The Rio Grind Schedule

Get Your Grind On, Vancouver!

East Vancouver's only independently owned and operated single screen multi-purpose venue, The Rio Theatre, is thrilled to announce the final slate of films for the first edition of the Rio Grind Film Festival, Nov. 2-4. This year's lineup includes World, Canadian, Western Canadian and BC feature, documentary, and short film premieres from seven countries.
*Advance screeners and media interviews available upon request.

Festival Schedule Just Announced!

• The exclusive BC premiere of director Don Coscarelli's (Bubba Ho-Tep, Phantasm I-IV) highly anticipated adaptation of David Wong's bestselling novel John Dies at the End (Paul Giamatti, Chase Williamson). Friday, November 2, at 9:30 pm.
• The Western Canadian premiere of Lithuanian director Kristina Buozyte's romantic and erotically-charged Vanishing Waves, a dreamy sci-fi thriller that has taken top honors from festivals around the world - including including Austin's Fantastic Fest (Best Picture, Director, Actress, Screenplay), Sweden's Lund Fantastic Film Festival (Méliès d'Argent for Best Picture), and Sitges in Spain (the coveted Méliés d'Or for Best European Fantastic Film). Sunday, November 4 at 7:00 pm.
• The World premiere of Vancouver filmmaker Josh Laner's documentary on cosplay and the unusual world of cosplayers, My Other Me. The Rio Grind Film Festival is honored to be hosting the world premiere of this fascinating feature which is already slated to screen as part of Queenland, Australia's Gold Coast Film Festival in 2013. Friday, November 2 at 5:00 pm.
  
• We are pleased to be offering our three documentary features as "all ages" shows with a special student rate. (Viewer discretion is advised.)

Go HERE for advanced ticketing information. Connect on Facebook & @RioTheatre #RioGrind

In Competition: Short Film Program

Join us for the Rio Grind Film Festival's short film program on Saturday, November 3 at 1:00 pm. Presented in association with The Celluloid Social Club, this diverse roster of shorts features 15 films from five countries. (More to be announced!)

• Dysmorphia (Andy Stewart, Scotland)
• Spacewrecked (Kalle Gulbrandsen, Norway)
• Don't Make Us (Ashley Lynch, Canada)
• Game (Angus Swantee, Canada)
• Frozen Over: In From the Cold (Nathanael Draper, Canada)
• Alchemy and Other Imperfections (Zachary Rothman, Canada)
• Hellvetica (Kalen Artinian, Canada)
• Dead Crossing (Gigi Guerrero, Canada)
• Drifting Through Silence (Christopher Ray, Canada)
• Defenseless (Norm Coyne, Canada)
• Karon (Itai Edry, Israel)
• SHHH (Freddy Chavez Olmos, Canada)
• Beautiful Phil (Sophie Romvari, Canada)
• Dialogue (Josh Johnson, USA)
• Monster (Rich Johnson, Canada)

The Rio Grind Film Festival welcomes and encourages all levels of community, corporate, and in-kind promotional consideration from a wide variety of sponsors, and would like to thank the following for their support: BC Buzz, Cariboo Brewing, The Celluloid Social Club, DOXA Documentary Film Festival, The Georgia Straight, Latincouver, The UBC Department of Film Studies, Vancity Buzz, Vancouver is Awesome, The Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Vancouver Film School and Videomatica.

Get your organization's grind on! To inquire about sponsorship opportunities or for press consideration, (media passes, request screeners for reviews, media interviews, information, etc.) please contact: Rachel Fox <miss.r.fox@gmail.com>.

Get Your Grind On, Vancouver!

Get Your Grind On, Vancouver!

The Rio Grind Film Festival at East Vancouver's independent Rio Theatre is excited to announce its full slate of documentary programming for the upcoming festival, November 2-4.

We are especially proud to be opening the first year of the Rio Grind Film Festival with the world premiere of Vancouver filmmaker Josh Laner's documentary My Other Me, the "documentary about cosplay and cosplayers." Acclaimed Vancouver horror directors and Rio Grind Film Festival Associate Programmers Jen and Sylvia Soska (American Mary) agree: "We love My Other Me!"
Friday, November 2, at 5:00 pm. Presented in association with BC Buzz.

In an effort to keep the festival as inclusive as possible, all three of the documentaries screened will be open to an all-ages audience. There's even a special student rate (with valid ID)! For advance ticketing go HERE. (Mature content. Viewer discretion is advised.)

WORLD PREMIERE - Presented in association with BC Buzz
My Other Me
Josh Laner (Canada, 2012)
At the Rio Grind Film Festival Friday, November 2 at 5:00 pm.

My Other Me embodies the things that we've always loved most about Halloween [and] acting... Cosplay [has] really become it's own art form and form of self-expression; that ability to pull on someone else's skin and be everything or anything you ever wanted to be. Their bravery and self discovery is something we are just in awe of. It's a heart-warming, beautiful film that makes you want to discover your 'other me'. - Jen and Sylvia Soska

BC Premiere - Presented in association with DOXA Film Festival
The American Scream Michael Stephenson (USA, 2012)
Winner - Best Documentary Fantastic Fest; Official Selection Telluride Horror Show, Starz Denver Film Festival
At the Rio Grind Film Festival Saturday, November 3 at 5:00

A compelling encapsulation of blue-collar life. Think Death of a Salesman with

demons. – Indiewire

It's rare to see a movie where you realize it's just about over and you feel the same disappointment you get on an actual holiday when the last guest leaves. – Badass Digest

Clearly a labor of love from all involved, The American Scream is a warm and touching look at three families doing what they love with what they have. – Film School Rejects

This film has the heart of a lion and is a must see film for any horror fan.- Horrors Not Dead

A terrific documentary, one that assures us all that life lived in pursuit of a passion, no matter how seemingly trivial, is never a wasted life.  – Ain’t It Cool News

Nightmare Factory - Presented in Association with Vancouver Film School
Donna Davies (Canada, 2011)
Official Selection Screamfest LA, Spooky Movie International Horror Film Fest, Telluride Horror Show
At the Rio Grind Film Festival Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 pm

Nightmare Factory shines a light on a man and a profession that has been a long time love of ours. Thank God Greg Nicotero quit med school and built up the legendary KNB FX. His work has consistently blown audiences away along with his cutting edge approaches. He is the go-to man of our personal heroes Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Nicotero is a Hollywood treasure, and this film gorgeously demonstrates just why KNB FX is the prolific monster that it is today. - Jen and Sylvia Soska
The Rio Grind Film Festival welcomes and encourages all levels of community, corporate, and in-kind promotional consideration from a wide variety of sponsors, and would like to thank the following for their support: BC Buzz, Cariboo Brewing, The Celluloid Social Club, DOXA Documentary Film Festival, The Georgia Straight, Latincouver, The UBC Department of Film Studies, Vancity Buzz, Vancouver is Awesome, The Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Vancouver Film School and Videomatica.

Get your organization's grind on! To inquire about sponsorship opportunities or for press consideration, (media passes, request screeners for reviews, media interviews, information, etc.) please contact: Rachel Fox <miss.r.fox@gmail.com>.

Calling All Fucking Cool Flicks to Las Vegas - It's Pollygrind Time!!

You can't think hookers without thinking Las Vegas. Well, you can but you would be lying to yourself. DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK made her fabulous Las Vegas premiere thanks to the wonderful people at the Pollygrind Film Festival who always supports the different, indie, and are fucking rad.

Now you and your flick can hit up in sin city with style as Pollygrind entries are wide open for submission. I am exceptionally proud of that last sentence.


POLLYGRIND 2012 - Call For Entries Video from theatre7 lv.com on Vimeo.

"PollyGrind 2012 promo featuring Jenny Hendrix, Monster Zero, Creepersin, The Bunny Game, Dead Hooker in a Trunk, Slime City Massacre, zombies, demons, angels and more! The PollyGrind Film Festival, which takes place every October in Las Vegas, has been called "the key festival for indie cult filmmakers to land distribution deals." The festival considers any and all independently produced works that are slightly off kilter, innovative, stylistic, edgy, bloody, sexy or cool. Top winners from the past include Slime City Massacre, Dead Hooker in a Trunk, The Bunny Game and Dear God No!"

I don't need to tell you that Vegas is a stupid cool place to be during Halloween time, but just in case, I totally hear that it is. Hit up the festival and see some cool flicks - and have a few dozen cocktails for me!

-Sylv

Controversy Strikes in Saskatoon over Dead Hooker In A Trunk Screening

The Dark Bridges Film Festival is pretty damn incredible. Dark Bridges Film Festival is Saskatchewan's premiere showcase of cool independent and foreign genre films. In 2009 Dark Bridges celebrated its launch with the Saskatchewan Premiere of Grace and the Canadian Premiere of Ink along with four short films. In 2010 the first full festival was held which showcased 12 Feature films: Centurion, Dawning, El Monstro Del Mar!, Werewolf Fever, High School, Death of the Dead, [REC], [REC 2], Long Pigs, A Film With Me In It, Black Field as well as the The Good, The Bad, The Weird. In addition, 7 Saskatchewan short films and 20 World short films received their Saskatchewan Premiere at the festival.

The Second Annual Dark Bridges Film Festival runs October 13th through 16th, 2011. Plans for this year's festival include an extra night of films as well as an afternoon discussion session.

It is an incredible honor that our film, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, will be playing this month, courtesy of Dark Bridges Film Festival, at the beautiful Roxy Theatre as a Double Feature with the TAINT on April 22nd at 11:30pm. We have been so happy to have the film appear at film festivals across the world, but it fills us with special pride to show the film in our beautiful Canada.

But not all is well in Saskatoon. The Roxy Theatre received an anonymous phone call a few days prior where an unidentified woman stated she was embarrassed for Saskatoon and couldn't believe that they would show a movie with that title after all stuff that went on in Vancouver with missing Prostitutes. She didn't leave her name or a number for call back. To be honest, it isn't the first or I imagine the last time that we will receive this kind of a call.

But what has happened now disgusts me. Someone took it upon themselves to rip down the festival posters from the main drag in town.

Officially, I have this to say:

"I am shocked and saddened that someone in this day and age could be so closed minded about the mere title of a film. Without attempting to research the film in the slightest, they rushed to judgment and condemned something that in fact should be something that Canadians should be very proud of. 'Dead Hooker In A Trunk' is a little independent film made by a couple of Canadians that has, despite all odds and challenges, been seen world wide in a multitude of film festivals, won critically praise, honors, and awards, and has shown the world that Canadians are big time contenders in the film industry and their work deserves to be paid attention to."

Additionally, I have this to say. This is a disgusting display of ignorance. Canada is the land known as the strong and the free. I feel that censorship is bullshit and breeds ignorance. We've worked so hard to bring the film to where it is and to have someone in our own country vandalize our posters is an act of absolute cowardice.
If this upsets you as much as it upsets us, help us out and spread the word. This kind of behavior is intolerable, absolutely shameful, and, dammit, so very not Canadian. If you're in Saskatoon, please come out and show your support for DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. Say it loud and say it proud.

And please help spread the word. I will keep you posted on how things unfold. It now looks likely that the event will be canceled. I think this is unacceptable. How about you guys? You can call the Roxy theatre at (306) 955-8642 and tell them that you support DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK.

Yes, we can, boys and grrls. Thank you for supporting independent film and freedom of speech.

~Jen

Edible Brains, Decades Out, and Bad Girls, oh my...

When chocolate and peanut butter joined forces, you could just tell right from the get go that the union was magical. Just the perfect forces coming together in perfect harmony creating something grand. As EDIBLE BRAINS and DECADES OUT come together, I fondly think of chocolate and peanut butter. These two power houses have come together to bring us something epic.
DecadesOut, Inc., a nonprofit organization that develops and promotes programs that examine the intersection of the arts and science, and nonprofit film and theater production company EdibleBrains Productions announce the call for entries for the first international Science of Horror Film Festival in New York, highlighting the role of women in the horror and science fiction filmmaking process.

Eligible films can be of any budget, must be under 25 minutes long, have a connection with science or horror (such as inspiration, theme, plot or character), and include women in the filmmaking process. This might include films with a female writer, director, producer, production designer, art director, director of photography, editor, key grip, key hair/make-up, gaffer, sound designer, etc.

Entries must be submitted via the Science of Horror Film Festival website by the April 15, 2011 deadline. All submissions will be reviewed by an expert panel, and winners in five categories — Excellence in Science, Excellence in Horror, Best Student Film, Audience Favorite and Best of Fest-The Science of Horror Award — will be announced on April 22.

The winning films will be shown at the first international Science of Horror Film Festival and party, taking place on Friday, the 13th of May 2011 at the 3-Legged Dog Art & Technology Center in Lower Manhattan . The festival will be located in the Center’s high-tech Studio A, which will be rigged with full lighting grid, sound, a 180-degree wraparound screen and six projectors hanging from the ceiling for high-impact, fright-inducing surround-screen viewing. Ticket information will be available shortly.

Along with the public screening, winners receive cash prizes up to $500 and special video commentary from a panel including an icon of horror and/or science. All entries will be posted on the new OverAirTV website in a special group dedicated to the festival, receive a filmmaker profile, and get an HD capable online presence on the festival website. Entry fee is $25 per film, $15 for eligible students.

All entry requirements and award details are available at http://dedpro.com/horror/, questions can be emailed to festival@decadesout.org.

Also, you will be in good company. No one likes to go to a party stag, so your film can play with our BAD GIRLS. Submit today and let's rock this VERY wicked awesome festival!!

XO,

Jen

Bleedfest Returns with a Very Special Women in Horror Month Edition

BleedFest Hosts Blood Drive and Women in Horror Month Screening Event

Take a look at the two incredible women above. Boys and grrls, it's an honor for us to know these women. Brenda (left) and Elisabeth (right) Fies are not only incredibly gifted film makers, but also strong feminist voices, festival creators and heads of the gore~geous Bleedfest, and pretty much two of the coolest people currently walking the Earth. Bleedfest has become a bloody force to be reckoned with and is back with a vengeance this February. This month is a VERY special month as WOMEN IN HORROR month is on us again. Time to celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of women and to give a little back. Not only will this month's edition be in honor of Women In Horror, they will also be giving back. How they find the time to be SO radcore is beyond me.

In short, we adore these women and LOVE Bleedfest!! Here's what you have to look forward to this month!!

Monthly female genre film festival BleedFest is throwing an epic event February 6th, 2011 in honor of Women in Horror Month. There will be a Blood Mobile parked outside the CAP Theatre from 10:30am-4:30pm. Donation appointments can be made by clicking on this link: http://bleedfest.givesblood.org All donors are eligible for half off tickets to the BleedFest Film Festival until the event is sold out, in addition to a pint for a pint Baskin Robbins coupon.
The BleedFest WiHM screening event begins at 11am and ends at 4:00pm. There will be three red carpet opportunities with a dozen press partners and photographers from Getty Images and PR Photos. The event will feature an open bar with Bloody Marys. Screenings include short horror films written, directed, and produced by female filmmakers, including wunderkind Xstine Cook, international filmmaker Ana Almeida, tyro horror writer/director Tyrell Shaffner, festival stalwart Susan Bell, BleedFest co-founders Elisabeth Fies and Brenda Fies, Lori Bowen with a short and a music video, alumna Marichelle Daywalt with the world premiere of THE MANY DOORS OF ALBERT WHALE starring Tara Cardinal and Kit Williamson. The feature film is the US premier of SLAUGHTERED, a slasher whodunit by Australian writer/director Kate Glover. VIP guests include Lil Zane, award recipients Katt Shea and Stacy Title, genre journalist Nic Brown from Kentucky, underground filmmaker Lori Bowen from Florida, actresses Tara Cardinal and Michelle Tomlinson, and horror director Kevin Tenney. Carl Manes of I Like Horror Movies will reprise his popular horror trivia with giveaways. A showing of Dark Art and Fine Art will be available for purchase by internationally renowned horror photographer April A. Taylor.
The Awards Show will include the audience’s choice for best short in competition, and Elisabeth Pinto will receive the Best Producer Award. Horror icon Katt Shea will be given the Inanna Trailblazer Award. Stacy Title will be awarded the Inanna Best Social Statement Award. The Inanna Award was designed exclusively for BleedFest by amazing horror filmmaker and mask-maker Neal Harvery of Rubber Gorilla.



BleedFest sponsors are Film Radar, Werewolf for Hire.com and B Movie Man, WriteWord PR, Burris Image, Monster Island Resort, Rubber Gorilla, Christina Wickers.com, Love That Rebecca.com.



BleedFest operates on donations, and is holding an IndieGogo Fundraising campaign at:

http://www.indiegogo.com/BleedFest-Film-Festival-genre-movies-by-women



BLEEDFEST BLOOD DRIVE

Date: 02/06/2011

Time: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

Organization: BleedFest

Location: CAP Theater - Blood Mobile

Address: 13752 Ventura Blvd.

Collection Goal: 20 pints with 2 donors per 15 minutes



BleedFest Film Festival

February: WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH



Sunday February 6th, 2011

TIME: 11am-4:00pm



Location: CAP Theatre

13752 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

$10 cash at door for all day ticket and open bar

http://www.BleedFest.com



Special Appearances by Lil Zane, Katt Shea, Stacy Title, Lori Bowen, Tara Cardinal, Kevin Tenney, Michelle Tomlinson, Nic Brown. Schedule subject to change, personal appearances dependent on schedule.



11am-11:10am RED CARPET, MIXER



11:10am-2:20am PARTNERSHIP AWARD RESCREENING

HORROR OF OUR LOVE by Dave Reda (7 minutes)



11:20-11:30am TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Inanna Award presented to Katt Shea



11:30-11:50pm AWARD: Best Female Producer

NIGHT OF THE HELL HAMSTERS Produced by Elisabeth Pinto (17 minutes)



11:50-12:00pm AWARD: Best Social Commentary

Inanna Award presented to Stacy Title



12:00-1:25pm SHORTS: In Competition

*******Ballots given to audience*************



SUCKATHUMB by Xstine Cook (10 minutes)

THE PATCHWORK MONKEY by Susan Bell (10 minutes) Q & A

ESSENGER by Lori Bowen (4 minutes)

AFTERSHOCK by Lori Bowen (3 minutes) Q & A Lori Bowen

MIRROR MIRROR by Sophia Segal (4 minutes) Q & A

MEOW by Sarah Brown and Cyriak Harriss (3 minutes)

A NOIVA (AKA: THE BRIDE) by Ana Almeida (7 minutes)

THRENODY by Tyrrell Shaffner (12 minutes) Q & A

THE MANY DOORS OF ALBERT WHALE by Marichelle Daywalt (5 minutes) Q & A



*******Ballots collected from audience*************



1:25pm-1:45pm BREAK: Open Bar, Red Carpet, Mixer



1:45-2:04pm WORKS IN PROGRESS

HARD TO DO by Elisabeth Fies & Kit Williamson (8 minutes)

PSYCHOSEXUAL by Elisabeth Fies (8 minutes)



2:04pm-2:15pm PARTNERSHIP AWARD

HOME by Cam McCulloch (11 minutes)



2:15pm-2:25pm AWARD CEREMONY

Award presented to Marichelle Daywalt

Award presented to Tara Cardinal

Inanna Statue presented to Cindy Baer (Audience’s Choice from December)

Inanna Statue presented to the Audience's Choice



2:25-2:35 BREAK: Open Bar, Bathroom Break



2:35-4:00pm FEATURE

SLAUGHTERED written and directed by Kate Glover (83 minutes)

Everyone's getting slaughtered in the pub tonight!

Do NOT miss this incredible festival!! They really should've had you at "open bar" and believe me, boys and grrls, there's nothing like a Bloody Mary after giving a pint of blood. Totally hits the proverbial spot.

XO,
Jen

Give a Little, Be a Hero

"BLEEDFEST MISSION AND OBJECTIVE

We are passionate about raising the visibility of indie genre movies by female filmmakers.

BleedFest Values: Empowerment, Partnership, Fun, Self-Expression

BleedFest fetes the women who love writing, producing, directing, and watching badass genre movies: horror, thriller, action, sci-fi, western, exploitation, B-movie, and erotica. We also screen a few male filmmakers who
have empowering and edgy female protagonists; their work screens out of competition and receives our "Partnership Award". Our mission is to spotlight these bold films and their fearless makers, and prove to the world that the derogatory term "chick flick" needs to be retired."

Bleedfest Film Festival is an extraordinary event that celebrates indie female film makers on a monthly basis - making it a great venue to showcase your work, meet follow film makers and industry professionals, and have bloody brilliant time (the open bar guarantees smiles even from the biggest of sour pusses). The festival - which showed DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK at its first event, then went on to show BADGIRLS at the second event - has been incredibly generous and supportive of our work and many other wonderful film makers. The festival started strictly horror, but with new interest it has expanded to include more genres. The festival heads - Elisabeth and Brenda Fies - have been putting on a fantastic film festival, but the need your help.

"We need $2000 to help towards the cost of renting our screening venue for the 1st Sunday in Jan. & Feb. We also would like to pay for the step and repeat banner we are providing for the event so that we can get publicity photos of the filmmakers published in the press. We have an amazing award designer who has offered us a fantastic price for our special Audience Award and Jury Award. And we would like to be able to provide each filmmaker who screens a framed certificate. Additional costs include the printing of a program, and the 11x17 posters to hang around town to get more awareness of BleedFest out there in Hollywood.

My sister Brenda and I have paid for the down payment towards the two month rental contract ourselves, so the January, and February screenings are going to happen no matter what... But we would like to provide the above so that this festival is well-attended and makes a difference in these overlooked female filmmakers' careers."

These are the type of women that are so passionate about film making and supporting other artists that they will put the needs of the festival first and foremost (and, as you read above, at their own expense) to make every monthly screening event a memorable and enjoyable one. When we were in town, these ladies treated us like family. This is a good cause to get behind and you not only get to help, but you there is also a list of thank-you gifts that you will receive from the Fies when you make a donation.



Please click here for full details, lists of pledge amounts and gifts, and where to donate.



Then give yourself a pat on the back. You have just been awarded ten cool guy points (and no one can ever take that away). Thank you to all the cool guys out there.

~Sylv

There Will Be (monthly) Blood

Monthly Genre celebration BLEEDFEST FILM FESTIVAL announces schedule for its Thriller installment December 5th, 2010

The schedule for the highly anticipated second BleedFest Film Festival has been announced. It includes a dozen female filmmakers' short films and concludes with international genre superstar's Caroline Du Potet's thriller feature IN THEIR SLEEP, her follow up to the sensational and disturbing INSIDE.

Special guests sitting in their own VIP section include World Famous Scream Queens/producers Michelle Tomlinson and Tara Cardinal, prominent journalist/filmmaker Heidi Martinuzzi, Emmy winning filmmaker Barbara Stepansky, and horror filmmaking duo Marichelle and Drew Daywalt.

The Bleedy Award, a bronze statue designed by Neal Harvey of RubberGorilla.co.uk, will finally be revealed in a video presentation at the Awards Ceremony. It will be awarded to the In Competition short voted on by the audience, and to the feature IN THEIR SLEEP. All films screened will receive an award certificate and Winner laurels to add to their publicity.


The In Competition category is comprised of five short films by female writer/directors. They are BAD GIRLS by the Soska Sisters (sensational feature films DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK and AMERICAN MARY), ALGESIA by Cathy Alberich, DEAD BOYFRIENDS by Xstine Cook, MOCKINGBIRD by Marichelle Daywalt, and MORBID CURIOUSITY by Cindy Baer (acclaimed feature film PURGATORY HOUSE).

The Out of Competition block screens short films produced and/or written by women. December's BleedFest will feature SCREAM MACHINE written by Julia Camara (screenwriter of Spring 2010's Brazillian sci-fi blockbuster AREA Q), and UP UNDER THE ROOF produced by Danielle Stallings.

The Works in Progress section of BleedFest gives the audience top secret first looks at short films by several acclaimed female filmmakers including an Emmy winner, and are screening unofficially to get editing feedback from the audience of genre lovers and and generate buzz with BleedFest's press partners.

The festival will have two Open Bar sessions featuring free wine and beer, giving the audience a crucial chance to network. During these breaks, BleedFest will screen trailers of upcoming genre films (World famous Tara Cardinal's actioner LEGEND OF THE RED REAPER taracardinalactress.com), and trailers of genre work that is now available online (Marion Kerr's acclaimed feature GOLDEN EARRINGS indieflix.com/film/golden-earrings-30830/. Music videos by Sophia Segal will also be played at this time.

BleedFest's coveted Partnership Award is bestowed each month to a male filmmaker whose genre film has captured the spirit of BleedFest in its unusual, bold, and refreshing female protagonist. The recipient of December's Partnership Award is feature filmmaker Dave Reda, whose music video THE HORROR OF OUR LOVE will screen.

BleedFest has a red carpet, an event photographer, a VIP Guest section, and an open bar for only ten dollars cash at the door. You may buy half price tickets at Goldstar the week before the event, and can get two tickets for $12 by donating to their IndieGoGo campaign or using the PayPal link on BleedFest.com http://www.indiegogo.com/BleedFest-Film-Festival

Local renowned artist Kami Lerner will be present with a display of paintings and jewelry available for purchase. www.KamiArt.com


Festival founders and directors Elisabeth Fies and Brenda Fies are a filmmaking duo whose critically acclaimed feature thriller THE COMMUNE was embraced by the genre community in 2009 and 2010. They are thrilled to be filling a hole in the community by providing access to fantastic genre content by indie female filmmakers, and to disprove the widely spread myth that there are no female filmmakers making indie genre. Explains Elisabeth Fies about the discrepancy between reality and industry attention for genre female filmmakers, "It's not even about being taken seriously. It's about being discounted to the point that you're invisible and told you don't exist. BleedFest aims to prove to the world that hundreds of us ovary-challenged filmmakers are here, and we're making bold, exciting movies filmlovers need and don't want to miss. We're positive, we're fun, we're in partnership with men, and we're unstoppable." The Fies Sisters thank everyone for the outpouring of support and excitement about BleedFest that helped them reach their IndieGoGo fundraising campaign in under two weeks.

The BleedFest website will be updated Sunday November 28th 5pm Pacific time at http://www.BleedFest.com with the full schedule, and include bio info and links for each filmmaker featured in the festival. There will also be a Paypal link to purchase tickets now at a discount of 40%.

The lineup for the January 2nd BleedFest event will be announced live on the 5th, and includes a sci-fi western feature and a fairytale thriller. The schedule will be released to the press December 6th.


Submissions are free to filmmakers, and BleedFest is always looking for quality genre work. There is only one space left for the January and February screenings. Submit your film.

Tell us about a film we should screen

Find out how you can participate, attend as a vendor, VIP, or support us with a donation


Sunday December 5th, 2010

TIME: 11am-3:30pm

Location: CAP Theatre

13752 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

$10 cash at door for all day ticket and open bar


Schedule subject to change, personal appearances dependent on schedule:
11am-11:15 Mixer and greeting

11:15-11:45pm
Works in progress:
Titles are top secret and will be revealed at event
(32 minutes)

11:40-12:00 break (open bar)

12:00-1:05
In Competition:
ALGESIA by Cathy Alberich (15 minutes) Q & A
MOCKINGBIRD by Marichelle Daywalt (3 minutes) Q & A
MORBID CURIOUSITY by Cindy Baer (6 minutes) Q & A
DEAD BOYFRIENDS by Xstine Cook (7 minutes)
BAD GIRLS by The Soska Sisters (7 minutes)
(39 minutes)

Ballots collected from audience

Partnership Screening and Award:
THE HORROR OF OUR LOVE by Dave Reda (6 minutes)

BREAK:
1:05-1:25pm open bar

1:25-2:10pm
Out of Competition:
SCREAM MACHINE Written by Julia Camara (15 minutes)
UP UNDER THE ROOF Produced by Danielle Stallings (20 minutes)

2:10pm
Reveal of the new Bleedy Award design
Bleedy present to the Audience's choice

2:15-3:40
Feature:
IN THEIR SLEEP (90 minutes)

By Caroline du Potet and Eric du Potet, the duo behind Inside. The film stars Anne Parillaud, Arthur Dupont, Thierry Fremont, and Jean-Hugues Anglade.


Now, you better start driving, pack all your friends in the car, and get your bum to Bleedfest Film Festival and support some rad film makers that you wouldn't get the chance to see otherwise!

~Sylv

Let There Be Bleedfest Every Month!

What is Bleedfest?

"We are passionate about raising the visibility of awesome indie genre movies by female filmmakers.

BleedFest fetes the women who love writing, producing, directing, and watching badass genre movies: horror, thriller, action, sci-fi, western, exploitation, B-movie, and erotica. We also screen a few male filmmakers who have empowering, badass and edgy female protagonists; their work screens out of competition and receives our "Partnership Award". Our mission is to spotlight these edgy films and their fearless makers, and prove to the world that the derogatory term "chick flick" needs to be retired."

Agreed, ladies.

The very first Bleedfest took place this summer in sunny LA in sisterhood with the Viscera film festival. It was fucking incredible. Seeing these wonderful films with such a great horror crowd was awesome -- let me tell you, boys and girls, film making powerhouse sisters Elisabeth and Brenda Fies know how to throw a party. It was with great sadness that we packed our bags and headed back up to Canada after the fest. But we knew there would be another festival the next year and were excited to return again.

Hold the phone. Call your dad into the room. Get ma from out back. You don't have to wait until next year.

"The festival is the first Sunday afternoon each month. We feature shorts and features in and out of competition, works in progress, and student films. We also program Q & As, networking opportunities, and forums with noted Hollywood luminaries to explore issues facing women auteurs in the industry."

What an incredible opportunity to see and screen fantastic indie movies that often go unnoticed against the big studio blockbusters. From experience let me tell you, the ladies really know their horror shit. They are smart and they welcome you to the festival with a level of kindness and sincerity that makes you feel like family. It is a great event to showcase your work. This fast approaching December 5th marks the first of many upcoming Bleedfest, a bloody good time. Our short film, BADGIRLS, will be playing. Submit your films too, so we can all play together! Can it get any better? Yes. Yes, it can --

"BleedFest provides what filmmakers need to be successful. Our filmmakers are all official winners, and will have a new Winner Laurel to place on their press materials. Each filmmaker will receive an award and have a Q& A and photo moment in front of a red carpet Step and Repeat banner. Many of the films will be in competition to receive the Audience Award."

Awards and laurels are great to get recognition for new independent films. They especially come in very handy when it comes to distribution time. Studios dig that stuff. So, it's already a fantastic event that gives indies the opportunity to shine and brings the horror community closer together, how could it get any better. Um... I don't know... who likes booze? What if the booze was FREE!? Yes. The Fies knock it out of the park with an open bar. Ten dollars gets you a great night of films and an open bar.


Get your tickets here. Submit your film here. This is a great indie event that supports indie film making. Please pass this around to your cool friends and check out the Monthly Fest. We guarantee that you'll enjoy yourselves!

~Sylv

Back for Bloody Fun at Bleedfest!

Bleedfest is going to be a monthly event. Holy fuck. There will be even more genres included for films featured and made by female film makers.

A modest $10 for a seat and... OPEN BAR. I do believe it says OPEN BAR! Wow. The Fies sisters - Elisabeth and Brenda - are kicking ass and taking names.

Be sure to get your bum in those seats and bring your friends. We had an amazing time at Bleedfest and will definitely be coming back!

~Sylv

Viscera 2011 Submissions Open

VISCERA
Definition: The large internal organs of the body collectively, particularly those within the abdominal cavity.

Last year was our first time at the Viscera Film Festival. Did you miss it? Catch up here, Charlie, then come back and join us for the new news. A very huge and humble thank you to Shannon Lark, Heidi Martinuzzi, and Elisabeth Fies for inviting us to the event and screening our hooker. Never heard of the Viscera Film Festival before? Well, it's time you begun...

"Viscera specifically focuses on women gaining self confidence, knowledge, and growth through the creation of horror films.

This process is to achieve equality in the film industry, not domination.

Specializing in short horror films made by the female gender, the Viscera Film Festival hosts an annual bloody carpet event in Los Angeles for the selected Filmmakers, Special Celebrity Guests, and a live audience. Each Filmmaker receives a hand crafted Viscera Statue, along with promotional materials and the option to be distributed on the next Viscera DVD Compilation. Throughout the year, Viscera is continuously working to get the Viscera films screened and promoted all over the world."

We had a fucking blast, met lots of rad horror film makers and horror community folks, there were some bloody wonderful, funny, disturbing, smart, scary, sexy, graphic, and all completely rad films showcased there.



There is a huge focus on community and with ladies, lets face it - most of the time we're encouraged to rip out each other's throats, but what if we joined forces and ripped out throats together? That's the beauty of Viscera. Simply incredible. Submit today (before February 28th, 2011) and you'll be damn proud that you did. The site has been uber vamped, take a stroll through the amazing, then become a part of it!


xo
~Sylv

It's an Honor Just to be Nominated

The City Of Death International Film Festival nominations are in...

Nominations in the Best Feature Film - Feature Film category are:

Stricken
Spirit Camp
Dahmer vs Gacy
...My Step Dad's a Freakin' Vampire
Dead Hooker in a Trunk

Nominations in the Best Director - Feature Film category are:

Matt Sconce - Stricken
Kerry Beyer - Spirit Camp
Ford Austin - Dahmer vs Gacy
...David Matheny - My Step Dad's a Freakin' Vampire
Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska - Dead Hooker in a Trunk

Nominations in the Best Art Design - Feature Film category are:

Stricken
My Step Dad's a Freakin' Vampire
Dahmer vs Gacy
...Spirit Camp
Dead Hooker in a Trunk

Nominations in the Best Actress - Feature Film category are:

Stephanie French - Stricken
Roxy Vandiver - Spirit Camp
Dona Ellis - The Path of Torment
Rikki Gagne - Dead Hooker in a Trunk
Jade Kelley - Sibling Rivalry

Nominations in the Best Actor - Feature Film category are:

David Fine - Stricken
Ford Austin - Dahmer vs Gacy
Lahcen Anajjar - My Step Dad's a Freakin' Vampire
...Gary C. Warren - The Path of Torment
Brandon Maldonado - Scum

Nominations in the Best Script - Feature Film category are:

Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska - Dead Hooker in a Trunk
Kerry Beyer - Spirit Camp
Andrew J. Rausch & Chris Watson - Dahmer vs Gacy
...Kyle Mangrum & David Matheny - My Step Dad's a Freakin' Vampire
Gary C. Warren - The Path of Torment

So excited!! Can't wait to hear how the night goes! We'll be sure to keep y'all posted. The festival starts tomorrow in Huntsville Texas. Hope all you Texans can make it out!

Bloody Best!
Jen