TerrorTV.com – a premier channel for independent horror films – is accepting submissions for BRIEF ENCOUNTERS: The Terror TV Short Film Festival.

Expanding to include science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and noir to its foundation of horror films, Terror TV along with Acort International, a leading name in the distribution and presentation of independent horror films, takes this opportunity to connect with emerging short filmmakers with this festival. Soliciting films running from 5 to 30 minutes in length, the festival will review films until October 1. The winners will premiere on TerrorTV on Halloween. The channel is planning a virtual celebration online, then, a live celebration in 2021.

“With more than a dozen awards being offered, this is a prime opportunity for the emerging genre filmmaker,” says Darrin Ramage, the festival’s producer and CEO of Terror TV and Acort. Prizes include negotiation of a distribution contract; visibility on the television channel; interview and promotional opportunities; as well as certificates for best film, director, technical (animation or special effects), cinematography, acting, screenplay, and many others.

After only four months in official operation, TerrorTV has already enhanced its catalog with more than a dozen films; partnered with the first virtual horror convention (Phantasm Con 2020); opened its own store; created a horror news service; and connected to numerous podcasts across the country.

The channel’s first original program, Terror Talk, which focuses on issues facing the genre community, has already interviewed Anthony C. Ferrante (Sharknado), Reggie Bannister (Phantasm), Sara Karloff & Lynne Lugosi Sparks, Dacre Stoker, Terry Alexander (Romero’s Day of the Dead), Gil Adler (Tales from the Crypt, Superman Returns), the director, writer and stars of FOLLOWED, the director and entire cast of THE DARK OFFERINGS, horror novelist Owl Goingback, author/industry personality Joe Moe, and Damon Gerard, the founder of the horror fan social media site, SLASHER to name a few.

To submit to the festival go the official website.

Everyone that works on STG is a volunteer. If you like the site and it’s contents please think about donating. Even a small amount helps keep the servers running.

The post Terror TV announces Short Film Festival appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Four New Zealand feature films will receive their World Premiere screenings as part of Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival 2020 At Home – Online, and at selected cinema screenings across the country.

And, for the first time ever the Festival will screen a Web Series in its entirety. This year’s homegrown selection includes four documentaries and one episodic drama.

Festival Director Marten Rabarts said programming New Zealand films for the 2020 Festival has been challenging due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions which brought shooting and post-production on a number of films to a halt or caused significant delay.

“We’re very proud to present this programme of films from Aotearoa for this year’s Festival. We’ve worked closely with all the filmmakers to ensure these films can be part of the Festival.”

Rabarts adds that as well as screening online as part of NZIFF At Home – Online, all five Aotearoa films will also be screened in cinemas.

“As COVID-19 restrictions began lifting in New Zealand, we have been exploring options to present a selection of films in many of our favourite cinemas and venues, and this includes the five Aotearoa films. We expect to reach agreement in the coming days as to which cinemas will be welcoming us for the 2020 hybrid edition.”

Details of screenings in cinemas and venues will be announced on Thursday 25th, 2020 June alongside the announcement of the full festival programme.

The confirmed New Zealand films for 2020 are:

Before Everest

Director/Producer/Screenplay/Photography/Editor: Richard Riddiford
“I’d never share a rope with him” is about as damning a comment as anyone can make about a fellow mountaineer. Sir Edmund Hillary’s words about Earle Riddiford in his last autobiography set the uneasy tone of this nuanced documentary by Earle’s son Richard Riddiford.
“In his final autobiography, Hillary wrote some fairly damning remarks about my father… Why had Hillary been so ungracious? … He was as close to a god as a mortal could be in our country, but it had been my father who had helped get him there.” — director Richard Riddiford

LOIMATA, The Sweetest Tears

Director: Anna Marbrook
Director Anna Marbrook honours the last voyage of the great waka maker, sailor and mentor Ema Siope in this chronicle of journeys – journeys of migration, spirituality, voyaging, healing and coming home.
“A stirring and visually gripping documentary… honouring the life and times of great woman whose wake will be felt for years to come.” — Michael Andrew, Asia Pacific Report

Rūrangi

Director: Max Currie
Premiering their forthcoming web series as a special festival presentation, director Max Currie (Everything We Loved, NZIFF14) and writer Cole Meyers’ queer and trans-positive drama swells with character, heart and filmic sophistication in ways rarely seen in the web series form. Rūrangi was previously selected for the prestigious Frameline – San Francisco LGBTQ+ Film Festival (June 2020) which was cancelled due to COVID-19. Rūrangi is fully worthy of its Film Festival world premiere and we’re proud to be part of its journey into the world.

The Girl on the Bridge

Director: Leanne Pooley
In the increasing public discourse on mental health, Leanne Pooley’s inspiring and fearless documentary tracks an extraordinary young woman’s journey from suicide survivor to advocate for those struggling. The fact it leaves you hopeful and with tangible advice makes it vital viewing.

Tupaia’s Endeavour – The Director’s Cut

Director/Producer/Editor: Lala Rolls
Re-edited from both the Māori Television series and with new material, Lala Rolls’ fascinating quest to examine what happens to a Tahitian high priest and navigator when he travels across the Pacific – and further on towards England as a translator and guest (or is it as a living trophy?) – aboard Captain James Cook’s HMS Endeavour.

Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival is run by a charitable trust to enhance local appreciation of, and engagement with, global art and culture by providing access to a diverse range of high-quality film.

The full 2020 Film Festival programme will be announced on Thursday 25 June and the festival will run from 24 July – 2 August, 2020.

Everyone that works on STG is a volunteer. If you like the site and it’s contents please think about donating. Even a small amount helps keep the servers running.

The post Four NZ Feature Films & Web Series Have World Premieres appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

BABYTEETH is the powerful, coming-of-age feature debut from Shannon Murphy (“Killing Eve” Season 3).

When seriously ill teenager Milla (Eliza Scanlen) falls madly in love with small-time drug dealer Moses (Toby Wallace), it’s her parents’ (Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn) worst nightmare. But as Milla’s first brush with love brings her a renewed lust for life, traditional morals go out the window, leaving her parents wanting to hold tighter to their little girl. Milla soon teaches everyone in her orbit – her parents, Moses, a sensitive music teacher, a budding child violinist, and a disarmingly honest, pregnant neighbor – how to live like you have nothing to lose.

What might have been a disaster for the Finlay family instead leads to letting go and finding grace in the glorious chaos of life. BABYTEETH joyously explores how good it is to be alive and how far we will go for love. BABYTEETH had its World Premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 where actor Toby Wallace won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor.

Shannon Murphy is an award-winning theatre and TV director who graduated for the Australian Film and Television School in 2013. Her graduating short film, KHARISMA, has screened at festivals including Cannes and TIFF, and was nominated for an AACTA award. Shortly thereafter, she won a Sydney Theatre Award for the Australian premiere of MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE.

Most recently Shannon has directed a number of episodes on Australian hit series including RAKE, LOVE CHILD, OFFSPRING and SISTERS. Shannon was nominated for an Australian Director’s Guild Award for her role as the sole director of the SBS 4-part mini-series ON THE ROPES. Her first feature film, BABYTEETH, produced by Jan Chapman with Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn starring, premiered in main competition at the Venice Film Festival 2019 as one of the two female directed films in competition, and Toby Wallace was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress.

It was then presented in competition at the BFI London Film Festival. The film was sold in a bidding war to IFC in US & Picturehouse in UK. She is currently working on KILLING EVE for BBC America / Sid Gentle. Shannon has been named in Variety’s ’10 Directors to Watch in 2020.

BABYTEETH will be in theaters and on demand June 19th, 2020.

The post ‘Babyteeth’ Cutting in to Cinemas Soon appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Irish songstress AMANDA ST JOHN releases the 2nd single from her upcoming 2nd studio album; The Muscle Shoals Sessions, recorded in the world famous FAME Studios, (USA).

‘Made Myself a Name’, has now released and is an upbeat song about the struggles of trying to make it as a singer. I wanted a quirkier, more 70’s Tom Waits vibe on this one and thought a remix might be a good option to make it stand stronger as a single. I’m a big fan of collaborating and had wanted to work with Arvo Party for a while so thought it would be a good opportunity to see what he could bring to this track. I totally love what he’s done with it, he’s brought the song to a whole new level’ states Amanda.

In May 2018 Amanda became the 1st independent Irish artist in history to record in FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Following in the footsteps of her musical heroes Aretha Franklin & Etta James she took a huge leap of faith (and financial risk) to record her 2nd studio album in this legendary studio.Talking about the experience, Amanda reports “It is was a dream come true for me and my band members (Paul Tierney and Producer Michael Mormecha) to get the opportunity to record in FAME along with “swampers” bass player
David Hood (Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Percy Sledge, Paul Simon, Alicia Keys etc) and piano / keys / hammond player Clayton Ivey (Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Joss Stone, The Supremes etc).

Amanda St John is a soulful singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland. She is a mainstay on the Irish radio, festival and gig circuit and has been described as a “Head-turning vocalist with serious song writing prowess………a sensational artist” (Visit Dublin).

She has worked with artists like Brian Kennedy, Eddi Reader, Mary Coughlan, Gareth Dunlop, Ciaran Gribbin
(of INXS) and Jon Tiven (Grammy winning Nashville writer/producer whose CV has included BB King, Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones etc…). Gaining substantial media interest in Ireland and the UK including extensive airplay on the BBC and RTE as well as reviews in Hot Press Magazine & The Irish Times. Amanda is known for her passionate and powerful live performances and is fast establishing herself as one of Ireland’s leading vocalists. With live sessions with ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris and Gaby Roslin on BBC Radio London, various other live performances/interviews across BBC regional’s, U105, Downtown/Cool FM, UTV Live Television etc, as well as many festival slots and tours of the UK, Ireland and the USA (which included the prestigious Folk Alliance Festival and a private event for the US President) under her belt, the future is looking very bright indeed for this talented musician.

Her debut album “Grow”; was launched in May 2016 at the prestigious Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast and has received rave reviews and worldwide airplay including a national advert campaign for The Rio Olympics for the title track ‘Grow’.

The post ArvoParty Remix Single from Amanda St John appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

When aliens invade Australia, it takes a small community to save the nation, to save the world.

Occupation is a medium budget SciFi film shot in just 6 to 7 weeks in Australia and is apart of the currently running NZ Film Festival (aswell as showing at main cinemas).

Starring New Zealand’s own Temuera Morrison (Once Were Warriors, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Shortland Street) as an ex-crim who is healing the relationship with his estranged daughter.

Taking a camper van in to the small town Australia should have been a good relaxing break for the troubled small family.

Unfortunately beings from another world spoiled family time.

Occupation starts off slow as the audience is introduced to key characters and gains an insight in to the small town dramas and troubles each of them face.

An impressively feature-rich independent film (that we are apparently going to see a sequel to) Occupation takes the premise of human survival in an invasion that aims to not simply wipe out the human race on Earth, but to enslave them.

While there are a few narrative holes, and some questionable acting moments (not from Tem though, he was on mark) Occupation still get’s through and is gripping enough to want to watch again.

Occupation, a small budget production with maximum output. An Australian ‘Independance Day’.

The post Occupation (Sparke Films) Film review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) presents Animation NOW!, a smorgasbord of international animated shorts . Animation NOW! returns for a third festival year as a stand-alone weekend of screenings immediately following NZIFF in Auckland, New Zealand.

Myriad voices and styles are packed into six thought-provoking and artistically distinct collections of animated shorts curated by Malcolm Turner and Annie Murray.

“We look at the strangely normal aspects of urban life in Crazy Towne, explore the re-occurring dark themes in our modern climate in Dark Hearts, are delighted by movement, mutations and textures in Morph ‘n’ Move, look at stunning hand-crafted animation in Handmade, travel the world through a miscellaneous mix of shorts in the International Showcase and put a spotlight on the best to come out of an animation oasis in Fresh Eyes on Estonia,” says Animation NOW! programmer Malcolm Turner.

Two New Zealand shorts will screen as part of the programme. David Midgley’s Tom features in the Dark Hearts collection while Paul James’ Trap will screen as part of the International Showcase. Another highlight will be the Oscar-nominated marvel Negative Space by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata which will screen as part of Handmade.

The Festival will screen at Academy Cinemas in Auckland from Friday 10 August until Sunday 12 August. The full schedule is available now, and tickets go on sale from Friday 29 June, 2018.

The post Animation NOW! festival returns appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Thirteen new independent feature projects from the U.S., Cuba, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, and Palestine have been selected for the 2018 Sundance Institute Directors and Screenwriters Labs. At the Directors Lab (May 28th to June 21st, 2018), filmmakers will rehearse, shoot and edit key scenes from their scripts, working closely with industry advisors, actors, and production crews to help drive creative growth via an immersive and hands-on experience at the Sundance Resort in Utah.

The Screenwriters Lab from June 23rd to the 28th, 2018  fosters a similar environment of dynamic inspiration as participants focus on the art and craft of screenplay writing with one-on-one support from Institute advisors . Overseen by Feature Film Program Founding Director Michelle Satter and Labs Director Ilyse McKimmie, the Labs begin a year-round continuum of customized support for Fellows, which can include creative mentorship, granting, and guidance from industry professionals.

Robert Redford – Founder of Sundance Institute

“We’re very excited to be supporting this remarkable group of storytellers whose work is defined by their bold and singular visions,” said Satter. “Using the art form of cinema to explore contemporary issues and our essential humanity, their films are deeply personal, powerful, and timely. We look forward to continuing our partnership with these artists as creative and strategic advocates throughout their filmmaking process.”

Advisors for the month include Robert Redford, Gyula Gazdag (Artistic Director for the Directors Lab), Miguel Arteta, John August, Ritesh Batra, Charlotte Bruus Christensen, Lisa Zeno Churgin, Sebastian Cordero, Joan Darling, Rodrigo Garcia, John Gatins, Lesli Linka Glatter, Keith Gordon, Randa Haines, Liz Hannah, Joe Hutshing, Azazel Jacobs, So Yong Kim, Ken Kwapis, Christine Lahti, Kasi Lemmons, David Lowery, Doug McGrath, Anthony Mackie, Walter Mosley, Dean Parisot, Rodrigo Prieto, Howard Rodman (Artistic Director for the Screenwriters Lab), Jennifer Salt, Susan Shilliday, Terilyn Shropshire, Peter Sollett, Dana Stevens, Robin Swicord, Joan Tewkesbury, Dylan Tichenor, John Toll, Audrey Wells, Tyger Williams, and Doug Wright.

Quentin Tarantino

Since 1981, the Feature Film Program has supported an extensive list of leading-edge independent filmmakers at Labs, including Ryan Coogler, Cary Fukunaga, Dee Rees, Benh Zeitlin, Haifaa Al Mansour, Damien Chazelle, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Marielle Heller, Paul Thomas Anderson, Miranda July and Quentin Tarantino, among many others.

Lab-supported films that premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to be released this year include American Animals, written and directed by Bart Layton, Monsters and Men, written and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, Nancy, written and directed by Christina Choe, Night Comes On, co-written by Angelica Nwandu and Jordana Spiro and directed by Jordana Spiro, Sorry to Bother You, written and directed by Boots Riley, and We the Animals, co-written by Daniel Kitrosser and Jeremiah Zagar and directed by Jeremiah Zagar.

The post Thirteen Independent Feature Film Projects Selected to Attend Sundance appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

From French producer and director Keyvan Sheikhalishahi comes a slow moving yet dark tale of how one woman is haunted by those that she feared and loved.

Vesper is a French Short Film (English subtitled) consisting of three actors. It is slow moving and plays out in a drama-esque narrative.

Marge is a middle aged woman, living in fear of a former partner who, from what you assume watching the film is stalking her.

She invites her nephew Christian over to stay. He offers to protect Marge from her former abusive lover; Wall.

But there are clues throughout the film that Marge may not be of sound mind (or may even not be of this world anymore…) and is unable to come to grips with her very own actions as she shuts herself away from the world. What you see playing out is not actually as cut and dry as you may think.

Shot in scenic suburban France, there is outstanding cinematography in this quiet yet impacting movie.

Vesper is a tasty snack of a film encompassing dark motifs and references as to how we all ‘fit’ within the stars. Although for some it maybe too slower pace.

Vesper will haunt you and is a recommended see if you have liked other films such as Sixth Sense.

The post Vesper Short Film (Amitice – 2017) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.