Best Director(s) at La Samain du Cinema Fantastique

Huge honour at the La Samain du Cinema Fantastique!! Merci beaucoup.

PRIX DU PUBLIC : MEILLEURE REALISATION : AMERICAN MARY

BEST DIRECTOR : AMERICAN MARY by Jen & Sylvia Soska

-Sylv 

American Mary Takes Home Six Awards at TADFF

The Soska sisters and American Mary clean up another festival with an impressive set of wins. If you still need convincing after this then maybe you should have your head examined (Mary can help you with that too). Here is the list of wins:  

BEST DIRECTOR American Mary (Jen & Sylvia Soska)  

BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM American Mary   

BEST LEADING ACTRESS American Mary (Katherine Isabelle)  

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY American Mary (Brian Pearson)  

BEST ANTIHERO American Mary (Mary Mason, played by Katherine Isabelle)  

MOST DISTURBING FILM American Mary

Read the whole rad piece from SINFUL CELLULOID HERE.

Check out all the wonderful and rad TADFF winners here.

-Sylv

Sinful Celluloid Follows Mary As She Sweeps the East Coast

"There is no denying the emotional core of this film and it's ability to draw us deeper into Mary's world with every minute of film. We've all either known Mary, loved Mary, Lost Mary, or even been her. Her story touches us and because it works at our emotional core while serving up beautifully grotesque imagery, its power is unwavering. There are so many reasons to love this film, each person will ultimately bring their own personal history to it. That is something only the best films do."

AMERICAN MARY was honored with sweeping the Screamfest Awards in LA, now she's been given the incredible privilege on the east coast in Boston's Shudderfest with another sweep! A huge and humble thanks to those who are on the voting committees and supporting this unique film to get this kind of attention and accolades.

And Sinful Celluloid is on it! READ THE WHOLE AWESOME PIECE HERE.

-Sylv

AMERICAN MARY wins big at Shudder Fest!

 We’re speechless…

American Mary wins Best Picture, Best Directors, Best Actress, and ties for Best Special FX and Make-Up and Best Screenplay at Shudder Fest!! Thank you so much and a BIG congrats to the AM cast and crew!

Best Picture: AMERICAN MARY

Best Short Film: VICKI (dir. Bill Palmer)

Best Director: Jen & Sylvia Soska (AMERICAN MARY)

Best Screenplay tie: I AM A GHOST (HP Mendoza) & AMERICAN MARY (Jen & Sylvia Soska)

Best Special FX: Jon Breznan & MastersFX (AMERICAN MARY)

Best Actor: Jamie Dufault (MURDER UNIVERSITY)

Best Actress: Katharine Isabelle (AMERICAN MARY)

Best Soundtrack/Score: Tim Fife & Tim Lang-Grannan (MURDER UNIVERSITY)

American Mary Sweeps the Screamfest LA 2012 Awards

This past week, AMERICAN MARY was given the extremely generous accolades of Screamfest LA with five golden skull wins - a beautiful statue designed by the legendary Stan Winston. It was a huge and sincere honour to have the incredibly unique and different film get recognized like this. 

The category wins are as follows -- 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - Brian Pearson

BEST MAKEUP & FX - Masters FX
Makeup Department

Jon Berezan .... lab technician: MastersFX
Jeny Cassady .... special effects makeup coordinator: MastersFX
Tim Chappell .... key hair stylist (as Timothy James Chappell)
Chris Clarke .... lab technician: MastersFX
Stefania De Benedetto .... makeup trainee
Chris Devitt .... sculptor: MastersFX
Andrea Dulmage .... special makeup effects unit assistant: MastersFX
Céline Godeau .... key prosthetic makeup artist: MastersFX
Jennifer Latour .... makeup effects: prosthetics, MastersFX
Amber Makar .... key makeup artist
Raj Mariathason .... lab technician: MastersFX (as Raj Mariathasan)
Todd Masters .... makeup effects designer: MastersFX
Yukiyo Okajima .... lab technician: MastersFX
Yukiyo Okajima .... sculptor: MastersFX
Erin Peters .... lab technician: MastersFX
Erin Peters .... sculptor: MastersFX
Sarah Pickersgill .... sculptor: MastersFX
Owen Pierson .... key hair stylist
Werner Pretorius .... sculptor: MastersFX
Werner Pretorius .... shop supervisor: MastersFX
Brad Proctor .... foam technician: MastersFX
Lori Sandnes .... makeup effects: prosthetics, MastersFX
Niki Simpson .... first assistant hair stylist (as Nikki Simpson)
Niki Simpson .... first assistant makeup artist (as Nikki Simpson)
Bronwyne Sloley .... lab technician: MastersFX (as Browyne Sloley)
Amelia Smart .... makeup effects: prosthetics, MastersFX
Jason Ward .... makeup effects: prosthetics, MastersFX

BEST ACTRESS - Katharine Isabelle

BEST DIRECTOR(S) - Jen and Sylvia Soska

BEST PICTURE - American Mary

Thank you to everyone who voted, everyone who came out to see the film, everyone who has been supporting the film, and to the cast and crew who came onto the project because they loved the story and wanted to make it amazing. You see that dedication in every frame and that's why any of this is even possible.

-Sylv

Twisted Twins Nominated for the 2011 Golden Cob Awards

Majestic, isn't it?

Corn, always proudly looked on as a staple of good taste (and quite literally), it finds greater and even deeper meaning with the Golden Cob Awards. Awards by the people for the people recognizing horror in all its forms.

We are quite honored to have been nominated for "Best Emerging Film Makers". It's been said many a time, on many an occasion, but it's DAMN true. It IS an honor to be nominated. It would only have sweetened the sentiment to have our first born baby, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, receive a nomination as well, but we know we have made the list because of our DEAD HOOKER. And this bad boy is decided on by votes from the people.

So, people? Let's claim this bad boy in the name of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK!!

Get your vote on here!! Right bloody now.

You'll be sure to recognize several indie darlings here, be sure to show 'em some love.

Thank you kindly to the powers that be for sending us this distinct privilege. We are quiet touched.

Bloody Best!
Jen

It's An Honor To Be Nominated

Today is the 27th of February which means several things. It was my incredible grandmother's birthday - she is eight four years young. I got to spend the day with family which is really special because we really don't get enough time to see each other. And today was the 83rd annual Academy Awards - which by doing the math means it started when my beloved Anyu was a rambunctious one year old.


The Academy Awards are considered extremely prestigious and often it gets one thinking about their own accomplishments in the film industry and where one's career may lead them. After a long day, I return home, turn on my cheery MacBook Pro, and see a new notification for National Horror Examiner's 1st ever 'Fear, Fright & Fret' Horror Awards! Holy shit, cool. I click and start to read ahead --

Best Lead Actress 2010 - Nominees: Ashley C. Williams (The Human Centipede), Jen Soska (Dead Hooker In A Trunk), Sylvia Soska (Dead Hooker In A Trunk), Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism), Christina Ricci (After.Life), Emma Bell (Frozen)

AMERICAN MARY will have our last scheduled appearance as actors in film, so we can focus on writing and directing. It's something Jen and I have talked a lot about it and it makes sense for us now. But before my inner Black Swan leading lady dances her closing number, it is pretty fucking cool to be nominated with Jen for Best Leading Actress for our performances in DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. A huge fucking honor. We did not win, but it put a smile on my face and made me feel a swell of pride. I also loved the reasoning --

The Winner is: Emma Bell (Frozen) - This was another very difficult decision for me to make. The Soskas were awesome in Dead Hooker In A Trunk but chosing between the two was an impossible task, and one that I refused to take part in. It was their first film and they both kicked major ass in the film. Sorry ladies, I know this wasn't fair of me, but I just couldn't chose between the two of you. You are both awesome! Emma Bell's plight in Frozen was a very realistic one, and Ms. Bell made me actually care about her character. More often than not, the characters in horror films are annoying and I actually want to see them perish, but I wanted to see Bell's character make it home alive.

I kept reading the list - which is a pretty fucking rad list mixing up indie and big studio horror alike in a hip, humorous, and fun way - read the entire list here and bask in the awesomeness. Then I got to the Best Directors of 2010 category --

Best Director 2010 - Nominees: Abel Berry (Kodie), Christian Grillo (Booley), Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska (Dead Hooker In A Trunk), Tom Six (The Human Centipede), Adam Mason (Pig), Evan Makrogiannis & Brian Weaver (The Super), Júlíus Kemp (Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre)

The Winner is: Jen & Sylvia Soska (Dead Hooker In A Trunk) - It seems that each category is harder to chose from than the last. Abel Berry and Christian Grillo are, without a doubt, two of the most talented directors out there, and they'll both go on to have huge careers. Berry's Kodie, and Grillo's Booley are easily two of the best films of the past 15 years. The Soskas' work on Dead Hooker In A Trunk is nothing short of amazing. The film is among the best pulp/grindhouse films ever made.

If you didn't see this earlier article catch up here, but this is the second time Scott Ruth, the Horror Examiner, has made me cry. Happy tears.

It is a very humbly and gracious opportunity to be nominated in this category and to win leaves me almost speechless. A very humble thank you to you, sir. There was an incredible team that came together on this film that really truly love making movies more than anything else. They came together and worked there asses off for nothing on an insane idea coined by two first time directors. The class and the support of these fine men and women made this film what it is today.


The horror community who dug the flick and stood behind it - you guys are the reason we can do this and make more films. I can never thank you enough, but making AMERICAN MARY a fucking good film will be the start.

Thank you for this sincere honor and privilege, Scott. Your support has been tremendous. Thank you kindly!

Sylv

Best Director Big Daddy Nomination!

That's fuckin' right. This just happened.

Speechless joy. To say we've been not only nominated for one, but TWO Big Daddies? Put simply, wow.

We are honored.

XO

City of Death makes a Special Delivery

As you know, should you be an avid reader of our PENNY DREADFUL DIARY (and if you aren't, you really ought to be!), we Twisted Twins had the great honor of being awarded BEST DIRECTOR by the City of Death International Film Festival this past Halloween season for DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. We were moved and incredibly grateful.


This morning we received another amazing treat from the festival, a pair of framed, golden crested, skull imprinted certificates. Absolutely gore~geous. A very special thanks to Carlo Rodriguez for inviting us to this amazing festival.

And for those of you just tuning in, you may be asking yourselves, "What is this whole City Of Death Film Festival thingy about?" Well, I'm glad you asked...

"The City of Death Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing independent film makers in the horror genre, but, like most horror films, it is also focused upon raising awareness about social issues. Educating people about the environmental benefits of a green burial is a primary goal of the event as is raising donations for the country’s third largest Green Cemetery located in Waterwood, Texas. The preservation of environmental sanctuaries such as the Wilderness Cathedral, also located in Waterwood, Texas, is another top priority. Furthermore, the festival is dedicated to opposing the Death Penalty in Texas and holding a horror film festival in the city where Texas Death Row is located is a way of bringing attention to that issue."

In addition to our certificates, we received another surprise. Given the theme of the festival, it should have come as no surprise. We now have our very plot in Texas! Very cool. What more could a girl ask for?

What'll we bury? Most likely treasure...



Bloody Best!
Jen

City of Death Winner ~ Best Director(s)

We Twisted Twins are absolutely delighted to announce that the City Of Death International Film Festival has awarded Sylvia and myself the esteemed best director award for DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. Thank you so much to the festival for having us and to everyone who was in attendance. Your support of our demented little baby means the world to us. And a big congrats to our fellow winners...

Winners in the Short Film Category!

Best Script - James Christopher - Wedding Night

Best Actor - Allan Kayser - Next Caller

Best Actress - Bianca Rusu - The Demonology of Desire

Best Art Design - Time's Up, Eve

Best Director - Rodrigo Gudiño - The Demonology of Desire

Best Short Film - The Demonology of Desire

Winners in the Feature Film Category!

Best Script - Gary C. Warren - The Path of Torment

Best Actor - Ford Austin - Dahmer vs Gacy

Best Actress - Roxy Vandiver - Spirit Camp

Best Art Design - My Step Dad's a Freakin' Vampire

Best Director - Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska - Dead Hooker in a Trunk

Best Feature Film - Dahmer vs Gacy

Bloody Best!
XO,
Jen