and a glimpse into a world forever changed.

MYSTERIOUS WAYS (dir: Tyler Eaton) WORLD PREMIERE

After a family tragedy sends them spiraling in opposite directions, Charlie and Denise Dobbins attempt to save their struggling church by re-energizing their youth group with an End of Days-themed Tiktok dance they hope will go viral. Instead, the dance accidentally possesses their pastor's teenaged daughter Bethany with the demonic dancing spirit Ashgaroth who vows to usher in the apocalypse and spread its dancing plague to 666 more people on Halloween night. This is one of the best horror comedies in years. Hilarious, irreverent, bloody, and unique.

The full line-up of visiting filmmakers will be announced next week.

A Night of Horror's full 2024 program and schedule can be viewed here.

Tickets to all films, along with discounted festival passes, are available to purchase here.

A NIGHT OF HORROR 2024 FIRST PROGRAMMING WAVE

A Night of Horror International Film Festival, announces its first programming wave for 2024 today. Long known as Australia's premier genre film event, the festival now takes place in the United States. This year, the festival's 16th edition - and first in the US - screens from March 1-3, at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“To move a fest I co-founded in Sydney, Australia, back in 2006, to America feels surreal”, says festival director Dean Bertram. “A Night of Horror has long taken pride in being recognized for its excellence in showcasing the best and bloodiest new horror films from around the globe. And this year's program is already shaping up to be one of my favorite line-ups yet. In the first wave alone are some of the most original, terrifying, and at times hilarious genre offerings that you'll see this year: A bloody buffet of zombies, online serial killers, vampiric burlesque dancers, masked slashers, Japanese monsters, Lovecraftian terrors, and compelling found footage. Each film twisting and playing with genre expectations. I can't wait to share them all with the festival's new audience in Eau Claire.”

Discounted festival passes are now on sale here:

Individual tickets to each film will go on sale closer to the festival; both on the fest's website, and from the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Full program details and filmmaker guests will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The first seven feature films announced follow:

BAKEMONO (dir: Doug Roos) A multitude of guests visit the same cheap Tokyo airbnb at different times, unaware of the gruesome monster waiting for them. A terrifying, gore-drenched, and unique creature feature, told with a disjointed and unsettling narrative structure: Think PULP FICTION or MEMENTO as a bloody Japanese horror film. Loaded with incredible practical FX (and no CGI), the film delivers a visceral and unsettling experience.

BLOODY BRIDGET (dir: Richard Elfman) Voodoo deity Baron Samedi transforms a down on her luck burlesque dancer (Anastasia Elfman) into a "Valentine Vampire." But blood only whets her appetite; to satiate her gory desires she must eat her victims' beating hearts! A bloody - and bloody fun - horror comedy from director Richard Elfman, music by Danny Elfman and Ego Plum. Fans of comedic horror and camp will delight!

#BLUE_WHALE (dir: Anna Zaytseva) Rebellious schoolgirl Dana grieves for her younger sister, a once-happy kid who suddenly stepped in front of a train. Desperate to learn what happened, she explores her sister's online history, discovering a sinister social-media game. A non-stop, brutal, and twisting thriller that draws you into a sinister and masterfully crafted online world.

H. P. LOVECRAFT'S THE OLD ONES (dir: Chad Ferrin) In 1930, sea captain Russel Marsh saw the light, and for 93 years his body was not his own. Inhabited by a Great Old One, he committed unspeakable acts in the name of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. Now free, he is in search of a way to go back in time to reverse the horrors wrought upon the world. But the cult has other plans and will stop at nothing to destroy him. The latest gore-drenched nightmare from fest alum, and modern master of the genre, Chad Ferrin (PARASITES, NIGHT CALLER, THE DEEP ONES).

HE NEVER LEFT (dir: James Morris) After hearing strange noises coming from an adjoining motel room, a federal fugitive and his girlfriend inadvertently become targets of the notorious "Pale Face" killer, whose legend has consumed and haunted the local community for decades. The most impressive, inventive, and refreshing take on the slasher sub-genre that A Night of Horror's programming team have seen in over a decade.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS (dir: Rachel Kempf & Nick Toti) Blending fact and fiction, this compelling found footage horror film features nearly 20 years of archival video. When filmmakers Nick Toti and Rachel Kempf buy an abandoned duplex to shoot their next indie horror film in, they are delighted to find random strangers are drawn to the building, gathering outside to stare at it in a zombie-like trance. What begins as an effort to document the cult quickly escalates into an increasingly ecstatic quest to see just how scary their real-life horror movie can get. You'll find yourself trying to work out what, in this enthralling film, is real and what is fiction.

M (dir: Vardan Tozija) In a secluded forest, young Marko lives under the watchful eye of his overprotective and mysterious father. Their sheltered existence is all he knows. Marko seeks solace in his cherished picture book, finding comfort and answers within its pages. One day, an encounter with a kind-hearted boy with Down Syndrome named Miko, brings a glimmer of warmth and connection into Marko's isolated world. As his curiosity grows, Marko yearns to uncover the secrets that lie beyond the confines of the wilderness. A cruel turn of events grants him his wish sooner than he expects. A grim journey awaits him, filled with unknown dangers, unexpected twists, and a glimpse into a world forever changed.

A Night of Horror Film Festival moves to the United States

One of the most beloved genre film festivals on the planet, Australia's long-running A Night of Horror International Film Festival, is changing venues... to the other side of the world!

And festival founder, Australian ex-patriate Dean Bertram, has returned to the helm.

A 2021 Dread Central article noted that A Night of Horror was “Australia's top genre festival” and attributed this ranking to “Dean Bertram's discerning curatorial eye” and his insistence in selecting “films from blind submissions, as opposed to sourcing from other festivals, distributors, or sales agents.”

Bertram now lives in Wisconsin, where he launched another film festival - MidWest WeirdFest - in 2016.

According to FilmFreeway, the industry’s leading film festival submission platform: MidWest WeirdFest is ranked by filmmakers as one of the “top 100 best reviewed festivals… out of more than 12,000 film festivals and creative contests” around the world.

“I've long thought of MidWest WeirdFest and A Night of Horror as being part of the same global brand,” says Bertram. “Both fests are based on the same guiding principals of championing independent cinema, building programs from films that are submitted by filmmakers, and bringing filmmakers and audiences together in intimate and accessible environments, something which has spawned dozens of lasting friendships and successful professional relationships of the years.”

A Night of Horror's new primary venue will be the iconic Micon Cinema in beautiful downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In its first year in the US, A Night of Horror will run concurrently with MidWest WeirdFest. Each festival will have it's own screen, and unique program, at the Micon Downtown from March 1-3, 2024. This will allow MidWest WeirdFest's loyal audience to also dip their toes into the bloody waters of A Night of Horror.

Submissions are now open for A Night of Horror’s 16th edition.

For more details visit: www.anightofhorror.com or enter via FilmFreeway.

AWARD WINNERS OF A NIGHT OF HORROR'S EDITION FIFTEEN

Last night at Dendy Cinemas Newtown, the 15th edition of A Night of Horror International Film Festival wrapped up a very big way.

Four days of screenings had seen three Aussie features having their Australian Premieres, and one Aussie feature having its World Premiere, six international features having either their Australian Premieres or International Premieres, and thirty-one short films from Australia and around the world, most of them having Australian Premieres, some having World Premieres. There were numerous wonderful Q&As following screenings, and we even had the surprise return attendance of an international feature film guest (we’re smiling at you Sylvia Caminer!)

Closing Night session saw the festival awards ceremony celebrate the talents of many local and international filmmakers, actors, and screenwriters, including the three finalists of the CUT! Teaser Trailer Competition, and a bittersweet announcement from Festival Director, Bryn Tilly.

Props to Maximum Daddy-o for the kick-on.

Spanish vanta-black comedy THE COFFEE TABLE took out three awards: Best International Feature Film, Best Feature Film Screenplay, and Best Performance in an International Feature Film. Western Australian Steven J. Mihaljevich’s VIOLETT won Best Australian Feature Film, with its star, Georgia Eyers, winning Best Australian Feature Film Performance. Best Australian Feature Film Director was won by festival alumna Ursula Dabrowsky for THE DEVIL’S WORK, and Best International Feature Director went to ex-Sydneysider Nicholas Tomnay for WHAT YOU WISH FOR. The John Wiggins Independent Spirit Award went to Sarah Tice & Zachary Beckler, from the US, for DID I?

Best Australian Short Film went to SVENGALI, Best Australian Short Film Director was won by Glenn Fraser for MOTHER TONGUE, and Best Australian Short Film Performance was won by Ben Gerrard in SVENGALI. Best International Short Film went to MANTRA (France), and its lead actor, Maud Wyler, took the Best Performance in an International Short Film award. Adesh Prasad from India won Best International Short Film Director for HIGH FUN.

The winners of the Unproduced Screenplay Competition were both Australian, Luke Wijayasinha-Gray for THE DEVIL HERSELF (feature) and Richard Patrick Doyle for DO US PART (short film), and taking out the inaugural win for the CUT! Teaser Trailer Competition was Franck Zuanic & Gareth Carr’s LITTLE LIGHT.

For the complete list of award winners visit here.

Congratulations to everyone. Sydney went out with a bang.

Finalists announced for 2023 Unproduced Screenplay Competition

Congratulations to all our finalists, from Australia and abroad, in our Unproduced Screenplay Competition for 2023, and a huge thank you to our fabulous judges, Ally Burnham, Benjamin Jung-Clarke, and Lynnaire MacDonald.

See below for the ten feature film script finalists and the ten short film script finalists, in no particular order.

The award winner in each category, along with the 1st and 2nd runners-up, will be announced at the A Night of Horror Closing Night Awards Ceremony, Sunday, October 1st, at Dendy Cinemas Newtown.

Best of luck to all the screenwriters!

FEATURE FILM FINALISTS

As Scared as You by Jesse Dorian
Garden of Delight by Paul Grammatico
Abeyance by Brandon Rhiness & Michael Schaar-Ney
The Devil Herself by Luke Wijayasinha-Gray
The Red by Min Tran
Human Resources by James Mackenzie Smith
Cannibal Girlfriend by Nathaniel Enrique Lerma
Bull by Drew Jarvis
Revival by Abby Selden
Blood Angel by Chelsea Coakley

SHORT FILM FINALISTS

The Withered Pear by Frank Stephen Leggett
The Guy Upstairs by Ethan Steele
Paper Monsters by Michael Clifton
Kissyfoot by Michael Clifton
The Call Out by Jesse C Wheatley
Do Us Part by Richard Patrick Doyle
The Director by Marissa Raine Carlin
Uppercase by Jonah Jackson Lindley
Yuletide by Brandon Bentley
The Sucker by Cassady Maddox Booth

A Night of Horror reveals its festival key art for 2023

It’s here! Our bewitching key art for our 15th edition courtesy of Sydney-based artist Matt Palmer.

For his third year as key artist Matt has utilised his wonderful talent as a painter. Taking inspiration from the same famous work by Andrew Wyeth that inspired Tobe Hooper to create The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and a stark change from the two previous years, the painting captures a dark, desolate beauty, and exudes a haunting, enigmatic quality.

The festival’s 15th edition takes place at Dendy Cinemas Newtown from Thursday, September 28th until Sunday, October 1st. It’s a Long Weekend, so make sure you’ve got your calendar blocked out especially. You don’t want to miss what we’ve got in store for you!

The 2023 program launch and ticketing are set for Thursday, August 31st.

This year’s program, while smaller than previous years, is no less impactful, and promises a sophisticated, elegant, and brooding selection of some of the best new horror and dark genre films from Australia and abroad, staying true to the festival’s dedication to independent and emerging filmmakers.

On the launch date the program will go live here, with links to respective sessions on the Dendy Cinemas site, and will also be available in a more detailed digital flipbook version, which is both downloadable and printable for those who prefer a keepsake hardcopy. Festival postcards with a QR code (taking you to the program page on the festival site) will be available at Dendy Newtown, and will be distributed around Sydney.

Festival Director, Bryn Tilly, will host a Facebook Live Video event via the festival Fb Page, on the morning of the launch (AEST tba), taking viewers through the program and all its nightmarish delights.

A Night of Horror announces CUT! teaser trailer competition

For its 15th edition A Night of Horror International Film Festival is excited to announce a new creative competitive component to the festival, open to Australian residents only.

Australian-based filmmakers are invited to submit to CUT!, the inaugural teaser trailer competition, sponsored by Panavision Australia.

Winning trailer wins $3500 worth of hire from Panavision Australia and a one (1) hour informal consultation with competition judges via Zoom.

Frivolous or serious, you decide. But make sure you have fun doing it!

Trailer can be either:

• a proof-of-concept for a feature or short film (whether it be a single scene or a montage)

• a teaser to a faux/fake feature or short.

Trailer must be no longer than three (3) minutes in duration, including any on-screen credits.

There is no restriction on when the trailer was made, provided it has not previously been exhibited to the general public.

Registration closes July 14th, 2023. Submission deadline closes July 31st, 2023.

Five finalists will be selected and screened as part of the festival’s closing night awards ceremony, and the winner announced thereafter.

Judges for the inaugural competition are Andrew Traucki (THE REEF, BLACK WATER) and Brett Garten (RED CHRISTMAS, PUB: THE MOVIE).

Please click here for full competition details, including registration information, and terms and conditions.

Jury announced for A Night of Horror's 15th Edition!

As we close in on our earlybird deadline for submissions for the 15th edition we are very excited to announce the jury for 2023. It’s essentially an all-Australasian affair of rising stars and bona fide legends, giving their time to help support and nurture the independent dark genre filmmaking scene.

The three feature film judges are Sydney’s Kiah Roache-Turner, Lauren Grimson, and Tasmanian Sam Curtain.

Short film judges are Melbourne’s Cassie Magrath, Sydney’s Doug Turner, and from the Blue Mountains, Sara Elizabeth Joyce.

Judging the unproduced screenplay competition we have Sydney’s Ally Burnham, Tassie’s Benjamin Jung-Clarke, and from Christchurch, New Zealand, Lynnaire MacDonald.

Also included in the jury this year is the very welcome return of Chicken & Chips Casting hotshots, Alison Fowler and Stephanie Pringle, who are once again sponsoring and awarding the Best Performance in an Australian Short Film.

We have an exciting announcement to make in the coming weeks in regard to a new creative competitive component in the festival. Keep your eyes peeled for that!

Check out the full jury and credentials here.

The Call for Entries for our 15th Edition is now open!

After two years in the wilderness and two years of pandemic hell we returned last year to our original haunting ground, Dendy Cinemas Newtown, and had a blast for our 14th Edition. Just check the reviews on FilmFreeway, we’re amongst the 100 Best Reviewed!

Now the gates are open and our Call for Entries for 2023 is being crowed out across the night sky.

Come ye fiends, submit your gleaming dark treasures to us for perusal, for we are on the hunt for the very best independent features and short films and unproduced screenplays from Australia and around the world to exhibit with glee to our hungry audiences, come late September.

Our 15th Edition will take place at Dendy Newtown, in the dark heart of Sydney’s Inner West, from Thursday, September 28 until Sunday, October 1st.

It’s real easy to submit, check the details here … and we’ll see you at the symphony of horror!

AWARD WINNERS OF THE 14TH EDITION OF A NIGHT OF HORROR!

Last night at Dendy Cinemas Newtown, the 14th edition of A Night of Horror International Film Festival wrapped up a big week of screenings that had seen two World Premieres, fifteen Australian Premieres, nearly fifty short films, and several filmmaker Q&As with local, interstate, and international guests.

It was a glorious return to the festival’s old haunting ground, and closing night session saw the festival awards ceremony celebrate the talents of many local and international filmmakers, actors, and screenwriters.

A Night of Horror alumni Isaac Ezban, from Mexico, took out top international honours with his film EVIL EYE winning Best International Feature Film. Sydneysider Jack Dignan’s AFTER SHE DIED won Best Australian Feature Film, with one of the film’s stars, Vanessa Madrid, winning Best Australian Feature Performance. Gabby Beans, from the US, won Best International Feature Performance for her role in THE HARBINGER.

Best International Feature Director went to Ryan Stevens Harris, another ANOH alumni, for MOON GARDEN from the US. Best Australian Feature Director was shared between Melbourne filmmakers Luke Wijayasinha-Gray & Luke J.S. for their debut, YOUR LOVE IS MINE.

Best Australian Short Film went to MARKED, directed by Catherine Bonny, and Marisa Martin & Clare Langsford shared the trophy for Best Australian Short Film Director for VIOLET DAZE. Best Australian Short Film Performance was won by Charlotte Friels for GUT INSTINCT, and the Panavision Australia Aussie Short Film Audience Award was won by Cooper Saava for BEAKS.

For the complete list of award winners visit here.

Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement of dates for our 15th edition and the Call for Entries, coming soon.

Finalists announced in the A Night of Horror 2022 Unproduced Screenplay competition

Congratulations to the twenty finalists in the 14th edition of our Unproduced Screenplay Competition, and thank you to our fabulous jury, Catherine Smyth-McMullen, Joshua Long, and Anna Dadic. There was a record number of script submissions this year!

FEATURE FINALISTS

Axe Girl Goes Kill by Matthew Lawrence

The Virgin by Trysta A. Bissett

Big in Japan by Maria Hinterkoerner & Kayne Gorney

Delia by Amy Hutchins

Loaded by Jason Reed

Misfortune Cookies by Don Stroud

Tranquility Reef by Steve Brody & Michael Brody

Not Like Other Girls by Rebecca Moret, Jasper Garner & Lachlan Marks

Restoration by Don Stroud & Winter Mead

Pick-a-Part by Tracy L. Morse & Sophia Porter

SHORT FILM FINALISTS

Boogeyman Bait by Kay Phillips

House of Wolves by Andrew Yeremeyev

Gate Bait by Paul Grammatico

Sweet Tooth Boogeyman by Lance Eliot Adams

Possum by Lyndal Simpson

Game by Lachlan Marks

Rob’s New Girlfriend by Pierre Langenegger

I Don’t Like Thinking About Death by Paul Bird

Bad Words by Stuart Alan Creque

Blood Thirsty by Brandon Bentley

The winners and 1st and 2nd Runners Up in their respective categories will be announced in the Festival Awards Ceremony, at Dendy Cinemas Newtown, Sunday October 23.

Best of luck to all the finalists!

Keep your eyes peeled!

A Night of Horror International Film Festival announces 2022 program launch date and sneak peek

We are very excited to reveal the launch date of our spectacular program, returning to Dendy Cinemas Newtown for its 14th annual edition, 17 – 23 October.

Keep your eyes peeled on Tuesday, September 20 (AEST) when the A Night of Horror International Film Festival 2022 program goes live online.

For those wanting an exclusive first peek, A Night of Horror crew will be upstairs at Newtown’s Kelly’s-on-King, Monday, September 19, from 7pm, with collectible print programs hot off the press, plus a few giveaways to hand out.

“It’s really great to be back at Dendy Newtown,” says festival director Bryn Tilly, “Back on our original haunting ground, after two years of restrictions. And we’re back with a vengeance!”

It’s been a record year for submissions and it’s one of the festival’s strongest programs ever, with 65 films! Seventeen features and forty-eight shorts from down under and around the globe.

There are two World Premieres: YOUR LOVE IS MINE from Melbourne’s Luke Wijayasinha-Gray & Luke J.S. and BEATEN TO DEATH from Tasmania’s Sam Curtain, and a third Aussie feature, AFTER SHE DIED, from Sydney’s Jack Dignan, has its Australian Premiere.

Two festival alumni make A Night of Horror history, with Sam Curtain becoming the first Australian director to have three features premiere at the festival, and Mexico’s new Guillermo Del Toro, Isaac Ezban, becoming the first international director to also have three features premiere with the festival, with his hotly-anticipated EVIL EYE.

There’s the glorious return of our legendary, signature selection of homegrown talent, the AUSTRALIAN SHORTS GALA, there are two blood-curdling INTERNATIONAL SHORTS SHOWCASES, and a further twelve bone-rattling new features from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and the United States, all making their Australian Premieres.

“Not surprisingly,” says Bryn, “given the last couple of years of pandemic grief and trauma on a global scale, much of this year’s program reflects themes of mental illness, psychosis, possession, delusion, betrayal, and revenge. Quite a bit of witchery too. Filmmakers are keen to purge, and it makes for really wild storytelling and dynamic cinema.”

For those eager to get the trick-or-treatin’ rolling early, a special “Halloween” costume occasion - with prizes courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment for the most spookily-dressed - will accompany the Australian Premiere of TWO WITCHES, from the US, a most terrifying ride.

The festival is bookended by two wicked, rib-tickling psycho-thrillers, not to be missed; Opening Night sees the Australian Premiere of FOLLOW HER from Emmy Award-winning Sylvia Caminer, and Closing Night has the Australian Premiere of ZEBRA GIRL from the UK’s Stephanie Zari.

The jury for the 14th edition features a swag of luminaries, Kat Ellinger, Carlo Ledesma, Amelia Foxton, Heidi Honeycutt, Michael Helms, Briony Kidd, Catherine Smyth-McMullen, Joshua Long, and Anna Dadic.

Back for their third year, Panavision Australia and Chicken & Chips Casting sponsor the Australian Short Film Audience Award and Best Performance in an Australian Short Film award, respectively, back for a second year, Sydney’s Inkii Originals has designed the key art, and continuing support comes from film culture stalwart, FilmInk.

Last, but not least, rising stars on the Sydney scene, Ester Spirits, have come on board as new sponsors to lubricate the festival with their distinct independent spirit on select sessions.

A Night of Horror International Film Festival screens at Dendy Cinemas Newtown, from Monday, October 17 until Sunday, October 23, 2022.

Full program and tickets will be available online at www.dendy.com.au/cinemas/newtown from Tuesday, September 20.

A Night of Horror International Film Festival reveals key art for its 2022 edition!

We are proud as punch to reveal the spooktacular key art for this year’s edition, in our 14th year of providing Australian audiences with some of the best new independent films from emerging and established filmmakers.
Sydney-based artist Matt Palmer returns to deliver another striking piece of creepy-as-hell artwork, that slyly and enigmatically hints at cult classic nightmares.
You can see more of Matt Palmer’s original art via his Inkii Independent site here.
We are super-excited to be making our return to the festival’s original haunting ground - the Dendy Cinemas in Newtown - and can’t wait to reveal what promises to be a wild and wicked program. Keep your eyes peeled for further announcements.
The remaining submission deadlines are Late: July 25th and Extended: August 22nd.
A Night of Horror takes place at Dendy Newtown, Sydney, from October 17th - 23rd.

A Night of Horror announces festival jury for 2022

As the submissions come rolling in thick and fast it’s time to announce our wicked and wonderful jury for the festival’s 14th edition. It’s a real privilege and pleasure to have such prestigious, creative, and all-round awesome folk as these giving their time to help nurture the independent filmmaking scene.

The three feature film judges are irrepressible horrorphile Kat Ellinger, editor-in-chief of Diabolique magazine, loveable, loco Mexican film director and A Night of Horror alumnus, Isaac Ezban, and sly and enchanting local filmmaker and actor, Amelia Foxton.

Short film judges are the legendary Heidi Honeycutt, creator of Etheria Film Festival, drop-out cinema studies upstart Michael Helms, of Fatal Visions infamy, and the founder of Stranger With My Face International Film Festival, the indispensable Briony Kidd.

Judging the unproduced screenplay competition we have the super-talented winner of best screenplay at A Night of Horror 2020 (The Other Lamb), alumna Catherine Smyth-McMullen, Queensland local hero and A Night of Horror alumnus, Joshua Long, whose short film Post Mortem Mary won the prestigious best short film at Sitges Film Festival, and the thrilling head of development at Arcadia, rising producer Anna Dadic.

Also included in the jury this year is the very welcome return of Chicken & Chips Casting hotshots, Alison Fowler and Stephanie Pringle, who are once again sponsoring and awarding the Best Performance in an Australian Short Film.

Yes, we’re very excited to have these fabulous luminaries and alumni on the festival team for 2022. And you should be too!

Check out the full jury and some of their credentials here and keep your eyes peeled for further announcements in the coming weeks.

A Night of Horror International Film Festival opens its call for entries and announces return to Dendy Newtown for 2022

Squeezing in before the Xmas chaos, A Night of Horror opens its call for entries for its 14th edition.

We are also very happy to announce the festival is returning to its original home, the Dendy Newtown cinemas, in the dark heart of the Sydney horror community.

The 2022 festival will run Monday, October 17th to Sunday, October 23rd, fully soaking in the “horroctober” vibes in the lead-up to Hallowe’en.

For our 14th Edition the festival is calling for all dark genre content: horror, thriller, fantasy, noir, science fiction, action, exploitation, underground, indie, cult, western, and war, in the following categories: features, documentaries, shorts, animations, TV/web episodes, H. P. Lovecraft-inspired shorts, and our two unproduced screenplay competition categories - feature and short.

Click here for full submission details: filmfreeway.com/ANightOfHorror

Keep your eyes peeled!

AWARD WINNERS FOR THE 13TH A NIGHT OF HORROR ANNOUNCED!

We made it! Our first-ever online, virtual event! Thank you Xerb!

A huge congratulations to all the talented filmmakers who helped make A Night of Horror’s 13th edition a success! A truly terrific program!

An even bigger congratulations to all our award winners!

Special thanks to this year’s jury who made the tough decisions!

Props to all our awesome partners, sponsors, supporters, and loyal fans!

Click here to see the full list of award winners for 2021.

Submissions for next year’s festival will open soon, so spread the word, and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to our site, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), or hell, why not all four!

And remember … Keep your eyes peeled!

2021 merchandise available for mail order

Limited edition t-shirts and poster art for A Night of Horror’s 2021 festival are available for purchase via mail order.

The collector’s items available are two different t-shirt designs featuring the 2021 festival art by Matt Palmer from Inkii Originals, and two poster sizes featuring Matt Palmer’s festival key art, one is a small size, and the other is a large size that is numbered and signed.

Orders are strictly by Paypal only. Please click here for full merchandise information and ordering details.

A Night of Horror International Film Festival confirms virtual platform and teases films ahead of program launch

For its thirteenth edition, A Night of Horror is partnering up with exciting new streaming platform Xerb, to delight fans nationwide with a thrilling program of dark genre cinema from down under and around the world, 18 - 31 October. 

“I’m not superstitious,” says Festival Director Bryn Tilly, “This year is our lucky 13th! It’s vital to maintain such an important cultural event, and with Xerb we are able to expand our reach, our program, and duration. No mutant virus will stop A Night of Horror! Be afraid, be very afraid!”

The features program has thirteen international and Australian premieres, including Addison Heath & Jasmine Jakupi’s wild and blackly comic slasher MY CHERRY PIE as the festival’s “Opening Night”, the sinister supernatural spookery of SUNOD from festival alumni, Carlo Ledesma (THE TUNNEL), the Schuyler family’s eerie lockdown nightmare, RED RIVER ROAD, Keene McRae’s brutal noir-esque debut, SHOT IN THE DARK, the hypnotic, escalating paranoia of Johannes Grenzfurthner’s MASKING THRESHOLD, and the immensely entertaining documentary THE BRILLIANT TERROR, focusing on grassroots horror filmmakers and fans in the US. 

Thirty-seven sensational short films are spread across two International Shorts Showcases and an epic Australian Shorts Showcase, and, last, but not least, an exclusive live talk with Q&A from the local legend that is Kiah Roache-Turner (WYRMWOOD), on the hard fun of DIY horror!

Panavision Australia is returning as sponsors of the Australian Short Film Audience Award, as are Chicken & Chips Casting, sponsoring the Best Performance in an Australian Short Film Award. Festival Partner is Peter Humble. 

The complete Official Selection and virtual program, ticketing and festival pass information will be launched on Monday, 20 September. Keep your eyes peeled for limited edition merchandise, scaring soon!