International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival
Phoenix Film Festival

Festival archives
2007 20062005

2006 international horror & sci-fi FILM FESTIVAL


The second annual International Horror and Science Fiction Film Festival was distinct leap forward from the first year, which by all measures was excellent to begin with. The level of organization with which the festival was operated was quite clear with nearly every filmmaker remarking how well the festival was run and how well they were treated. We have begun to build a fan following with many repeat festival goers from last year as well as many new faces.



The quality of the programming definitely came up a notch as well. With nearly 100 features films submitted for competition, we were able to put together a very selective program. Director of the winning film in the best horror feature category, Jason Ipson, represented his film, Unrest, extremely well. His articulate and intelligent responses to the audience’s questions during the Q and A sessions provided insight into the filmmaking process and his film in particular. Jason also comes from an unusual background. He was in his second year of medical residency as a surgeon when he decided to attend USC film school and become a director. His training provided a unique perspective from which to make his film about a first year medical student struggling through gross anatomy with a cadaver who’s spirit is not yet at rest. During the Q and A session he was able to speak from the actual experience of dissecting cadavers, working in sometimes unsettling and spooky hospital conditions and even from removing the head from his cadaver. You don’t get that every day.

The second annual International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival was a roaring success this year, even exceeding year one, which by all measures was an excellent inaugural event. Filmmakers and audience members alike were impressed with the organization of the festival, quality of programming and how well they were taken care of by our staff and volunteers.

Attendance grew this year. Along with our returning festival-goers from last year; we had many new faces and a number of attendees for whom this was their first ever festival experience.

                

The core of the festival, our feature and short film programming, was filled with unique, original and well made movies, from all over the world and in as many different styles as there were films. The diversity of programming meant there was a lot to appeal to a wide variety of movie-goers, many attendees commenting on how they enjoyed seeing so many unique and excellent pictures. With an overall increase in submissions and nearly 100 feature films submitted for competition, we were able to put together a highly competitive, eclectic and selective program.

Director of the winning film in the best horror feature category, Jason Ipson, represented his film, Unrest, with intelligence and charisma. He was able to provide some articulate and insightful responses during the Q and A sessions. Jason comes from an unusual background having been a second year medical resident when he decided to switch to the USC film school and become a director. His medical training provided a unique perspective from which to make his film about a first year medical student struggling through gross anatomy with a cadaver whose spirit has some unfinished business. During the Q and A session he was able to speak from his own experience on dissecting cadavers and working in sometimes unsettling and spooky hospital conditions He was even able to speak with authority about how to separate a human head from the body. You don’t get that every day.

                      

            

Amanda Gusack was there to represent her directorial debut, In Memorium, a creepy tale reminiscent of The Ring or The Others. Both screenings of her film were well attended and enthusiastically received by the audience. She provided many useful insights into low budget filmmaking and using the resources at hand to your best advantage.

Standouts in the shorts program included Devilwood, Penny Dreadful and Zombie American, a hilarious pseudo-documentary about Glen; just a regular zombie facing the same kinds of challenges we all face in our day to day lives, or after-lives.

       

A number of the shorts filmmakers were on hand to represent their films. Susan Bell returned for the second year in a row with her film, The Resurrectionist. Devilwood director, Sacha Bennet, along with his DP, Nick and producer Johnny, traveled from London to represent their film, commenting that the IHSFF was among the best run festivals they have attended. Also on hand was young local filmmaker Daniel Bury, who won awards for two shorts, Snowmaniac in the horror category and Reality Check in the sci-fi category and New York filmmaker Chris McInroy with his comedy/horror short, Recently Deceased.

Complete list of 2006 Films

Horror Features

Death By Engagement
Directed By Philip Creager

In Memorium
Directed By Amanda Gusack

The Slaughter
Directed By Jay Lee

Unrest
Directed By Jason Ipson
sci-fi features

Firefly
Directed By Pete Marcy

Pulp Fiction Art:
Cheap Thrills & Painted Nightmares

Directed By Jamie McDonald

sci-fi shorts

36
Directed By Brian Troy

A through M
Directed By Heidi Marshall

Adidas ‘Adidcolor- Green’
Directed By Alex Johnson

Alien Rose
Directed By Virginia Todd Burton

Assumption
Directed By Christopher Keller

Bartholomew’s Song
Directed By Destin Cretton

Dial ‘A’ for Alphaman
Directed By Mike Jackson

Futurist
Directed By Brad Winderbaum

Genesis Antipode
Directed by John Robinson

Grandfather Paradox
Directed By Jean-Francois Da Sylva

I Must Destroy You
Directed By David Johnston

Last Man in Brooklyn
Directed By Roberto Bentivegna

Man vs. Woman
Directed By Juan Vargas

Microgravity
Directed By David Sanders

Missing Pages
Directed By Jerome Oliver

Model Man
Directed By Steven Tagle

NIA
Directed By Francisco X. Rivera

Outside In
Directed by Brock Brown

Passion to the Max
Directed By Felix Allen

Reality Check
Directed By Daniel Bury

Robots Are Blue
Directed By Bill Sebastian

Say That You Love Me…
Directed By Tadakuni Yasuda

Scribble
Directed By Faisal Qureshi

Spaceboy
Directed By Ransom Riggs

The Salesman
Directed By David Rusanow



horror shorts

A Terrorist Ate My Brain
Directed By Brett Young

Akai

Directed By Carlos G. Gananian

Bad Dreams
Directed By Fansu Njie & Anneli Gelbard

Cannibal Grave Yard
Directed By Joe Crocco

Deadly Tantrum
Directed By Michael Mort

Devilwood
Directed By Sacha Bennett

Faceless
Directed By B. Jason Roer

Ghost Busted
Directed By Vance Null

Horror Fans
Directed By Michael Schwartz

If I Had A Hammer
Directed By Andy Bean

Movie Monster Insurance
Directed By Paula Haifley

Number 12
Directed By Kane Black

Penny Dreadful
Directed By Bryan Norton

Recently Deceased
Directed By Chris McInroy

Room to Breathe
Directed By Steve Johnson

Schattenkind
Directed By Jesse Eisenhardt

Siniestro
Directed By Beatriz Ramos

Snowmaniac
Directed By Daniel Bury

The Cobbler’s Daughter
Directed By Donna Thorland

The Listening Dead
Directed By Phil Mucci

The Need
Directed By Chris Young

The Pit and the Pendulum
Directed By Marc Lougee

The Ressurectionist
Directed By Susan Bell

Watcher
Directed By Eli Sasich

Zombie American
Directed By Nick Poppy

Zombies in Love
Directed By Laureen Briggs

Zomburrito
Directed By



 
 

 
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