From Salem Horror Fest
Salem, Massachusetts – Following a two week return to live events, Salem Horror Fest is ready to celebrate peak Halloween with a digital presentation of their aggressively unique and independent program of horror showcasing more than one hundred features, shorts, music videos, and other exclusives in partnership with ALTER, Fangoria, and the George A. Romero Foundation.
Leading the pack is 17 year old trans director Alice Maio Mackay’s jury award winning queer teen vampire romp So Vam. Mackay became one of the first-ever recipients of the George A. Romero Foundation Fellowship chosen by program mentor Jenn Wexler (The Ranger). “So Vam is so much fun. I had such a blast with it. The film has a killer aesthetic with really cool vampires. I’d like to be friends with them.”
Director Paul Owens was also selected for a Romero Fellowship by Travis Stevens (Jakob’s Wife) for his innovative low budget, high concept found footage film LandLocked which reimagines his own family video tapes in a haunted house of analog nightmares.
The double-sized edition of Wicked Shorts features the jury winning short Verified from director Ali Chappell documenting an influencer’s deterioration into the undead. This year’s program dominated by women directors and queer themes inclulde shorts such as Bed, Koreatown Ghost Story, The Lovers, and Sundown Town.
Also featured this year is a collection of interviews, podcasts, lectures, makeup effects demos and more in partnership with the George A. Romero Foundation fundraising drive. All donations made before October 31 will be matched.
Salem Horror Fest will expand its digital footprint with a bonus collection of shorts on the Dust streaming app in partnership with ALTER and afternoon blocks of music videos co-presented with Fangoria Tuesday, October 27 – Thursday, October 29.
The virtual program will be available on demand Friday, October 22 – Sunday, October 31. View the entire lineup and buy passes at Salem Horror Fest.
