The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival returns to New York City October 12th till the 15th, bringing with it more ghouls and ghosts than ever before. BHFF is proud to present more than twice as many feature films as last year and is thrilled to announce the first wave of the line-up, which boasts exciting films, dynamic events and more venues, expanding the festivals activities. This year weve grown to a four-day festival and are very excited to be extending our reach to audiences beyond North Brooklyn, into Downtown Brooklyn and Crown Heights, says fest director Justin Timms. Starting with our opening night at the new Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Brooklyn weve also added Nitehawk Cinema, LIU Kumble Theater, Film Noir Cinema & Video Revival this year to go along with our key theaters from last year Wythe Hotel Cinema, Videology Bar & Cinema and Spectacle Theater.
If our debut years program in 2016 focused on trying to push horrors boundaries and challenge the genres preconceptions, then our 2017 edition is that mission both amplified and perfected, says senior programmer Matt Barone. We looked all around the globe for the most unique and boldest horror, and what weve assembled proves that the genre is in an incredible place right now. Some films, like the hilarious millennial takedown TRAGEDY GIRLS and Germanys hypnotic and complex HAGAZUSSA, cleverly subvert the familiar genre tropes; others, like Argentinas powerful CLEMENTINA and Portugal’s Haneke-like THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS, are amazingly singular. This years program is really something special.
A NIGHTMARISH OPENING NIGHT OF BHFF WITH HOUSEWIFE AT ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE BROOKLYN!
Opening the festival is the North American Premiere of HOUSEWIFE, the newest film from director Can Evrenol who showed immense promise with his brutal 2015 breakthrough BASKIN. Sponsored by Birth.Movies.Death and taking place at the Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown Brooklyn, HOUSEWIFE tells the tale of a woman – haunted by a horrific childhood incident – who struggles with separating her nightmares from reality after she meets a charismatic psychic with a secret agenda. With this hypnotic and gruesome ode to Bava-esque Italian horror, Evrenol solidifies himself as one of horrors most exciting new voices. Director Can Evrenol will be in attendance at the BHFF screening.
Followed by a special party at the Alamos one-of-a-kind venue, the House of Wax with DJ Witchboard aka Glenn McQuaid (I SELL THE DEAD) and sponsored by Coney Island Brewery.
HOUSEWIFE (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Turkey / Dir. Can Evrenol
Sponsored by Birth.Movies.Death
Haunted by the bloodstained memories of a horrific childhood incident, Hollys struggles with separating her nightmares from reality derail after she meets charismatic psychic with a secret agenda. Capitalizing on the immense promise shown by his brutal 2015 breakthrough BASKIN, writer-director Can Evrenol solidifies himself as horrors future with this hypnotic and gruesome ode to Bava-esque Italian horror.
MEXICO BARBARO II AND MORE IN OUR FEAR IN FOCUS: MEXICO SIDEBAR, SPONSORED BY EL BUHO MEZCAL!
This year BHFF is thrilled to present our inaugural FEAR IN FOCUS program! Fear in Focus is our way of shining a spotlight on various themes or ideas that are important today. With the current political and global climate, were beyond excited to launch this with our excellent Mexican horror program – no wall crossing required.
FEAR IN FOCUS: MEXICO is proud to showcase the hotly anticipated North American Premiere of horror anthology follow-up MEXICO BARBARO 2. If you thought MEXICO BARBARO was gnarly, wait until you get a load of this crazier and wonderfully unhinged follow-up, helmed by an all-new line-up of on-the-rise Mexican horror voices and touching on cannibalism, porn, and historical demons. Segment director Sergio Tello will be in attendance.
MEXICO BARBARO II (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Mexico / Dir. Lex Ortega, Sergio Tello, Diego Cohen, Fernando Urdapilleta, Michel Garza, Carlos Melendez, Ricardo Farías, Christian Cueva, Abraham Sanchez
Sponsored by El Buho Mezcal
In 2014, the truly demented Mexican filmmaker Lex Ortega assembled his countrys best horror filmmakers for the shocking anthology MEXICO BARBARO. But if you thought that film was gnarly, wait until you get a load of this crazier and wonderfully unhinged follow-up, helmed by an all-new lineup of on-the-rise Mexican horror voices and touching on cannibalism, porn, and historical demons.
Also in the block is the US Premiere of VERONICA, the erotically charged mystery with echoes of early Polanski by directors Carlos Algara & Alejandro Martinez Beltran in which a twisted battle for psychological dominance ensues between a retired psychologist and her patient whom she treats in her isolated home in the woods.
VERONICA (US PREMIERE)
Mexico / Dir. Carlos Algara & Alejandro Martinez Beltran
Sponsored by El Buho Mezcal
A retired psychologist agrees to take on one more patient under the condition that the young lady move into her isolated home in the woods. A game of secrets and lies ensues as the two women battle for psychological dominance. Mexican co-directors Carlos Algara and Alejandro Martinez-Beltrans feature debut is an erotically charged mystery with echoes of early Polanski.
Not to be missed is the East Coast Premiere of Victor Dryeres genuinely unnerving found footage film 1974 which reveals the bizarre and terrifying fate of a missing young couple through a collection of 8 mm tapes and home movies. A much-needed shot in the arm for a tired horror style, Dryeres film deserves mention alongside found-footage gems like [REC] and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
1974 (EAST COAST PREMIERE)
Mexico / Dir. Victor Dryere
Sponsored by El Buho Mezcal
Shortly after getting married in 1974, the young couple Altair and Manuel disappeared without a trace in Mexico. Through a collection of 8 mm tapes and home movies, the newlyweds fates are revealed in all of their bizarre and terrifying glory. A much-needed shot in the arm for a tired horror style, Mexican filmmaker Victor Dryeres genuinely unnerving 1974 deserves mention alongside found-footage gems like [REC] and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
BHFF COMPETITION FEATURES INCLUDE HAGAZUSSA, CLEMENTINA, FESTIVAL FAVS TRAGEDY GIRLS, SEQUENCE BREAK, AND MORE!?
BHFF is also excited to announce an additional five competition features, starting with Tyler MacIntyres highly acclaimed TRAGEDY GIRLS, co-presented by Nitehawk Cinema!
Status obsession has a body count when BFFs Sadie (Brianna Hildebrand, DEADPOOLs Negasonic Teenage Warhead) and McKayla (Alexandra Shipp, X-MEN APOCALYPSEs Storm) capture a serial murderer whose exploits theyve been chronicling on their blog. How do they keep the slaughter spree going so they have more to report on? The answers are both giggly and grisly in a film also featuring a fun supporting turn by comedy big-timer (and producer) Craig Robinson.
TRAGEDY GIRLS (NY PREMIERE)
USA / Dir. Tyler Macintyre
Co-Presented by Nitehawk Cinema
Status obsession has a body count when BFFs Sadie (Brianna Hildebrand, DEADPOOLs Negasonic Teenage Warhead) and McKayla (Alexandra Shipp) capture a serial murderer whose exploits theyve been chronicling on their blog. How do they keep the slaughter spree going so they have more to report on? The answers are both giggly and grisly in a film also featuring a fun supporting turn by Craig Robinson (also a producer).
Festival fans may remember Graham Skipper, star of last years Audience Award Winning BEYOND THE GATES, who now returns to BHFF to share his directorial debut, SEQUENCE BREAK, a surreal, absorbing homage to the body-horror cinema and video games of the 80s. Chase Williamson plays an arcade-game repairman who finds love with a customer (Fabianne Therese) and terror from a mysterious game with a lot more powering it than pixels. Director Graham Skipper will be in attendance for the screening.
SEQUENCE BREAK (NY PREMIERE)
USA / Dir. Graham Skipper
Sponsored by Brooklyn Fireproof Stages
Busy genre actor Graham Skipper (RE-ANIMATOR: THE MUSICAL, BEYOND THE GATES, THE MINDS EYE) makes his feature writing/directing debut with a surreal, absorbing homage to the body-horror cinema and video games of the 80s. Chase Williamson plays an arcade-game repairman who finds love with a customer (Fabienne Theresa) and terror from a mysterious game with a lot more powering it than pixels.
Surrounded by heightened paranoia and superstition, an evil presence threatens a mother and her infant child in the Alps of 15th century Austria in HAGAZUSSA – A HEATHENS CURSE. Is this ancient malevolence an outside force or a product of her psychosis? With stunningly gorgeous photography and atmosphere for days, Lukas Fiegelfelds gothic horror fever dream illustrates the dangers associated with dark beliefs and the infestation of fear.
AGAZUSSA – A HEATHENS CURSE (EAST COAST PREMIERE)
Germany / Dir. Lukas Fiegelfeld
Surrounded by heightened paranoia and superstition, an evil presence threatens a mother and her infant child in the Alps of 15th century Austria. But is this ancient malevolence an outside force or a product of her psychosis? With stunningly gorgeous photography and atmosphere for days, Lukas Fiegelfelds gothic horror fever dream illustrates the dangers associated with dark beliefs and the infestation of fear.
A young woman traumatized by a savage attack from her husband begins to hear voices in her apartment. CLEMENTINA, Jimena Monteolivas solo directorial debut expertly builds tension, maintaining a sense of unease from the start that creeps higher until the frightening and suffocating shocker of a third act. Cecilia Cartasegna delivers with a classically terrifying portrait of a woman on the edge. Lead actress Cecilia Cartasegna and screenwriter Diego Fleischer will be in attendance for the screening.
CLEMENTINA (NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE)
Argentina / Dir. Jimena Monteoliva
A young woman traumatized by a savage attack from her husband begins to hear voices in her apartment. Jimena Monteolivas solo directorial debut expertly builds tension, maintaining a sense of unease from the start that creeps higher until the frightening and suffocating shocker of a third act. Cecilia Cartasegna delivers with a classically terrifying portrait of a woman on the edge.
Take a stroll into despair with the East Coast Premiere of José Pedro Lopes THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS, as two suicidal strangers explore the dark woods together, looking for the best spot to commit suicide all the while debating, whats the best way to kill yourself? It soon becomes clear that one person isnt who they say they are. This Portuguese black-and-white-shot nightmare is a unique and disturbing modern take on the slasher film.
THE FOREST OF LOST SOULS (EAST COAST PREMIERE)
Portugal / Dir. José Pedro Lopes
Two suicidal strangers explore the Forest of Lost Souls together, looking for the best spot to commit suicide all the while debating, whats the best way to kill yourself? It soon becomes clear that one person isnt who they say they are. This black-and-white-shot nightmare is a unique and disturbing modern take on the slasher film.
FRIDAY THE 13TH MINI MARATHON CO-PRESENTED BY VIDEOLOGY BAR & CINEMA!
Clear your calendars of all satanic rituals and ghosts summoning this Friday the 13th, cause we got you covered with a FRIDAY THE 13TH Mini-Marathon at Videology! Take a trip to Camp Crystal Lake and enjoy films one through four of the series in all their cutting, gutting, hacking and whacking glory while sipping our themed “Crystal Lake” cocktail.
STAGE FRIGHTS; OUR ANNUAL PROGRAM OF LIVE EVENTS RETURNS!
To start off our 2017 STAGE FRIGHTS program were pleased to announce two of this years live events where our panels of experts will be dissecting fear with sharp wit, whether theyre intoxicated or not.
DRUNK EDUCATION: FINAL GIRLS
Even the best slasher villain has a better half a final girl. Final girls are a crucial part of the horror ecosystem, but which one is the best? Which is the funniest? And which has the most questionable taste in weapons? Come hear horror experts make the case for everyone from Jamie Lee Curtis in HALLOWEEN to Neve Campbell in SCREAM to Sigourney Weaver in ALIEN.
Participants: Aja Romano (Vox), Kristen Kim (GQ/Village Voice/Vice), Hazel Cills (Jezebel), and Teo Bugbee (Daily Beast).
Hosted by Eric Thurm (The Guardian/GQ/The A.V. Club), Drunk Education (the show formerly known as Drunk TED Talks) is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: writers/comics/artists make slideshows about stuff they’re really into, get drunk, and deliver them. Whether it’s the horniness of St. Augustine, the history of mansplaining relayed through the plot of Love Actually, or the way teen girl organizers could have prevented the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, Drunk Ed has you covered.
LOST GIRLS: THE PHANTASMAGORICAL CINEMA OF JEAN ROLLIN
To celebrate the release of Canadian micro-publisher Spectacular Opticals new book about French fantastique filmmaker Jean Rollin, the books curator and editor Samm Deighan will be on hand to introduce a special screening of Rollins 1971 LE FRISSON DES VAMPIRES, recently restored in HD by Kino Lorber.
LOST GIRLS is the first book about the director to be written entirely by women critics, scholars, and film historians. This collection of essays covers the wide range of Rollins career from 1968s LE VIOL DU VAMPIRE through his 2010 swansong, LE MASQUE DE LA MÉDUSE, touching upon his horror, fantasy, crime and sex filmsincluding many lesser seen titles. Before the film, Samm will give a brief introduction examining Rollins core themes: his focus on overwhelmingly female protagonists, his use of horror genre and exploitation tropes, his reinterpretations of the fairy tale and fantastique, the influence of crime serials, Gothic literature, the occult and more.
Copies of this 436-page tome with over 400 illustrations many of them rare and in full colour will be available to pick up at the event.