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