Award Winners for Multiple Festivals Announced

Well, we tried something new this month and sponsored awards for the Best Short Horror Film at several film festivals. The submissions rolled in and the competitions were fierce at each of the festivals.

First up was Shriekfest in Los Angeles. It was another great year for this pivotal West Coast festival that is a launching pad for indie filmmakers. Congratulations to the Best Short Film award winner: "Kirksdale" directed by Ryan Spindell , and to the Best Super Short Film award winner: "Eel Girl" directed by Paul Campion. The top photo shows (l to r) "Kirksdale" lead actor Joshua Mikel, director Ryan Spidell, and festival directos Denise Gossett & Todd Beeson.

At the Sharp Cuts Guelph Indie Film & Music Festival the Best Short Horror Film award went to "Ray's Big Day", a stop motion animation film commissioned to honor the legendary Ray Harryhausen, directed by Marc Lougee. The photo shows the festival's judges Ryan James Connors (L) and Rob Keyes (R) flanking Marc & me as I present him the award at the closing gala closing.

Meanwhile, at the Madison Horror Film Festival in Wisconsin, the best short horror film award went to "Initiation" directed by Stephane Beaudoin. This film also won an award for best cinematography ans the Audience Choice award. Sweet! Great turn out for this new Mid-West festival, which boasted several films from Canada, the USA, and Europe.

In addition to winning a sweet prize pack of AAAAAH!! swag, the winning films will be offered a distribution deal to appear in an upcoming volume of AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits.

Congratulations to all the winners, runners up, and filmmaker participants. The big winners were the audiences who got to see & enjoy your works.

Where will we turn up next? Stay tuned - and keep supporting indie filmmaking.

Shriekfest - The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival
Madison Horror Film Festival
Sharp Cuts Guelph Indie Film & Music Festival