Complete Lineup Announced for the 2011 South African HorrorFest

Based on the legendary Robert Louis Stevenson tale of a respected doctor whose experiment to tap into his dark side hurtles out of control with deadly consequences. This classic 1920 silent version was directed by John S. Robertson, and stars John Barrymore, Charles Lane, Martha Mansfield, Brandon Hurst.

Accompanying the visuals will be the premiere of the new live soundtrack performance by THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE, their 6th movie scored to date.

As one of the HorrorFest highlights, booking is essential, and the show will include the audience Halloween dress-up competition.

The directors responsible for these amazing and diverse creepy chapters include make-up FX legend and Night of the Living Dead remake director Tom Savini, South Africa’s own Richard Stanley, Jeremy Kasten, Karim Hussein, Douglas Buck, Buddy Giovinazzo and David Gregory.

The Mother of Toads (with Catriona MacColl)
I Love You (with Andre Hennicke)
Wet Dreams (with Debbie Rochon)
The Accident (with Lena Kleine)
Sweets (with Mikela Da Vinci)
Vision Stains (with Kaniehtiio Horn)

The film is produced in association with the Transylvanian Society of Dracula and features interviews with leading international Dracula experts. Over the years there has been much confusion between Vlad Tepes (The Voivode) and Count Dracula (The Vampire). This film separates fact from fiction and looks at both characters in depth.

Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated is a mass collaborative artistic re-envisioning of George A. Romero’s 1968 cult classic. International artists and animators were invited to select scenes from the film and reinvent them through their artwork. Open to all styles, media and processes, the results run the gamut with scenes created in everything from puppet theater to CGI, hand drawn animation to flash, and oil paintings to tattoos.

This cacophony of works was organized and curated across the original film’s time line in order to create a completely original motion picture track made entirely out of art. The over 100 artists include Mike Schneider, Carla Rodrigues, Matthieu Lefebvre, Geff Bartrand, David Yener Goodman, Eric Schock, Verena Loisel, José Martínez, Isabella Chen, Kate van Zyl, and many more.

With close on 50 short films from 14 countries (including South Africa, Spain, Germany, USA, Brazil, UK, Switzerland, Australia, Finland, Canada, France, Holland, Portugal, Austria), this year the record breaking selection will be screened across 4 feature length collections, featuring an amazing array of scary, crazy, creative, brilliant and often very funny shorts – from vampires, psychos, the grim reaper and werewolves, to zombies, ghosts, witchcraft, the devil and… bananas!

Here they are (in no particular order):

POR GLORIA DIVINA (Holy Gloria) Dir: Rodrigo Atienzar – Spain
DEAD FRIENDS Dir: Stephen W. Martin – Canada
MENOS 1 (Minus 1) Dir: Jorge Alonso – Spain
TERMINATRYX: Absinthium (Mr. Sakitumi Remix) Dir: Paul Blom – South Africa
ALISTAIR Dir: Aaron Cartwright – Australia
JUAN CON MIEDO (Fearful John) Dir: Daniel Romero – Spain
ON EDGE Dir: Frazer Lee – UK
DREAMS Dir: Gareth Bussey – South Africa
LES PIERRES JETÉES (Stones Thrown) Dir: Benjamin Le Souëf – France
THE PACK Dir: Owen Tooth – UK
METSÄSTYSMAA (The Hunting Ground) Dir: Nalle Mielonen – Finland
ELLA Dir: Dan Gitsham – UK
EMPLOYÉ DU MOIS (Employee Of The Month) Dir: Olivier Beguin – Switzerland
PRINCESSE Dir: Frédérick Tremblay – Canada
PAIN Dir: Bruce Ellenberger – South Africa
TOUS LES HOMMES S’APPELLENT ROBERT (All Men Are Called Robert) Dir: Marc-Henri Boulier – France
LE MIROIR (The Mirror) Dir: Sebastien Rossignol – France
SED DE LUZ (Thirst For Light) Dir: Ángel Gómez – Spain
AN EVENING WITH MY COMATOSE MOTHER Dir: Jonathan Martin – USA
PENUMBRA Dir: José Manuel Muñoz Ortega – Spain
ISSUES Dir: Ruan Lotter – South Africa
ATONEMENT Dir: Lindsey Platt Watson – USA
QUÉDATE CONMIGO (Stay With Me) Dir: Zoe Berriatúa – Spain
PINBALL Dir: Ruy Veridiano – Brazil
TEUFELSNACHT (Night Of The Devil) Dir: Florian Puchert – Germany
ANNA Dirs: Ronnie Belcher & Dr-Benway – South Africa
OCHO (Eight) Dir: Raul Cerezo – Spain
ZOMBIEFICATION Dir: Stefan Lukacs – Austria
THE FAMILIAR Dir: Jonathan Martin – Canada
KAROO Dirs: Fazila Wahab & Oliver Kohl – South Africa
SABRINA Dir: Sergio Colmenar – Spain
CABINE OF THE DEAD Dir: Vincent Templement – France
WORST CASE SCENARIO Dir: Richard Raaphorst – Holland
THE BEAR GARDEN Dir: Francois Wessels – South Africa
THE MIRACLE OF JOUKO MIKKOLA Dir: Joonas Makkonen – Finland
SWITCH (from the 2010 Viscera collection) Dir: Melanie Light – USA
FINAL CUT Dir: Aidan Whytock – South Africa
LA VICTORIA DE ÚRSULA (Ursula’s Victory) Dir: Nacho Ruipérez, Julio Martí – Spain
BEAUTIFUL AS YOU ARE (from the 2010 Viscera collection) Dir: Doug Mallette & Mary Katherine Sisco – USA
INTERCAMBIO (Exchange) Dir: Antonello Novellino – Spain
INQUÉRITO POLICIAL No. 0521/09 (Investigation File No. 0521/09) Dir: Vinícius Casimiro – Brazil
SHOCK Dir: Mario Pagano – Spain
OTHER PEOPLE Dir: Michal Malek – South Africa
LAST CHRISTMAS Dir: Geoff Redknap – Canada
BANANA M*THERF*CKER Dirs: Pedro Florêncio & Fernando Alle – Portugal
SPECIAL REPORT: IS WILLIAMSBURG DEAD? Dirs: Nicole Teeny & Mike Feldman – USA

“True Pain is Screamless” – The Orphan Killer is a tour de force murder flick that defies classification. It goes far beyond current trends in gore and breaks open a new suffering genre of horror. Marcus Miller is a serial murderer hellbent on teaching his estranged sister, Audrey, what it means to have family loyalty. His lessons are taught in massive doses of vulgar and unimaginable pain. Throughout her brutal torture we learn that Marcus is not the only Miller with killer in the bloodline as Audrey proves to be a formidable adversary

Written and directed by Matt Farnsworth; starring Diane Foster, David Backus, Matt Farnsworth

Directed by Rodrigo Aragão, this Brazilian indie movie is a bizarre cryptozoological horror romp about familial rivalries, ancient curses, a mysterious monster (the Chupacabras), bloody death and other assorted mayhem. As with many creature myths in every part of the world, this Latin American legend has had quite an impact in many communities as a boogyman of note. Portuguese with English subtitles.

A stranger with mysterious intentions comes to stay the night at a secluded country home, but what he finds inside is a family torn apart by a violent past and a secret more deadly than he expected. An interesting psychological chiller and serial killer blend.

Cinematography by Frederic Fasano, who has worked with Italian horror legend Dario Argento. Written and irected by Philip Gelatt. Starring Alexandra Chando, Patrick Breen and Nina Lisandrello

Cheap scares. Extreme gore. Loads of nudity. These have been the three staples of low budget independent horror films since the 60’s. But what’s a filmmaker to do when, thanks to technology, ANYONE can make a film these days? Director Steve Villeneuve’s Under the Scares offers an inside look into the production and promotion of an independent, ultra low-budget horror film, while combining interviews and insights from some of the genre’s biggest legends – George A. Romero, Lloyd Kaufman, Robert Kurtzman, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Frank Henenlotter, Gary Jones, and many many more. In addition to tips and tricks for emerging filmmakers, they offer their opinions on the genre (where it’s been and where it’s going) plus lots of intriguing personal anecdotes. The result is a compelling look into the world of horror films that will interest any movie enthusiast wanting to know more about what really goes on behind the scenes. Forget everything you’ve learned from the DVD extras of big Hollywood productions; the real truth lies Under the Scares.

Three stories – Three curses. This fantastic multi-genre conglomeration is a very original and innovative movie centered around a mysterious healer whose powers lead to curses attached to specific people. Spanning several time periods and settings, this highly creative movie will thrill the audience with intelligent writing, horror, fantasy and humour.

Directed by Fabián Forte & Demián Rugna; starring Victoria Almeida, Paula Bouquet Roldán, Víctor Cura.

The Pascal family has it all – wealth, power, privilege – but their picture perfect lives change forever when their college-athlete daughter, Marianne, disappears one night while running. She mysteriously returns a year later with no recollection of where she’s been. Haunted by violent visions, a fragile web of lies unravels, and she fears that her own life and sanity may be the price for discovering the truth.

A refreshingly unique story and very good performances. Written and directed by Patrick Steele; starring Carolyn McCormick, Marianne Porter, Reg Land.

In the autobiographical I Am Nancy, the focus is squarely on Heather Langenkamp and her unique experience playing Wes Craven’s legendary teen heroine Nancy Thompson. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Heather asks the burning question: “Why Freddymania, and not Nancymania?” After personally experiencing the Freddy Krueger marketing craze, the rise of horror convention fandom and the phenomenon of eight Nightmare on Elm Street films, Heather reflects on the relevance of heroes in this modern age of monster lovers. Prepare to put yourself in Nancy’s shoes and think about Elm Street in a whole new way.

Directed by Arlene Marechal with Heather Langenkamp, Wes Craven, Robert Englund, and more.

A filmmaker makes the ultimate horror film when four friends unknowingly video their own murders. Going another step from the found footage theme, here the video is edited from the cameras each of the friends had with them on their fateful trip… and entered into a film festival as a real snuff film.

Written and directed by Mike Green and Ryder Grindle; starring Adam Schmerl, Emily Clark, and Ben Winsor.

The Holding is a taut, breathless chiller about the destructive power of secrets and the desperate lengths we will go to, to fight for what we value most. With Kierston Wareing (Bonded by Blood), Vincent Regan (300) and David Bradley (Harry Potter). Directed by Susan Jacobson. Also starring David Bradley and Terry Stone.

Against the tranquil backdrop of a game reserve, South African thriller Night Drive tracks a group of tourists left stranded during a night-time game drive after their vehicle breaks down. As a series of terrifying events unfolds, the tourists realise that wild animals are the least of their fears.

Local legend has it that the Hyena Man – a power-obsessed madman who once traded in animal parts – heads a well armed, well trained group of poachers who are on the hunt for human body parts and who are known to trade in live human beings.

Directed by Justin Head; starring Christopher Beasley, Corine Du Toit, Greg Melvill-Smith, Brandon Auret, and Yule Masiteng.

A new race is rising. The world is devastated by the Great Epidemic – governed by hordes of living dead. Two hunters of the dead and a scientist try to find the answer for this disaster. While hunting for new “guinea pigs” they encounter a range of people including a crazy painter, neo-Nazis, and a mysterious girl (daughter of the man rumoured to have create the epidemic…).

Horror stalwart Uwe Boll presents an Italian zombie movie directed by Marco Ristori and Luca Boni. Starring Rosella Elmi, Guglielmo Favilla, and Elisa Ferretti. Italian with English subtitles

When Simon, Rich, and Eva head out on an eagerly anticipated road trip, they bring along a video camera to record their journey. What starts out as a carefree adventure slowly becomes a descent into the ominous as unexplained events threaten to disrupt the balance between the three close friends. Each one of them must struggle with personal demons and paranoia as friendships are tested and gruesome realities are revealed…and recorded.

Directed by Sevé Schelenz; starring Robert Scattergood, Amber Lewis, and Richard Olak.

Beg features a host of horror legends including Tony Moran (the original Michael Myers from Halloween), Tony Todd (Candyman, Final Destination), Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, The Devil’s Rejects), Kristina Klebe (Rob Zombie’s Halloween, 2010 SA HorrorFest Best Actress from Zone of the Dead), PJ Soles (Halloween, Carrie, The Devil’s Rejects), Debbie Rochon (Night of the Living Dead), and Tiffany Shepis (Nightmare Man) with a soundtrack by Henry Manfredini (Friday the 13th). Directed by Kevin MacDonald.