A Night of Horror International Film Festival is a genre specific film festival that is based in Sydney, Australia.

There seems to be some consensus that the event is Australia's premiere, and possibly only, horror film festival. In his monthly column in Encore Magazine, columnist Harvey Shore referred to the festival as "Australia's first horror film festival [it] recognises the past and gives the horror genre a platform for the future." Similarly, Horrorscope, an Australian horror news website, calls the festival "Sydney's first true horror film festival" http://ozhorrorscope.blogspot.com/2007/03/news-night-of-horror.html And in an article in Sydney's Drum Media magazine, journalist Liz Guiffre refers to the horror festival as "a one of a kind in our parts".

Festival History

The festival was founded in 2006, by Dr. Dean Bertram

Dean Bertram

Dean Bertram is a freelance writer, filmmaker, and film festival director based in Sydney, Australia. He is the co-founder of A Night of Horror International Film Festival.- Academic background :...

, Lisa Mitchell, and Grant Bertram. It was originally a short film festival, but has since expanded to include feature films and horror themed music videos. Indeed, now that the festival runs for a longer duration, the festival’s name, “A Night of Horror”, is actually something of a misnomer (the 2008 festival actually ran for ten days and nights). The principal screening venue for the 2008 festival was the Dendy Newtown Cinema. Additional special events included a horror filmmaking forum, a zombie walk

Zombie Walk

A zombie walk is an organized public gathering of people who dress up in zombie costumes...

, and a number of horror-themed parties.

In addition to the principal annual event in Sydney, a “best of” program of films from the festival tours within Australia and internationally. Some of these screenings take place at other festivals under the “A Night of Horror” banner, and have included programs at: It Came From Lake Michigan Film Festival http://www.itcamefromlakemichigan.com/icflm/?page_id=57, Weekend de la Peur http://www.weekenddelapeur.cs.cx/, and Revelation Perth International Film Festival http://www.revelationfilmfest.org/index.cfm?objectid=2641D882-65BF-EBC1-23FA4445EE0E8441&navid=D9761779-C09F-1F3C-C809B0FDEF313ED9

In 2007, A Night of Horror International Film Festival also programmed a special selection of Canadian produced horror films for Possible Worlds: Sydney’s Canadian Film Festival (which took place at the Chauvel Cinema, Paddington). http://www.possibleworlds.net.au/movies.htm&movie_id=9

Festival Judges and Winning Films

The festival is competitive and films compete for several awards and prizes. A panel of judges decide these winners. 2009 judges included: Antony I. Ginnane (IFM World Releasing, SPAA), Jon Dalgaard (International Coordinator, Lionsgate), Jason Di Rosso (ABC Radio National Movietime), Lewis Alsamari (actor UNITED 93, GREEN ZONE and writer). Previous year's judges have included film author and curator Jack Sargeant

Jack Sargeant

Jack Sargeant is a writer specialising in cult film, underground film, and independent film, as well as subcultures, true crime, and other aspects of the unusual. In addition he is a film programmer and an academic...

, People magazine editor Martin Vine, television and radio personalities Jaimie Leonarder

Jaimie Leonarder

Jaimie Leonarder also known as Jay Katz is an Australian musician, archivist, social worker, film critic, radio announcer, and DJ.-Biography:...

 and Aspasia Leonarder, and FBi Radio

FBi Radio

FBi is an independent, not-for-profit community radio station in Sydney, Australia. FBi places a heavy emphasis on local alternative music: it has a policy that at least 50 per cent of its music content is to be Australian, of which at least half comes from Sydney musicians.FBi began 'test...

 presenter and journalist Chris Ruhle.

2007 Winning films

Best of Fest: The Ancient Rite Of Corey McGillis (AUS)

Best Film: Happy Birthday 2 You (ESP)

Best Animation: The Tell Tale Heart (LUX/ESP/USA)

Best Lovecraft Film: From Beyond (USA)

Best Zombie Film: Love is a Shotgun (AUS)

Best Director: Paul Campion (film director)

Paul Campion (film director)

Paul Campion is an English/New Zealand film director, and screenwriter.-Life and career:Born in England, Campion studied technical illustration at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design. He began his career as a freelance illustrator and was represented by Folio Artists Agents in London...

, Night Of The Hell Hamsters

Night of the Hell Hamsters

Night of the Hell Hamsters is a 2006 B-movie comedy horror short film in which demonic possessed hamsters terrorize a young babysitter and her boyfriend.-Plot:...

(UK/NZ)

Best Performance: Emma Caulfield

Emma Caulfield

Emma Caulfield is an American actress best known for her role as ex-demon Anya Jenkins on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as Susan Keats, a love interest of Brandon Walsh's on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210.-Early life:Emma Caulfield was born Emma Chukker in San...

, Hollow

Hollow

-A noun:*A non-closed body which is not solid or filled. i.e. contains empty space or air.**Hollow Earth theory, the idea that the planet Earth has a hollow interior and possibly an inhabitable inner surface....

(USA)

Best Scream Queen: Kaja Trøa, The New Life (AUS)

Best Special Effects: Stuart Rowsell, The Ancient Rite Of Corey McGillis (AUS)

Best Score: Milan Rusko, Nazdravicko! (SVK)

2008 Winning Films

Best Film: Brain Dead (USA)

Best Foreign Film: La Antena

La Antena

La Antena is an Argentine drama film, written and directed by acclaimed film director Esteban Sapir. The film features Alejandro Urdapilleta, Rafael Ferro, Florencia Raggi, and others.-Plot:...

(ARG)

Best Short Film: Pumpkin Hell (USA)

Best Australian Film: When Sally Met Frank (AUS)

Best Lovecraft Film: The Call of Cthulhu (film)

The Call of Cthulhu (film)

The Call of Cthulhu is a 2005 silent film adaptation of the H. P. Lovecraft short story of the same name, produced by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman and distributed by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society...

(USA)

Best Animation: Egg Ghost

Egg ghost

Egg ghost refers to dalgyal guishin , a kind of Korean ghost. Its name comes from its resemblance to an egg. It doesn’t have arms, legs, or a head, or even eyes, a nose, or a mouth. Legend says that when a person sees an egg ghost, he or she will die. Its origin and personality are not significant...

(KOR/USA)

Best Music Video: Torture Device, featuring Dawn of Ashes

Dawn Of Ashes

Dawn of Ashes is an American melodic black metal band with horror based lyrical themes. They first began in 2001 in Los Angeles, California by playing the genres of Harsh EBM/Aggrotech, and in 2005 released a demo album Sacred Fever. Soon after its release they were signed to NoiTekk and then to...

 (USA)

Best Director: Paco Limon, (Doctor Infierno) (ESP)

Best Performance: Sammi Davis

Sammi Davis

Sammi Davis is a British actress.She gained considerable praise for her performance in Ken Russell's The Rainbow...

, The Double Born (USA)

Best Scream Queen: Tess McVicker, Brain Dead (USA)

Best Special Make-Up Effects: Brain Dead (USA)

Best Special Visual Effects: Eel Girl

Eel Girl

Eel Girl is a 2008 horror science fiction short film written and directed by Paul Campion, in which what appears to be a sort of human-eel hybrid woman, being studied by scientists in a Naval research facility, takes revenge on one of the scientists who is studying her.The film was produced by...

(NZ/UK)

Directors' Choice Award (Best Feature Film): Murder Loves Killers Too (USA)

Directors' Choice Award (Best Short Film): Kirksdale (USA)

2009 Winning Films

Best Film: Splinter (2008 film)

Splinter (2008 film)

Splinter is a 2008 horror film directed by Toby Wilkins. It had a limited theatrical release on October 31, 2008 and stars Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner, and Rachel Kerbs. It was filmed near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...

(USA)

Best Foreign Language Film: No Morire Sola (I'll Never Die Alone) (ARG)

Best Australian Film: I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer (AUS)

Best Director: Adrián García Bogliano (I'll Never Die Alone)(ARG)

Best Australian Director: Ursula Dabrowsky (Family Demons

Family Demons

Family Demons is a 2009 Australian psychological thriller film, written and directed by Ursula Dabrowsky and starring Cassandra Kane, Kerry Reid and Alex Rafalowicz.- Plot :...

)(AUS)

Best Female Performance: Olga Fedori (Mum and Dad)(UK)

Best Male Performance: Shea Whigham (Splinter (2008 film)

Splinter (2008 film)

Splinter is a 2008 horror film directed by Toby Wilkins. It had a limited theatrical release on October 31, 2008 and stars Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner, and Rachel Kerbs. It was filmed near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...

) (USA)

Best Special Effects: Splinter (2008 film)

Splinter (2008 film)

Splinter is a 2008 horror film directed by Toby Wilkins. It had a limited theatrical release on October 31, 2008 and stars Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner, and Rachel Kerbs. It was filmed near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...

(USA)

Best Special Effects (Short Film): Treevenge

Treevenge

Treevenge is a short film written and directed by Jason Eisener, and produced by Yer Dead Productions. Shooting started in November 2007, and ended in February 2008. Post-production was completed in June 2008. The film stars Jonathan Torrens, Sarah E...

(CAN)

Best Short Film: Una Storia Di Lupi (A Wolf's Tale) (ITA)

Best Short Animation: The Facts in the Case of Mr Hollow (CAN)

Best Lovecraft Film: AM 1200 (USA)

Best Short Australian Film: A Break in the Monotony (AUS)

Best Music Video: More Control - The Heist and the Accomplice(Dir: Steve Daniels)(USA)

Directors' Choice (BEST FEATURE): Reel Zombies

Reel Zombies

Reel Zombies is a 2008 Canadian zombie film, the movie is the third movie from David J. Francis.- Synopsis :Three film directors make a documentary about the undead in a invested world, he filmed in a time of real zombies...

(CAN)

Directors' Choice (BEST SHORT): Allure (USA)

Independent Spirit Award (FEATURE FILM): Finale (USA)

Independent Spirit Award (SHORT): The Red Hours (CAN)

Independent Spirit Award (AUSTRALIA): Taber Corn (AUS)

2009 Festival

The 2009 Sydney festival is scheduled for 25 March to 3 April 2009.

On 2 June 2008, the festival announced its call for entries for the 2009 festival. The festival accepts films in several different categories, including: feature films, short films, animations, films inspired by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft

H. P. Lovecraft

Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....

, and horror-themed music videos.

It has also introduced a screenplay competition to take place in conjunction with the 2009 festival, and is calling for unproduced feature length and short horror scripts.

2009 Feature Screenplay Winners:

1st - Terminal - (Paul Campion & Elisabeth Pinto)

2nd - Children of the Night - (Harry Basil)

3rd - Footage - (Duncan Samarasinghe)

2009 Short Screenplay Winners:

1st - Brother Moose's Broken Shorts - (A.J. Mitchler)

2nd - Fragments of Normal - (Gwyn Duffy)

3rd - Mr. Roach - (Franck Zuanic)

External links

• A Night of Horror International Film Festival website
• A Night of Horror at Revelation Perth International Film Festival