ScreamFest the annual Horror Film Festival which premieres and showcases new works of terror from American and international independent horror filmmakers held their 19th Annual Festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood. ScreamFest is the largest and longest-running horror film festival in the United States. Paranormal Activity was discovered and premiered at the festival in 2007. Some of the largest horror online publications have called it the “Sundance of Horror”.
Influencer Ava Marie Capra walks the blood-red carpet at the screening of “We Summon the Darkness”
The festival ran from October 8th to October 17th with 21 feature films and 61 short film selections over the ten-day time span. The week-long awards wrapped up with a closing night of heavy metal music and screening of horror-comedy “We Summon the Darkness” starring Alexandra Daddario, Keean Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Logan Miller, Maddie Hasson, Amy Forsyth, and Austin Swift. The plot depicts a murderous killing spree of Satanists that have left a trail of bodies throughout America’s Heartland. Three best friends embark on a road trip to a heavy metal music festival. Naive, they bond with three seemingly fun-loving dudes and soon the group heads off to a very secluded country home for an after-party. What should be a night of fun and youthful debauchery takes a dark and deadly turn. With killers on the loose, can anyone be trusted?
The screening was followed by an awards ceremony where filmmakers mingled and enjoyed karaoke at Cabo Wabo Cantina at the infamous Hollywood & Highland Center.
David Arquette at ScreamFest closing night held at TLC Chinese 6 Theatre.
This year’s closing night ceremonies were co-hosted by journalist and producer Sean Decker from Dread Central and HalloweenMovies.com and actress Sarah Nicklin from “The Haunting of Alice D”. Winners received the coveted “Skully” trophy, designed by the late, great Stan Winston.
Best Feature Film: Eat, Brains, Love / Directed by Rodman Flender
Best Director: Gille Klabin / The Wave
Best Short Film: Bad Hair / Directed by Oskar Lehemaa
Best Actress: Sarah Bolger / A Good Woman is Hard to Find
Best Actor: Justin Long / The Wave
Best Editing: The Wave
Best Score: We Summon the Darkness
Best Visual Effects: The Wave
Best Makeup: Eat, Brains, Love
Best Special Effects: The Wave
Best Cinematography: Resin
Best Student Short: Progeny
Best Unproduced Screenplay: Fang and Claw / By Troy Sloan
This year’s closing night ceremonies were hosted by journalist and producer Sean Decker, Dread Central and HalloweenMovies.com, and actress Sarah Nicklin from “The Haunting of Alice D”.