Spooky Movie - The Washington, D.C. International Horror Film Festival (aka: The Spooky Movie Film Festival) is an internationally recognized showcase for independent and underground filmmakers of the horror, science fiction and fantasy genres.
Contents |
The first and only horror film festival held in the D.C. Metro area, The Spooky Movie Film Festival was formed in 2006 to give both filmmakers in the horror/sci-fi genres a venue to have their work showcased to people in the industry, and the fans in Washington, D.C. area a unique experience.
Many of the features that have screened at the festival go on to get picked up for distribution afterwards, including the opening night features in 2006 and 2007 (The Slaughter and Eat Your Heart Out); both would later be signed to Lionsgate Entertainment. The home base for the festival is Cinema Arts Theatres in Fairfax, Virginia, with additional screenings in Crystal City, Virginia, Wheaton, Maryland, Arlington, Virginia, Hagerstown, Maryland and mid-town D.C.
The inaugural 2006 fest (October 26-28), 30 films were screened during three days. The cover art for the festival was a black and white photograph of Count Gore De Vol (Dick Dyszel), who was the host for opening night. The following morning Mr. Dyszel returned as his other alter-ego, Captain 20 (popular children's host in the 1970s and 1980s) for a matinee of family friendly films, which included Teddy Scares and the first of the Blue Rhino trilogy - The Blue Rhino Vs. The Zombie Caveman.
Featured in the schedule was the world premiere of the feature film Two Front Teeth, the east coast premiere of the Korean film The Red Shoes, and the D.C. premieres of Pervert! and The Slaughter. Short film screenings included The Legend of Farmer Jenkins, Pumpkin Zombies, Jitters and Zombie Island.
Selections from the festival were later screened at Artomatic, a month long D.C. arts festival, as well as Horror At The Hager Summer Series in Hagerstown, Maryland.
In 2007, the festival (October 12-14) screened the world premiere of Eat Your Heart Out, the American premiere of the Japanese movie Carved: The Slit Mouthed Woman, and the D.C. premieres of 99 Pieces and The Creek. Short films in 2007 included award winners like Callous Sentiment, The Dollhouse, Electrical Skeletal and Of Darkness.
In addition to the new showings, a midnight screening of the silent classic Der Golem was screened, with performance artist Bobogolem providing the soundtrack on 9 different instruments, including a stand-up bass, therimin, banjo and violin.
The Washington Post called the performance "The hightlight of the festival," as well saying that the 2007 fest was "A slashing good time." The cover art for the 2007 festival program guide was done by Buz Hasson, illustrator for the comic book The Living Corpse. In addition, the festival began with a video greeting to Count Gore from Steve Niles, creator of 30 Days of Night, who had autographed a poster from the movie to be given away on opening night.
One week following the October 2007 fest, a 12 hour, all night marathon was scheduled at Horror at the Hager (The Spooky Movie Red Eye Marathon) and included more world premieres, including The Jester and Us Sinners. Additional screenings were scheduled for the 2008 Artomatic event, held in mid-town Washington, D.C.
A one night only / stand-alone event was scheduled for the summer of 2008 (July 17, 2008). Scheduled were four award winning shorts films - The Ancient Rite of Corey McGillis, Seekers, Eight Thirty-Two and The Marionette - and the D.C. area premiere of the Troma Entertainment produced feature Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.
Director and producer, Lloyd Kaufman, came in for the event and afterwards led an hour-long question and answer session. The following day, Mr. Kaufman visited University Mall Theatres, also in Fairfax, Virginia, for a two hour version of his "Make Your Own Damn Movie" master class.
Spooky Movie was held on Oct. 16-20 and screened 50 films from 10 countries at 3 different theaters in 2 states. The program guide cover for 2008 featured artwork from Mike Sosnowski, former animator for both Ralph Bakshi and Disney Studios.
The bulk of the festival ran the at Cinema Arts Theatres in Fairfax, Virginia; a week earlier there was a preview night event at the then-recently opened Montgomery Cinema 'N' Draft House in Wheaton, Maryland. Then on Halloween, there was a special event at the Arlington Cinema 'N' Draft House in Arlington, Virginia, hosted by "Count Gore De Vol" with music by "Karlos Borloff" and his band "The Monsterminators."
Premiere features included Bane, No Through Road, Snuff: A Documentary About Killing On Camera, Brain Dead, Crushed and the world premiere of Vlog - a new feature from the producer of Saw. Short films included Attackazoids!, Night of the Hell Hamsters, Foet, Excision, Snip and the Bill Plympton animated film Shut-Eye Hotel.
Spooky Movie was held on Oct. 21-25 and screened 42 films from 9 countries and 12 states.
The opening night event was a special screening of H.G. Lewis' classic horror film Two Thousand Maniacs with the director in attendance. Feature films screened at the fest included Evil Angel, The Death of Alice Blue, Must Love Death and Morgue Story. Short films screened included Attackazoids, Deploy!!, Psycho Hillbilly Cabin Massacre, Phenomena: Probing the Paranormal, Rising Up: The Story of the Zombie Rights Movement and Tinglewood.
Spooky Movie was held on Oct. 21-25 and screened 41 films.
The opening night event was a special screening of Tucker & Dale vs Evil. Feature films screened at the fest included Colin, Broken Springs, The Uh! Oh! Show, Everything's Eventual, The Echo Game, Every Other Day Is Halloween, Mørke Sjeler, S&Man and The Matrimony.
A Horror Host television program that showed public domain horror and science fiction movies, produced from October 1995 until September 2006. Hosted by "Dr. Sarcofiguy" (John Dimes), has been screened across the county on The Horror Host Underground Network, and continues to be seen on Falls Church Cable Television" (FCCTV). The show provided the foundation and support for the film festival, which debuted in October 2006..
In 2008 it was announced that a new version of the program would begin production, focusing on the short films submitted to The Spooky Movie Film Festival since 2006. Once again author and comedian, John Dimes, is scheduled to host.
Premiering in August 2006, Monster Madhouse Live became the official successor of The Spooky Movie television show, providing local and national entertainment hosting public domain movies. Hosted by Karlos Borloff with a rotating cast of regulars (that occasionally included "Count Gore" and "Sarcofiguy"), in February 2008 the show was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and two months later received a Telly Award. A strong supporter of The Spooky Movie Film Festival, Monster Madhouse Live has featured films and filmmakers showcased at fest, including Lloyd Kaufman.
Count Gore De Vol (Dick Dyszel) is a television horror host who originally appeared on Washington, DC's WDCA from 1973 to 1987. He was the internet's first Horror Host, debuting in 1998. Since 2006 he has been the official host for The Spooky Movie Film Festival. In 2008 he hosted four events for the festival.
A two volume DVD anthology featuring shorts that have screened at The Spooky Movie Film Festival. Hosted by Count Gore, and produced by Rudderpost Films, Festival of Horrors Volumes 1 and 2 include over two hours each of "award winning" short films, as well as special features, including interviews with Steve Niles and Forrest J. Ackerman, as well as out-takes and "easter eggs."