M Is for Masticate Wins The ABCs of Death 2 Challenge; Watch Now!
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From mid-August through October, a contest was held to find the 26th director of The ABCs of Death 2, all entrants tasked with making short films centered around a word beginning with the letter “M.” Today a winner has been chosen.
Read all about it below, and watch the winning entry underneath the dreaded wall of text!
From the Press Release
Producers Ant Timpson, Tim League, and Magnet Releasing have announced the winner of THE ABCs OF DEATH 2’s “Search for the 26th Director” – Robert Boocheck’s riotous M IS FOR MASTICATE.
The original ABCs OF DEATH, comprised of 26 alphabet-themed ways to die from the biggest names in horror, invited filmmakers from around the world to submit their own T-themed deaths – with one exceptional entry being chosen to appear in the final film. The tradition of selecting the 26th Director proudly continued in the 2014 sequel, this time using the letter “M.”
With a whopping 541 final entries from over 40 countries submitted to the competition, the sequel’s terrifying tournament ranked as one of the industry’s all-time most popular film-creation contests. “The quality and quantity from this year’s competition was simply extraordinary,” notes producer Ant Timpson. “The imagination on display from all corners of the globe foretells a strong and robust future for the horror scene. Long live the new flesh indeed.”
Popular vote and a team of jurors narrowed the entrants down to twelve, which were then voted upon by the anthology film’s other 25 acclaimed directors. Alamo Drafthouse Founder and CEO Tim League announced the winner late last night at a sold-out Drafthouse event in which every finalist – and a handful of select others – were screened theatrically to the public for free.
In addition to announcing the contest’s Grand Prize winner, League also tallied audience votes at the event, with an Audience Award going to BC Glassberg’s M IS FOR MIND MELD. The Audience Award Runner-Up was bestowed upon Eric Pennycoff’s M IS FOR MARIACHI.
In addition to winning a $5,000 cash prize, Boocheck’s M IS FOR MASTICATE will officially become THE ABCs OF DEATH 2’s “M” segment.
“Robert’s film was a clear favorite amongst the anthology’s other directors,” says associate producer and competition organizer Ted Geoghegan. “Its clever mix of comedy and splatter, capped off with a hilarious punchline, embodies everything THE ABCS OF DEATH is about and will make a wonderful addition to our anthology.”
Additionally, the production team has also announced THE ABCs OF DEATH 1.5: THE 26TH DIRECTOR EDITION, a feature-length anthology showcasing the finest entries in this year’s competition, chosen exclusively by the film’s producers. Drafthouse Films will digitally release the spin-off anthology during first quarter 2014.
THE ABCs OF DEATH 2’s other attached directors are an eclectic, acclaimed group, consisting of Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh; Israel’s Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado (BIG BAD WOLVES, RABIES); Japan’s arthouse provocateur Sion Sono (COLD FISH, SUICIDE CLUB); Academy Award-nominated animator Bill Plympton; ROOM 237 mastermind Rodney Ascher; Filipino icon – and Director’s Fortnight inductee – Erik Matti (ON THE JOB, MAGIC TEMPLE); Lithuania’s Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper (VANISHING WAVES); SPLICE and CUBE’s Vincenzo Natali; indie horror icon Larry Fessenden (THE LAST WINTER, HABIT); THE STATION’s Marvin Kren; Todd Rohal (THE CATECHISM CATACLYSM); Canada’s king of lo-fi, Steven Kostanski (MANBORG); Cuba’s Alejandro Brugués (JUAN OF THE DEAD); acclaimed UK commercial director Jim Hosking; Japanese monster-maker Hajime Ohata (HENGE); Canadian short film wizard Chris Nash (SKINFECTIONS); France’s Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (INSIDE, LIVID); E.L. Katz (director of the SXSW breakout hit CHEAP THRILLS); twin auteurs Jen and Sylvia Soska (AMERICAN MARY, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK); A LONELY PLACE TO DIE’s Julian Gilbey; Brazil’s most controversial filmmaker Dennison Ramalho (NINJAS and LOVE FOR MOTHER ONLY); the founder of Nigerian “Nollywood” cinema Lancelot Imasuen; THE LEGEND OF BEAVER DAM and the upcoming STAGEFRIGHT’s Jerome Sable; and animator Robert Morgan – creator of the BAFTA Award nominated short BOBBY YEAH.
Magnet is planning a 2014 release of the film. THE ABCs OF DEATH 2 is produced by Ant Timpson and Tim League, in conjunction with associate producers Todd Brown, Marc Walkow, Mitch Davis, and Ted Geoghegan.
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