Now that the March 2016 Fright Night Theatre Film Festival has come to a close we are thrilled to annouce the winners of our Audience Choice and Selection Committee Awards. From the phenomenal five feature films and 15 short official selections that made up our festival, the following films and filmmakers stood out as exceptional beacons of indie talent.
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
As voted by the in-attendance audience BEST FILM Bunny the Killer Thing
(Director - Joonas Makkonen / Producers - Miika J. Norvanto, Matti Pekkanen, Mikko Soukkala)
Tonight, doors open for the Fright Night Theatre Film Festival at the Staircase Theatre (27 Dundurn St. N) for the first in two days of thrills, chills, and cinematic kills.
From sexually-charged monster movies, to classic 1980s-style horror fun, gut wrenching socially-minded thrillers, disturbing survival horror, and the ultimate in juvenile midnight movie exploitation carnage, we offer something socking, sexy, and silly for genre fans of all tastes.
* Locked in the Cellar Creations has decGOREated the Staircase Theatre with amazing props and photo opportunities including an undead petting zoo, a human caterpillar, their (in)famous toxic zen fountain, and a wide variety of zombies, corpses and other things to creep you out
* Eat Drink and Be Scary! The Staircase Cafe offers a wide variety of delicious food and snacks as well as drinks, beer, wine, and spirits to wash it down. Enjoy a fright flick with a frosty pint!
* YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Winners of our Best Short and Best Film awards are chosen by you -- the audience! Make your voices heard by voting at each screening.
Acclaimed indie filmmaker Scott Schirmer (FOUND) teams with producer and cinematographer Brian K. Williams (TIME TO KILL) to produce this sexually-charged and boundary-pushing horror film about a group of vacationing campers who fall under the spell of a carnal, otherworldly presence in the woods. Stars Tristan Risk (THE EDITOR, AMERICAN MARY) and Ellie Church (TIME TO KILL, HEADLESS). Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film HEIR (Dir. Richard Powell) Recommended for fans of * Body Horror * H.P. Lovecraft *Artful Booty Shots * INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS * David Cronenberg (SHIVERS, RABID)
9.45 PM: IDYLL (SLOVENIA) - || CANADIAN PREMIERE ||
*Backwoods Redneck Horror*
(57% SOLD OUT)
After a night of carousing, amateur photo model Zina heads for a fashion shoot in the idyllic vistas of rural Slovenia, accompanied by ambitious model Mia and their snobby photographer Blitcz. On their way to the wooded location, they cross paths with a group of hideously disfigured and violent redneck moonshiners. Thus, an ordinary fashion shoot in the woods turns into a fierce fight for survival. Slovenia's answer to Wrong Turn is a sleazy slice of redneck horror exploitation. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film DIE! SITTER! DIE!: RUPERT (Dir. Sam Boxleitner & Lee Boxleitner) Recommended for fans of * Torture and Survival Horror * Euro Horror * Cannibal Movies * WRONG TURN * TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE * HOSTEL * THE HILLS HAVE EYES
A group of Finnish and British partygoers get stuck at a snowy cabin when they are attacked by a horny creature that is a half human, half rabbit. A brilliant send-up of monster movie conventions or a depraved excuse for gratuitous gore, sex, violence, nudity, and penis jokes? Either way, BUNNY THE KILLER THING is the perfect midnight movie for lovers of exploitation trash and what-the-fuck filmmaking. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film DICKPROOF 2 (Dir. Sam McGlynn) Recommended for fans of * Gore * Gratutious Nudity * Exploitation * Trashy Movies * Political Incorrectness * Horror Comedies * Satire * DEAD SNOW * TROMA
A freaky and fun showcase of local and international horror, cult, and genre shorts representing outstanding achievements in cinematography, animation, special effects, makeup, and script-writing.
7:00 PM: SHE WHO MUST BURN(CANADA) - || HAMILTON PREMIERE || *Award-Winning Horror Thriller*
(65% SOLD OUT)
The Baarkers, a family group of religious fanatics who believe they are God's chosen ones, polarize a small mining town and force its residents to fight for their lives as their zeal turns murderous and the rule of law decays into brutish mob mentality. A controversial and timely look at the horrific results of religious zealotry from esteemed Canadian filmmaker Larry Kent. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film THE HERD (Dir. Melanie Light) || CANADIAN PREMIERE || Recommended for fans of * Character-Driven Thrillers * Politically-Minded Horror * Ti West's THE SACRAMENT * Kevin Smith's RED STATE
9:30 PM: THE BARN(USA) - || CANADIAN PREMIERE || *1980s-inspired Halloween Horror* FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE.
(79% SOLD OUT)
It’s Halloween 1989, and best friends Sam and Josh are trying to enjoy what's left of their final Devil's Night before graduating high school. But the two pals and a group of their friends get more trick than treat when they take a detour on their way to a rock concert, finding an old abandoned barn and awakening a trio of Halloween demons inside. Now it's up to Sam and Josh to find a way to protect their friends and defeat the flesh-hungry creatures that lurk within "The Barn." Featuring a rocking cameo by Ari Lehman, the first Jason Voorhees, THE BARN is the perfect retro throwback to classic 80s VHS horror like The Monster Squad, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and Full Moon's direct to video features. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film LARRY GONE DEMON (Dir. Matthew John Lawrence)
This weekend, the Fright Night Theatre Film Festival launches the first edition of its twice-a-year horror, cult, and exploitation film festival in Hamilton, ON at the Staircase Cafe Theatre for two nights of thrills, chills, and cinematic kills.
From sexually-charged monster movies, to classic 1980s-style horror fun, gut wrenching socially-minded thrillers, disturbing survival horror, and the ultimate in juvenile midnight movie exploitation carnage, we offer something socking, sexy, and silly for genre fans of all tastes.
Acclaimed indie filmmaker Scott Schirmer (FOUND) teams with producer and cinematographer Brian K. Williams (TIME TO KILL) to produce this sexually-charged and boundary-pushing horror film about a group of vacationing campers who fall under the spell of a carnal, otherworldly presence in the woods. Stars Tristan Risk (THE EDITOR, AMERICAN MARY) and Ellie Church (TIME TO KILL, HEADLESS). Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film HEIR (Dir. Richard Powell) Recommended for fans of * Body Horror * H.P. Lovecraft *Artful Booty Shots * INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS * David Cronenberg (SHIVERS, RABID)
9.45 PM: IDYLL (SLOVENIA) - || CANADIAN PREMIERE ||
*Backwoods Redneck Horror*
After a night of carousing, amateur photo model Zina heads for a fashion shoot in the idyllic vistas of rural Slovenia, accompanied by ambitious model Mia and their snobby photographer Blitcz. On their way to the wooded location, they cross paths with a group of hideously disfigured and violent redneck moonshiners. Thus, an ordinary fashion shoot in the woods turns into a fierce fight for survival. Slovenia's answer to Wrong Turn is a sleazy slice of redneck horror exploitation. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film DIE! SITTER! DIE!: RUPERT (Dir. Sam Boxleitner & Lee Boxleitner) Recommended for fans of * Torture and Survival Horror * Euro Horror * Cannibal Movies * WRONG TURN * TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE * HOSTEL * THE HILLS HAVE EYES
A group of Finnish and British partygoers get stuck at a snowy cabin when they are attacked by a horny creature that is a half human, half rabbit. A brilliant send-up of monster movie conventions or a depraved excuse for gratuitous gore, sex, violence, nudity, and penis jokes? Either way, BUNNY THE KILLER THING is the perfect midnight movie for lovers of exploitation trash and what-the-fuck filmmaking. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film DICKPROOF 2 (Dir. Sam McGlynn) Recommended for fans of * Gore * Gratutious Nudity * Exploitation * Trashy Movies * Political Incorrectness * Horror Comedies * Satire * DEAD SNOW * TROMA
A freaky and fun showcase of local and international horror, cult, and genre shorts representing outstanding achievements in cinematography, animation, special effects, makeup, and script-writing.
7:00 PM: SHE WHO MUST BURN(CANADA) - || HAMILTON PREMIERE || *Award-Winning Horror Thriller*
The Baarkers, a family group of religious fanatics who believe they are God's chosen ones, polarize a small mining town and force its residents to fight for their lives as their zeal turns murderous and the rule of law decays into brutish mob mentality. A controversial and timely look at the horrific results of religious zealotry from esteemed Canadian filmmaker Larry Kent. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film THE HERD (Dir. Melanie Light) || CANADIAN PREMIERE || Recommended for fans of * Character-Driven Thrillers * Politically-Minded Horror * Ti West's THE SACRAMENT * Kevin Smith's RED STATE
9:30 PM: THE BARN(USA) - || CANADIAN PREMIERE || *1980s-inspired Halloween Horror* FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE.
It’s Halloween 1989, and best friends Sam and Josh are trying to enjoy what's left of their final Devil's Night before graduating high school. But the two pals and a group of their friends get more trick than treat when they take a detour on their way to a rock concert, finding an old abandoned barn and awakening a trio of Halloween demons inside. Now it's up to Sam and Josh to find a way to protect their friends and defeat the flesh-hungry creatures that lurk within "The Barn." Featuring a rocking cameo by Ari Lehman, the first Jason Voorhees, THE BARN is the perfect retro throwback to classic 80s VHS horror like The Monster Squad, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and Full Moon's direct to video features. Trailer | Poster
Screens with short film LARRY GONE DEMON (Dir. Matthew John Lawrence)
Hamilton's FRIGHT NIGHT THEATRE FILM FESTIVAL kicks off its two day fest of thrills, chills, and kills on Friday, March 11th at the Staircase Theatre, and we're thrilled to announce that we'll be joined in person by several of our esteemed filmmakers, including:
Ellie Church (Star: HARVEST LAKE)
Scott Schirmer (Director/Writer: HARVEST LAKE)
Brian K. Williams (Producer/Cinematographer: HARVEST LAKE)
Ryan Reaney (Producer: PORTAL TO HELL!!!)
Kalen Artinian (Director/Writer: THE INDESTRUCTIBLE)
Don't miss a minute of the madness! Some screenings have already sold out, so purchase your advance festival passes and tickets while supplies last: BUY TICKETS HERE
The Fright Night Theatre Film Festival is proud to announces its March 2016 line-up with premieres of HARVEST LAKE and THE BARN
The winter edition of the FNTFF runs March 11 – 12 at the Staircase Theatre in Hamilton, ON. The FNTFF is not just a scary night at the movies packed with monsters, madmen, and murder; it’s a celebration of fringe filmmaking, controversial cinema, tongue-in-cheek B-movies, and the art of the macabre. Highlights from this year’s lineup include the theatrical World Premiere of HARVEST LAKE by director Scott Schirmer (FOUND), the Canadian Premiere of the Halloween-themed 80’s homage and crowd-funding success THE BARN by director Justin M. Seaman, and a midnight screening of the controversial and utterly insane BUNNY THE KILLER THING
FEATURE FILMS HARVEST LAKE – (World Premiere)
Dir. Scott Schirmer (USA)
Starring: Tristan Risk (American Mary), Ellie Church (Headless), Jason Crowe (Dead Moon Rising), Dan Nye (The Legend of Wasco), and Kevin Roach (The Confession of Fred Krueger)
A group of campers on a birthday vacation to the lake fall under the erotic spell of a libidinous, otherworldly presence in the woods. Inhibitions drop and their behaviors become erratic as one by one they find their sexual identities and wills being subsumed by the creature's power. One of the friends tries to escape the carnal free-fall, ultimately bringing him face to face with the source of a primal mystery that will change his life forever. This bold and "uncomfortably sexy" new film comes from director Scott Schirmer (Found) and producer Brian K. Williams (Time to Kill) with special FX by The Clockwerk Creature Company.
THE BARN - (Canadian Premiere)
Directed by Justin M. Seaman (USA)
Starring: Mitchell Musolino, Will Stout, Lexi Dripps, Cortland Woodard, Nikki Darling, Nickolaus Joshua, Ari Lehman (Friday the 13th).
It’s Halloween 1989, and best friends Sam and Josh are trying to enjoy what's left of their final Devil's Night before graduating high school. But the two pals and a group of their friends get more trick than treat when they take a detour on their way to a rock concert, finding an old abandoned barn and awakening a trio of Halloween demons inside. Now it's up to Sam and Josh to find a way to protect their friends and defeat the flesh-hungry creatures that lurk within "The Barn." Featuring a rocking cameo by Ari Lehman, the first Jason Voorhees, The Barn is the perfect retro throwback to classic 80s VHS horror like The Monster Squad, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and Full Moon's direct to video features.
IDYLL - (Canadian Premiere)
Directed by Tomaž Gorkič (SLOVENIA)
After a night of carousing, amateur photo model Zina heads for a fashion shoot in the idyllic vistas of rural Slovenia, accompanied by ambitious model Mia and their snobby photographer Blitcz. On their way to the wooded location, they cross paths with a group of hideously disfigured and violent redneck moonshiners. Thus, an ordinary fashion shoot in the idyllic woods turns into a fierce fight for survival.
BUNNY THE KILLER THING
Directed by Joonas Makkonen (FINLAND)
Starring: Hiski Hämäläinen, Enni Ojutkangas, Veera W. Vilo
A group of Finnish and British partygoers get stuck at a snowy cabin when they are attacked by a horny creature that is a half human, half rabbit. A brilliant send-up of monster movie conventions or a depraved excuse for gratuitous gore, sex, violence, nudity, and penis jokes? Either way, BUNNYTHE KILLER THING is the perfect midnight movie for lovers of exploitation trash and what-the-fuck filmmaking.
SHE WHO MUST BURN
Directed by Larry Kent (CAN)
Principal Cast: Sarah Smyth, Shane Twerdun, Jewel Staite
The Baarkers, a family group of religious fanatics who believe they are God's chosen ones, polarize a small mining town and force its residents to fight for their lives as their zeal turns murderous and the rule of law decays into brutish mob mentality. A controversial and timely look at the horrific results of religious zealotry from esteemed Canadian filmmaker Larry Kent.
SHORT FILMS
HEIR
Dir. Richard Powell (CAN)
After connecting with a stranger of similar interests online, family man Gordon and his young son Paul embark on an ill-fated road trip in which Gordon aims to indulge in a secret passion. Before the day ends, a horrible truth will be uncovered and a harsh lesson will be learned....
Die! Sitter! Die!: Rupert
Dir. Lee Boxleitner & Sam Boxleitner (USA)
A young woman desperate to make money to pay for her mother's cancer treatments takes a babysitting job for a wealthy family but gets a lot more than she bargained for when she finally meets baby Rupert.
DICKPROOF 2
Dir. Sam McGlynn (CAN)
The world's worst serial killer teams up with his stalker to battle a castrated man looking for revenge. This satire of Tarantino’s Deathproof is a true celebration of blood, guns and cars
THE HERD
Dir. Melanie Light (UK)
A number of kidnapped and trafficked women find themselves imprisoned in a squalid medical facility. Escape, on any level, is seemingly impossible as the women are enslaved, inseminated, abused, and condemned to a life of enforced servitude at the whims of their captors; for one reason only – their milk.
LARRY GONE DEMON
Dir. Matthew John Lawrence (USA)
Three twenty-somethings must risk life and limb in an attempt to save the soul of their demon-possessed roommate and procure his five-hundred dollars in back rent. A frenetic, punk-rock horror-comedy.
CHATEAU SAUVIGNON: TERROIR
Dir. David E. Munz-Maire (USA)
A gruesome coming of age story about a vintner son’s disobedience and his desire to care for his ailing mother while upholding the family’s secret and strange wine-making traditions.
THE INDESTRUCTIBLE
Dir. Kalen Artinian (CAN)
James, a disturbed high schooler, retreats into a comic-book fantasy world he’s created featuring a hero called The Indestructible. Increasing pressure from his mother, fellow students and his teachers eventually push him to the breaking point, and the lines between fantasy and reality shatter entirely after a violent encounter with a school bully.
PORTAL TO HELL!!!
Dir. Vivieno Caldinelli (CAN)
A crusty and recluse superintendent is thrown into the ultimate fight against evil when a couple of cultists open a portal to the ancient and mystical city of R'lyeh, awakening a slumbering god. Starring the late, great Roddy Piper.
THEY WILL ALL DIE IN SPACE
Dir. Javier Chillion (ESP)
The starship Tantalus drifts through space, but the remaining crew's efforts to get the ship back on course are not what they seem in this black-and-white sci-fi thriller.
EXORDIUM
Dir. Morgan King (USA)
A group of warriors confront a deadly foe standing between them and a cosmic power that could save their people in this rotoscoped animated fantasy short.
THE SMILING MAN
Dir. A.J. Briones (USA)
A little girl home alone finds herself face-to-face with a being of pure evil.
GRACE
Dir. Karen Nielsen (CAN)
A young girl, her dog, and a stranger find themselves trying to hold onto their humanity when stranded together in a post-apocalyptic world.
THE BLACK FOREST
Dir. Paul Urkijo (ESP)
Sir Hector, a brave knight in armor and on steed, prepares to enter the wicket Black Forest to deliver a beautiful and virginal lady from the clutches of a terrible ogre.
NIGHT OF THE SLASHER
Dir. Shant Hamassian (USA)
A ‘shot-in-one-take’ slasher film about a teenage girl who must commit horror movie sins by drinking alcohol, doing drugs, and having sex in order to draw out a masked killer and exact revenge.
O CHRISTMAS TREE
Dir. Greg Kovacs (CAN)
Carolers out to spread Christmas cheer experience some holiday horror when they stop at Mabel’s house.
