2014 FLICKERS RI INTERNATIONAL
HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL EVENT

69 films from across the globe vied for adjudicated genre awards

Photos by Mike Braca

PROVIDENCE, RI (October 26, 20134) – The eerie, macabre and bizarre in the world of cinema were given their due with the wrap of the 15th Annual Flickers RI International Horror Film Festival through adjudicated awards. In all 69 films were selected from over 600 submissions, representing 19 countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Poland, Spain, Japan, Hungary, Israel, France, Sweden, New Zealand, Brazil, and the United States. Many of the filmmakers were attendance, so audience members had a chance to meet, ask questions, and even network with the next generation of horror-auteurs. Films were screened during the cinematic symphony of horror, October 20-26th at Roger Williams University, the Paff Theatre at the URI Feinstein College of Continuing Education, the Bell Street Chapel Theatre, the Metcalf Auditorium at RISD Museum, the Jamestown Arts Center, and the Providence Public Library.

“New benchmarks were set with this year’s programming,” said Shawn Quirk, Program Director of the Rhode Island International Film Festival, which produces the Horror Festival sidebar. “From our expanded children’s sci-fi and fantasy programs, ongoing educational outreach with the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University that tied the event to film and marketing classes, to a master class on writing the horror film, to a Forum on film production within the Ocean State, this year's Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival has empowered genre filmmaking at large and set a new standard for years to come.

"Given the growth of the Festival and its evolution, I am pleased to announce our rebrand for the Festival. Starting next year, the Festival will be called the Flickers: Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Film Festival, or simply “Vortex.”

Vortex will be Flickers' salute to vanguard genre filmmaking, and serve as an international platform for Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror films, which are all too often marginalized in today's mainstream Film Festivals.

“Writing The Horror Film” featured Rhode Island screenwriter and director, Chris Sparling. Chris wrote the 2010 film “Buried” starring Ryan Reynolds, for which he won "Best Original Screenplay" from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, as well as a Spanish Academy Award in the same category. His “Black List” script, ATM, was produced by Gold Circle Films and released by IFC Films in 2012. Chris's feature directing debut, the supernatural thriller “The Atticus Institute,” will be released in early 2015. His most recent script, “Sea of Trees,” is slated to be released in 2015, starring Matthew McConaughey and directed by Gus Van Sant. He is currently adapting author Jo Nesbo's bestselling crime novel “Blood on Snow” for Warner Brothers and Leonardo DiCaprio. He has also sold TV projects to F/X, Universal Television, and Fox Television.

“Behind the Camera Lens,” was hosted by Steven Feinberg (“Fortress,” “Peter York,” “Pell Grants: A Passion for Education), Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office, the man behind the state’s high profile within the industry, and filmmaking professionals who have successfully made careers within the industry. This year's Panelists were Justin White, “Unearthed and Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary,” Jessica Sonneborn and Erik Latek, “Alice D.,” actor/writer, Tom DeNucci of Woodhaven Productions, Shawn Quirk, RIIFF’s Programming Director and Nick Palermo, President of RWU Film Production Club.

“We made a concerted effort this year to expand our programming to include a dynamic mix of the Horror, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi genres,” noted Shawn Quirk. “These films represent the vanguard of genre filmmaking from across the globe, and showcase a rising generation of filmmakers, who are redefining genre films for the next generation of cinephiles. These filmmakers are leaders of tomorrow's entertainment industry, and it's our mission to empower them and help them move forward in their respective careers through showcasing their work."

“From the expanded two-day H.P. Lovecraft Walking Tour to extensive collaborative efforts with Rhode Island Universities, we are proud to see that this sidebar to RIIFF has become an important cultural event for the State.” Quirk added.

Plans are already in development for an expansion of the Festival and a greater college and student presence in 2015.

Winners of top prizes for the 2014 Festival:

BEST SHORT

“The King & Queen of Halloween” – directed by Anna Maguire & Stuart Spears, United Kingdom

 

VORTEX SCI-FI AWARD, BEST SCI-FI FILM

Grand Prize:

“Time Lapse” – Directed by Bradley King, USA

 

First Prize:

“Worm Free Society” – Directed by Rajah Samaroo, USA

 

BEST FANTASY FILM

"We Wanted More" - Directed by: Stephen Dunn, Canada

 

BEST DIRECTOR

“The Landing” – Directed by Josh Tanner, Australia

 

BEST EDITING

Grand Prize:

”Scary Larry” – Directed by Greg Ivan Smith, USA

 

First Prize:

“Smutne Potwory” – Directed by Justyna Tafel, Poland

 

BEST EXPERIMENTAL

Grand Prize:

“Mia” – Directed by Wouter Bongaerts, Belgium, Netherlands

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY

“Unearthed and Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary” – Directed by John Campopiano & Justin White, USA

"What an outstanding film that gives an inside look at not only the making of one of the classic horror films of all time but an inside look into why Maine is so special to the film, to Stephen King, and to the cult following still alive today. Thoroughly enjoyable! "

Jim Klocks, Executive, Terror Films

 

BEST FEATURE

Grand Prize:

“Alice D.” – directed by Jessica Sonneborn, USA

 

First Prize:

“Another World” – Directed by Eitan Reuven, Israel

 

PROVIDENCE UNDER GROUND FILM FESTIVAL

Best Horror Film, Grand Prize:

Grand Prize:

“A Drop of Water” – Directed by Dan Lovetere, USA

 

First Prize:

“It Had to Be Done” – Directed by Donald Burton, USA

 

DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD

“Insane” – Directed by Adam O’Brien, Canada

This event is sponsored by Flickers, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, The Rhode Island Film & Television Office, Amtrak, Hobgoblin Ale, RISCA, Cox Media, Eurochannel, The Harrington School of Communication and Media at the University of Rhode Island, The URI College of Arts & Sciences, The Film Media Program, and the URI Feinstein College of Continuing Education, Roger Williams University and the RWU Film Production Club.

The next edition of the Flickers Vortex Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Festival will take place October 19-25, 2015.

__________________

Sponsors for 2014:

The University of Rhode Island Harrington School of Communications and Media, The URI College of Arts & Sciences, The Film Media Program, and the URI Feinstein College of Continuing Education are proud sponsors of the RI International Horror Film Festival.

2014 Rhode Island International Film Festival®. All Rights Reserved.