Friday, May 9, 2025

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• 10:00 am: Feature Film
   

Mary’s Lake - WORLD PREMIERE (90 mins/SC): A group of camp counselors looks forward to a summer of fun and friendship. However, their excitement turns into horror when a dangerous escapee from a nearby mental institution starts hunting them down one by one. Directed by Mark Williams

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Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance

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• 12:00 pm: Thriller Shorts Block

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Hello Killer (5 mins/Canada): The “Hello Killer” has been on a murder spree, carving his victims names into their backs. As detectives close in on the serial killer, they put themselves at risk. Directed by Ken Amlin
 

Here I Remain - EAST COAST PREMIERE (9 mins/GA): Facing death in the wake of an attack by a masked killer, a woman recounts the memories of her life as she comes to terms with the reality of death. Directed by Austin Koch
 

Defile (12 mins/Canada): A couple's secluded getaway is interrupted by a visit from a strange family who exposes them to the horrors that lie beyond the tree line. Directed by Brian Sepanzyk
 

The Nature of Death - SC PREMIERE (17 mins/CA): When an eccentric park ranger crosses paths with a grieving hiker, he offers his help in finding the perfect spot to scatter the hiker’s father’s ashes. As they venture deeper into the remote wilderness, the ranger’s true intentions begin to blur. Directed by Sean Cruser
 

Doll (22 mins/Canada): Sally is trapped in a perfect dollhouse, as she spirals into madness & a confrontation with her dark and sinister past. Directed by Danny Lau

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance 

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• 1:30 pm: Feature Film

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Ladybug - SC PREMIERE (82 mins/CA): A young artist is stalked at his remote cabin by the killer who murdered his supernatural lover. Directed by Tim Cruz

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Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance 

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• 4:00 pm: World Shorts Block

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The Last Sleep (15 mins/Italy): Landon fails to meet his father's expectations due to his homosexuality. The man cruelly torments, ultimately driving him to suicide. However, Landon had concealed an intimate and profound love with a vampire, who now refuses to accept his loss and seeks revenge against his tormentor. Directed by Federica Bertellotti

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1 Star Review - EAST COAST PREMIERE (10 mins/United Kingdom): Chef Michael has a murderous obsession with changing negative reviews to save his restaurant, but a date with his latest critic Elysia makes him question his motives. Directed by John Ferrer

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The Light of Things (28 mins/Brazil): A group of friends is gathered in a house during a storm, so they decide to play some truth or dare. But, by doing it, they end up summoning and evil Entity, and we follow them as they try to survive the slaughter. But as time passes we find out that the summoning might not‘ve been an accident. Directed by Manoel Rocha

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Teddy (20 mins/Norway): Max, a young boy being bullied at school, lives alone with his mom who is working to make ends meet after Max’s father passed away. One day Max finds a discarded teddy bear in the schoolyard. Having no friends amongst his peers, Max decides to keep the plush bear named Teddy for comfort. As his attachment to his new friend increases, bizarre violent incidents start happening to the kids who bully him. Directed by Nini Bull Robsahm

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance

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• 6:00 pm: Feature Film

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They Call Her Death - SC PREMIERE  (92 mins/KS): On the wild frontier of the American prairie, Molly Pray is on a bloody crusade against the criminal forces that have wronged her. She shows no mercy, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake on a mission that ultimately strikes at the heart of the American identity and the notion of manifest destiny. But for Molly this isn’t political. This is personal. Directed by Austin Snell

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance

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• 8:00 pm: Laugh Your Head Off Shorts Block

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Slice of Life (5 mins/GA): A day in the life of a silent, deadly killer... and his friend. Directed by Nick Laws

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V.R.O.O.M. (16 mins/OH): An acronym that stands for Vampires Raising Our Offspring Mortals, VROOM is a vampire mockumentary about vampires who were parents of young children at the time they were turned, and opted to continue raising their children, despite being shunned by the vampire community. Directed by Jason Klingensmith

 

The Von Steins - SC PREMIERE (15 mins/IN): A horror comedy short film that follows The Von Steins, a vampire family who welcome their daughter’s new boyfriend Max into their home. Little does he know that The Von Steins have only one thing on their mind… BLOOD! Directed by Jimmy Gruss

 

Unalived (15 mins/CA): Suspicions fly in a TikTok house when six wannabe influencers move in together to grow their followings—but begin dying one by one. UNALIVED is a satirical whodunnit that examines the depths to which we allow social media to take over our lives. Directed by Lauran Skelton

 

Did You Remember The Cat? (19 mins/CA): After surviving a house party-turned-horror film, Tara and Mitch’s escape is cut short when they realize… they forgot their cat. Now, the couple must return to the house and brave the eldritch monster that waits inside to save not only the cat, but their relationship itself. Directed by Daniel B Foster

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance

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Everyone is invited to join us at Art Bar for an official unofficial after party take over.  Have a few drinks and mix and mingle with the filmmakers and attendees.  Art Bar is located at 1211 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201

 

End Day 1

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Saturday, May 10, 2025

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• 10:00 am: Feature Film

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McCurdy Point - SC PREMIERE (77 mins/CA): A celebratory trip to the woods takes a turn for the worse, as four friends find themselves under the power of a force they don't understand. Directed by Jeremy Brothers and Nick Paonessa

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 12:00 pm: Slasher Shorts Block

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The Easter Sunday Massacre (7 mins/SC): Two film enthusiasts who work for a boutique distribution company meet Vince Miller, the elusive writer/director of 1979's The Easter Sunday Massacre. Miller and his film have not been seen in over 40 years. Directed by William Nicholas Clay

 

The Lost Camp (17 mins/CT): Three teenage boys sneak away from their sleep-away camp in the dead of night and come across an Old West ghost town. Unbeknownst to them, the place is haunted by the soul of a notorious outlaw who went missing over a century and a half ago. Directed by Connor Etter

 

Jumpman (12 mins/CA): A serial killer kills victims along the highway using jumper cables. Directed by Lloyd Tunstill

 

The Humming Grows (12 mins/GA): Breaking into her sister’s home in an attempt to save her, MMA fighter Jodie realizes she must free her chained niece from both a brutal captor and family secrets as she fights for their escape. Directed by Aughbar

 

POV - SC PREMIERE (18 mins/FL): An ideologically opposed couple attempt to survive a home invasion by a masked assailant on the single most dangerous night of the year... Halloween. Directed by Brian Rosenthal

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 1:30 pm: Feature Film

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Straight On Till Morning - SC PREMIERE (105 mins/CA): Two dreamers start falling for each other on a spontaneous road trip. The future is bright until they cross paths with a twisted family, with something much darker in mind. Directed by Craig Ouellette

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 4:00 pm: Killer Shorts Block

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The Newlyweds: Blood at the Altar (15 mins/FL): Tia and Akil are good people loved by their friends and family. However, no one believes they should wed because they love hard. After the ceremony, the NEWLYWEDS prepare to make their grand entrance in the ballroom as husband and wife, but instead of applauding guests, they are faced with grueling ZOMBIES. Directed by Lucien Christian Adderley and Richard "Byrd" Wilson

 

Deep Cut - SC PREMIERE (15 mins/CA): In the isolating depths of a low budget film set, a depressed actor finds an unexpected ally in a local background performer. But as their bond deepens, our lead actor is plunged into a psychological battle, forcing her to confront her demons. Directed by Michelle Farrah Huang

 

Queen of the Underworld - SC PREMIERE (15 mins/Canada): An isolated young woman recovering from her past begins to experience sleep paralysis and must determine whether the phenomena is simply a part of her healing process – or if something otherworldly is waiting in the dark. Directed by Stephanie Izsak

 

Damn Handy (18 mins/CT): When Plumber Roger Clark visits the remote farmhouse of two murderous sisters, he'll need a trick up his sleeve to survive. Directed by Peter Filardi

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Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 6:00 pm: WTF? Shorts Block

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The Super (4 mins/NY): The Super, a deadly tool, forged by years of abuse. He carries out his daily tasks while avoiding the ire of the woman he fears most. Directed by Daniel Merino Villavicencio 

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Sweaty Larry (7 mins GA): Three curious young girls stumble upon an obscure urban legend and summon the infamous entity known as Sweaty Larry. They were warned...they were warned. Directed by Vanessa Ionta Wright

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Drain (8 mins/HI): A Woman hires a handyman to fix a clogged pipe only to discover her problem may be far more sinister. Directed by Andrew Williamson

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The Itch - SC PREMIERE (15 mins/CA): A young man awakens in an unfamiliar apartment only to find himself under surveillance… and decaying rapidly. He relies on an enigmatic set of vaccines he discovers in the bathroom to slow his decline, but quickly plots revenge on his unseen watcher as his condition continues to deteriorate. Directed by Gordon Phillips

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Dark Horse (9 mins/DC): When an evil horse possesses his rider to commit murder. Directed by Ellice McCoy

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Up Close - SC PREMIERE  (13 mins/NY): Stuck in a rut, a married man decides to make a drastic change to his life. Directed by Lukas Hassel

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Dadda - WORLD PREMIERE (20 mins/CA): Amidst his wife's flourishing career, a once hotshot director turned stay-at-home dad, becomes convinced his hands are inexplicably shrinking. In a desperate search to re-enlarge his hands, he puts his family and sanity at risk as things grow out of control. Directed by Aimee Hoffman

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 8:00 pm: Feature Film
   

Dooba Dooba - SC PREMIERE (77 mins/CA): Amna expected a relaxed night of babysitting but when she arrives, she learns that her ward is not only a sheltered sixteen year old girl who goes by Moony, but that she is being watched at all times by in-home security cameras. It quickly becomes apparent that Moony is unaccustomed to socializing and that she has a grave misunderstanding of the term friendship. Directed by Ehrland Hollingsworth

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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Everyone is invited to join us at Hendrix Roof Top for an official unofficial after party take over!  Have a few drinks and mix and mingle with the filmmakers and attendees.  Hendrix is located at 1649 Msin Street, Suite 200, Columbia SC 29201
 

End Day 2

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Sunday, May 11, 2025

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• 10:00 am: Feature Film

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Sugarloaf: Home Sweet Home - WORLD PREMIERE (94 mins/SC): A group of friends find themselves stranded on a forbidden mountain after an unforeseen accident. Desperate for help, they accidentally stumble upon the home of three mountain dwellers who will go to extreme lengths to protect their territory. Despite appearing as savage and bloodthirsty individuals with murderous intentions, there is a deeper narrative behind their actions. Directed by Spencer Winburn

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 12:00 pm: Holiday Horror Shorts Block

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Old St. Nick - WORLD PREMIERE (9 mins/NY): Max and Timmy may have just ruined Christmas for everyone. Directed by Riley Walton Thomas

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Grin (5 mins/PA): Beneath his mask, a haunters twisted smile turns deadly-tonight the screams are real. Directed by J.P. Hoffman

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Cookies for Christmas - SC PREMIERE (12 mins/KS): In this "Hallmark Story" turned Horror Film, Lacey is returning home for Christmas from her busy life as a professional in New York. When she runs into well-natured Matthew, she considers if her business life should take priority over the happiness of others. All plans are halted when a killer breaks out of the local psych hospital and turns up to spoil the holiday and any chance Lacey has to make things right. Directed by Adam Raynes

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Holiday Heartbreak - SC PREMIERE (9 mins/IL): Jessica's festive holiday planning spirals into a sinister plot when she discovers her fiancé's secret, leading her down a path of chilling revenge. Directed by Erick Juarez

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The Specter of Christmas (11 mins/CA): The fourth film in the “Old Time Radio” short film series. This time, a holiday adventure loosely based on “T’was the Night Before Christmas” narrated by Paul Giamatti. Directed by Joel Harlow

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 1:30 pm: Feature Film

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The Reckoning - SC PREMIERE (84 mins/CA): Inspired by Guy de Maupassant’s Pierre et Jean (1888), The Reckoning is a visceral drama cloaked in a knife edge psychological thriller. An inversion of the prodigal son parable, the film’s disturbing intensity is unrelenting, the focus constantly shifting, layering, unraveling like its main character. Fast descending to a mayhem where objective truth is indiscernible, and full immersion to an open eyed nightmare involuntary. Directed by Alex Breaux

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 3:30 pm: Homegrown Horror Shorts Block

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We All Belong to the Tower - SC PREMIERE (9 mins/SC): On the day the tower appears, Kaitlin learns her ordinary life can completely change in a single moment, and she could lose everything she holds dear as her family, her community and her sanity begin to unravel. Directed by Dustin Paul Weible

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Perfidia (20 mins/SC): When Sarah's dreams drive her to revisit her family home, she is stalked by the ghosts of her past and forced to relive her most traumatic night. Directed by Collins Abbott White

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Black Mass (14 mins/SC): In order to escape the monotony of his corporate job, an introvert travels to the outskirts of town to a house party to connect with a mysterious love interest. Directed by Brent Worden, Spencer Bang

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The Hitchhiker (25 mins/SC): Traveling in a caravan and running late, a young girl named Brooke finds herself in a nightmare scenario as a mysterious man enters her back seat. As the drive goes on the man reveals himself to be more than she might have first thought. Brooke will discover the horrors of the road and be forced to dig up the horrors of her past. Directed by Benjamin Beauchamp, Timmons Flowers

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Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 5:30 pm: Feature Film

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Black Theta - SC PREMIERE (105 mins/CA): Andy is haunted years after his brush with death when a mysterious and murderous cult returns to target him, throwing him onto a rollercoaster of chaos and terror. Directed by Tim Connolly

 

Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 7:30 pm: Creature Shorts Block

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The Tent (11 mins/MN): Night has fallen, and the tent is pitched. But Andrew and his father, out camping, didn’t anticipate the relentless rain, the confinement of the canvas, or the oppressive silence festering between them. When the lights go out, the storm becomes a tempest, and an otherworldly presence draws near—a specter whose haunting familiarity threatens to unravel the delicate threads of their bond. Directed by Jared Bohiken

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Closed Circuit - SC PREMIERE (14 mins/Australia): During a routine graveyard shift, a security guard spots a mysterious black dog on the monitors. When he investigates, the dog chases him through dark corridors and transforms into a towering 7-foot demon. As he struggles to escape, reality distorts into chaos. Directed by Kari Redgen

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The Red Stone (23 mins/CA): A grotesque specter, composed of human limbs, lurks in the shadows as an archaeologist discovers a special pre-Hispanic idol in a house that becomes a terrifying stage where she must decipher the mystery and survive this nightmare. Directed by Jamie Jasso

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Meep! - FESTIVAL PREMIERE (30 mins/SC): Heartbroken and despondent, an unhinged woman makes a rash decision to nurse an otherworldly intruder she shot back to health. Directed by Kenneth Perkins

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Q&A to follow with filmmakers in attendance.

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• 9:00 pm: Crimmy Awards Ceremony

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End Day 3