INTERVIEW: Screamfest returns with full slate of horror-filled films

Screamfest returns to Los Angeles starting Tuesday, Oct. 10, and that means there will be several screams inside the world-famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The 10-day festival champions genre directors, both independent and foreign, and offers opportunities for fans to take in some horror-filled content and ask questions of the filmmakers after select screenings.

This year’s slate of movies includes the world premiere of Ron Carlson’s Dead Ant, starring Tom Arnold, Sean Astin and Jake Busey. This tongue-in-cheek film follows a glam-metal band as they take a detour through Joshua Tree National Park on their way to coachella. What they unleash is both terrifying and unworldly.

The latest installment in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise will play Screamfest, and the screening should be bittersweet given the recent death of Tobe Hooper, director of the original and its sequel. Leatherface is an origins tale about the title character. The flick is directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, and features a cast led by Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor and Sam Strike.

Ruin Me, from Preston DeFrancis, and Mexico’s Tigers Are Not Afraid, from Issa López, will both receive their Los Angeles premiere at Screamfest.

“We have films from France, and Norway, and Italy and, of course, the U.S., and then we also have lots of short films and new genre films to check out,” Belofsky said in a recent phone interview. “Most of the directors will be there, including the foreign ones, for Q&A and that kind of thing, mingling and asking questions.”

The festival director said she is excited for most of the films, especially the opening night selection of Dead Ant. She called the comedy a pure fun ride, and for something completely different, she recommended the supernatural drama Tigers Are Not Afraid, which is a zombie film that serves as an allegorical look at violence in the modern day.

This year’s festival has a special promoter as well. For fans, he needs no introduction: Dominic Monaghan. The Lord of the Rings actor has been tapped as the official festival ambassador.

“Our publicist reached out to him, and we set up a call,” Belofsky said. “We told him about the festival and why we formed the festival, and he really dug how we champion independent film. He jumped on board to help promote the festival and get the word out there and all that kind of stuff, so it’s been great.”

There could be no better place to screen these horror films than the TCL Chinese Theater in the heart of Hollywood. The iconic movie palace sits right next door to the theater that hosts the Academy Awards, and its forecourt is a memorable spot for tourists to see the handprints and footprints of famous celebrities.

“I think the fans and the filmmakers definitely love having their films screened at the Chinese,” Belofsky said. “For sure, it’s a fabulous theater.”

Screamfest’s history is legendary, mostly because of the many horror films that started at the festival and went on to be popular successes. The most high profile of these has to be Paranormal Activity, the found-footage thriller from a few years ago that spawned numerous sequels.

Moving on to distribution deals and big box office returns is definitely good news for any film at Screamfest. However, perhaps the most coveted takeaway from the festival is the special award handed to the winners.

“It’s a 24-karat gold-dipped skull designed by Stan Winston,” Belofsky said.

It’s nickname: Skully.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Screamfest will play Oct. 10-19 at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. Click here for more information and tickets.