PREVIEW: Sleepy Hollow International Film Fest loses its head once again
Image courtesy of SHIFF / Provided with permission.
A trip to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, New York, this time of year promises a scary good time. The twin towns are decked out in marvelous orange and ready to welcome horror fiends for a variety of haunting shows and spooky experiences. One can relive Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow during a performance of Irving’s Legend at the Sunnyside estate, the mansion where the writer once lived. One can enjoy an Ichabod craft beer at Horsefeathers, perhaps the most atmospheric restaurant in this part of the Hudson Valley (trying their Gobbler sandwich is also a must).
One of the most anticipated events during Halloween season takes place Oct. 10-13 at the Tarrytown Music Hall in the downtown area. That’s when the Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival sets up shop and honors the cinematic and TV legacy of this unique area, which is only rivaled in creepiness by Salem, Massachusetts.
This year’s film festival should be a terrifying treat for adults and a memory-filled jaunt for youngsters as well. There’s a variety of programming to suit every filmic taste.
The Thursday, Oct. 10, opening night film has yet to be announced (ditto for the closing night film on Sunday, Oct. 13), but there’s plenty to whet the palate. Friday, Oct. 11, for example, will see two blocks of original short films play the Tarrytown Music Hall. With titles like Copycataclysm, The Hollowing, The Hollow and Don’t Bring It In, one can expect some horror-filled entertainment from aspiring and emerging filmmakers. After the shorts, audiences will receive a real lesson in filmmaking, courtesy of a 30th anniversary celebration of Tim Burton’s Ed Wood. Accompanying the screening will be a first-look preview of a new Burton-focused docuseries. Tickets for the short film blocks and the Burton celebration are now on sale. VIP passes are also available, which include all that SHIFF has to offer throughout the four days of programming.
Saturday, Oct. 12, may be the highlight of the entire film festival. The scares begin early for the young audience members, courtesy of an 11 a.m. screening of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. This classic animated special is celebrating 75 years, and the D23 fan club will be on hand with some special surprises for the audience. Tickets for this one are selling fast, so don’t wait too long to cross that bridge.
Dark Shadows, the hugely influential soap opera, has a connection to the local area as well. Tarrytown was part of several exterior shots during the original series run, and nearby Lyndhurst Mansion showed up in the Dark Shadows movies. On the afternoon of Oct. 12, SHIFF will celebrate this TV series with an actor panel and tribute to its star, Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas Collins. Special guests include Sharon Smyth Lenz (Sarah), Donna Wandrey (Roxannne), Marie Wallace (Eve, Jenny, Megan) and Mary O’Leary, producer of the award-winning documentary Dark Shadows and Beyond — The Jonathan Frid Story.
Burton’s Sleepy Hollow adaptation, starring Christina Ricci, Johnny Depp and Miranda Richardson, will have a special 4 p.m. screening on Oct. 12. The 100-minute feature is celebrating a 25-year anniversary in 2024.
Next up: the gritty streets of New York City. Audience members who stick around for a late-night program will be treated to an ultra-rare screening of William Lustig’s Maniac, one of the seediest, most depraved films from the 1980s. This one is a classic starring character actor Joe Spinell as a ruthless, unrepentant killer. Lustig will be in attendance to answer audience questions. The mayhem begins at 10 p.m. on Oct. 12.
The final day of programming includes a morning screening of 2003’s The Activated Man starring Tony Todd and Kane Hodder, two genre favorites. Writer-director Nicholas Gyeney will be in attendance. Then, SHIFF heads back to the 1980s for a screening of Something Wicked This Way Comes, which will be accompanied by a making-of documentary on the Ray Bradbury classic.
Sleepy Hollow is alive this time of year, and the Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival is ready to rise from the dead.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Click here for more information on the Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival.
