THE 2021 LINEUP
September 17th - 24th, 2021
Due to COVID-19 this year's event was screening completely online.
Awards are at the bottom of the page!
Feature Films
Bad Candy | 102 minutes
Directed by Scott Hansen & Desiree Connell
Written and Produced by Desiree Connell
Starring Corey Taylor, Zach Galligan, Derek Russo & Kenneth Trujillo
Bad Candy follows local Halloween stories of both myth and lessons learned in the community of New Salem. With its annual Psychotronic FM Halloween show, re-enactment radio DJs Chilly Billy and Paul weave the tales of the supernatural of years gone by. In this small town it’s a grimy ending for most, but will a few good souls survive?
SURGE | 100 minutes
Directed by Aneil Karia
Written by Rupert Jones, Rita Kalnejais & Aneil Karia
Produced by Julia Godzinskaya & Sophie Vickers
Starring Ben Whishaw & Hammed Animashaun
Set over 24 hours in London, SURGE is a stripped back thriller about a man who goes on a bold and reckless journey of self-liberation.
Short Films
Bird
(6m)
A modern day haunting.
Bliss Burger
(20m)
For Ajit's wife, his voyage to the United States is to complete his PhD in Engineering. For Ajit, it's an opportunity to escape the clutches of an arranged marriage. After Ajit finds himself isolated in a new world, he remedies his guilt of running away through the solace of a mysterious fast food company, Bliss Burger. But as he indulges in a greasy, American diet strange events begin to happen, and a monster is awakened.
Bloodshed
(13m)
Ridden with guilt after the untimely death of his wife from a rare blood disease, grief-stricken Getty turns his hobby shed into a bloody altar of worship and brutal sacrifice in his relentless search for Redemption. As he descends into madness, many will bleed...
Canines
(11m)
In Paris, Anna and her mother Elena, two vampires isolated from the rest of the world, try to survive by tracking down cybercriminals at night on social networks. But, between Elena’s illness, her repeated anxiety attacks and the hunts becoming more and more dangerous; tensions rise and the demons of the past resurface. Anna, on the brink of madness, begins to fall in her dark sides.
Doll Klaw - You Said
(6m)
A mysterious girl drags a dead body into the desert, drops him into a shallow grave, and starts burying him. As she sings she starts to fantasize about new beginnings; new relationships with new people which provokes her to personify her shovel and adopt him/her/it as a smiling new dance partner. But the seemingly lifeless body in the ground has a few surprises up his sleazy sleeves.
Echthaar
(20m)
The smell of shampoo and cigarettes hangs in the air. The hair buns tear at the scalp and the newest hits play on a small radio. It’s the golden 50ies and Victor has his hair salon in perfect order – or so it seems. Because from her first day at the new job, Paula just can’t take her eyes off the strange jukebox in the corner. She senses that the machine is somehow connected to a dark secret. As Paula starts to take a deeper look at it, she doesn’t understand that her own life is on the line.
Familiar
(10m)
It is 1942, in the dark woods of Pennsylvania, Richard Mason is the Familiar to a hideous ancient vampiric creature living in the bowels of an isolated mansion.
Every day he must bring a new victim for it to feed on and tolerate its physical and mental abuse.
Flesh and Blood
(6m)
A young woman investigates her mother's life after she dies in a mental asylum.
Geneva Jacuzzi's Casket
(6m)
Kate Shaw is massively frustrated. She has several shipments of experimental Emote Cartridges past due for delivery to the World Wellness Watch, the current one-world government. Kate is going to miss the deadline. Execution is likely.
The Pleasure-U BioDrone, her only assistant, has contracted an undiagnosed mental-disease. Kate Shaw is forced to amputate its head and keep the body alive in the PleasureCenterCasket, normally reserved for paying, near deceased clients.
The BioDrone’s head, inside a reprogramming bag, continuously calls to Kate’s brain with strange visions.
Girl on Fire
(9m)
A teenage girl unintentionally brings her violent premonitions to fruition while sleepwalking.
Human Trash
(17m)
A boy is thrown into a trash container from the future. In his frantic search for the exit, he runs into a mysterious man, who will make him doubt the origin of his own existence.
Koreatown Ghost Story
(15m)
In this supernatural horror tale based on a Korean ritual starring Margaret Cho and Lyrica Okano, a woman entertains a macabre marriage offer that would let her pursue her dreams, for better or for much much worse.
Little Wolf: The Night Trail
(9m)
Can a young boy survive the supernatural creatures of the wild with nothing but a bow and his wits? With his clan totem at his side, Little Wolf just might stand a chance.
Look what you have done!
(10m)
Look what you have done ! tells the story of a man, Jacob, who finds himself confronted with his heinous deeds. While Kendra, a psychologist, tries to make him aware of his actions, Jacob denies his responsibility and claims his innocence. He describes a stranger’s presence who follows him everywhere and who acts on his own. The discussion between Jacob and Kendra will bring up some controversy.
Melpomene
(18m)
Melpomene is a psychological thriller short film that follows the aftermath of Lisa Green's failure as an actress. After her play, Lisa finds herself no longer alone in her apartment. She is accompanied by a crazed fan in a mask and two corpses in her tub.
Mr. Voki (A Tale of Monsters)
(10m)
A little girl is terrified of a monster in her closet, as she soon learns there is more to being a monster, than just the unknown figure in front of her.
Ménage
(12m)
A son goes to stay with his estranged dad for the summer only to discover his fathers beliefs lead to disturbing behavior.
PARE
(8m)
A strange discovery leaves a woman haunted by her husband's absence.
Smiles
(13m)
Borja is about to meet his girlfriend´s parents. This is meant to be a tricky moment and even awkward. However, he hasn´t even imagined what he´s going to suffer next. The best way to overcome the situation: to give smile and wait.
Stay Calm
(18m)
All of humanity has been infected with a rage zombie virus that lies dormant until triggered by adrenaline spikes in its host. A love triangle consisting of ZACK, his wife, GABI, and their best friend, PATRICK, have escaped the city and taken refuge in a desolate desert home. The trio must control their emotions and most primal instincts in order to keep from turning into a monster.
Survive Growing Up
(6m)
The Crusade of a child, who in his process of growth and survival, walks through the paths of life, being embraced by a harsh and hostile environment, haunted evil entities (freaks), who will try to stop his journey towards an uncertain future.
The Killbilly
(20m)
A young teenager escapes into the forest fleeing a deranged young woman whose killed his church youth group only to find people more deadly and heinous lurking in the forest awaiting to trap unsuspecting victims!
Where Still Waters Lie
(19m)
A young couple find themselves drifting apart as the burdens of parenthood weigh on them in different respects.
Within the emotional distance they create, they leave gaps for more than just silence, turning a healing weekend away into a horror of mistrust and fear.
Whitetail
(16m)
A hunting trip doesn't go as planned.
Woodland Cemetery
(10m)
A photographer has the assignment to shoot Skogskyrkogarden, a cemetery located in the woods of Stockholm. There she sees an old woman placing a lantern on a grave. When the photographer shoots a picture of this very private moment, she soon finds out that this haunting image is more haunted than she bargained for.
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The Awards
2021
Best Feature Film
*Bad Candy*
Best Short Film
Bird
Bliss Burger
Bloodshed
CANINES
Doll Klaw - You Said
Echthaar
Familiar
Flesh and Blood
Human Trash
Little Wolf: The Night Trail
Look what you have done !
Melpomene
Ménage
Mr. Voki (A Tale of Monsters)
PARE
Smiles
Stay Calm
The Killbilly
*Where Still Waters Lie*
Woodland Cemetery
Best Music Video
*Doll Klaw - You Said*
Best Student Film
*Echthaar*
Melpomene
Best Cinematography
*Bloodshed*
Familiar
Flesh and Blood
Look what you have done!
Best Director
Adam O'Keeffe (Where Still Waters Lie)
Eric Foss (Doll Klaw - You Said)
*Javier Chavanel (Smiles)*
Lauren Sick (PARE)
Best Actor
*Connor McLean (Stay Calm)*
Sam Quinn (Stay Calm)
Edwin Mullane (Where Still Waters Lie)
Luis Miguel Jara (Smiles)
Best Actress
Daniella Mendoza (Stay Calm)
Josefin Asplund (Woodland Cemetery)
Carolyn Bracken (Where Still Waters Lie)
*Lexi Johnson (Flesh and Blood)*
Best Screenplay
*A Woman's Touch (written by Daniel Guyton)*
BFFs Never Say Die (written by K. Jennifer Ilagan)
False Shepherd (written by Dawson Roebig)
Starvation Heights (written by Jennifer Connor)
The Guest House (written by Luke Anthony Walker)
*Asterisks denote this year's winners*