Horror film festival prepares for 2nd year

What better to do than to celebrate the spirit of Halloween night early?

The Dark Carnival Film Festival, a festival that proves horror films aren’t just for viewing on Friday the 13th, will allow Bloomington residents to do just that.

This week, the second annual film festival, presented by Cinephile Films Arts, will bring independent horror films to Bloomington from all over the world with the festival’s main kick-off event on Thursday at the Starlite Drive-In.

After searching the Internet and MySpace for filmmakers far and wide, festival organizer David Pruett and his team spoke to about 300 to 400 filmmakers. They received 100 submissions that were cut down to the 40 chosen for screening, up from the 30 chosen for last year’s festival.

“Already, just like in sheer number of films that we’re showing, we’re already as big or bigger than just about any other horror film festival in the country,” Pruett said.
In its first year, the festival had a write-up in MovieMaker Magazine and garnered attention from international directors.

“Our very first year ... we got films from Italy, from the U.K., from Canada,” Pruett said. “We even had filmmakers travel from all over, which was amazing for a first-year event that was put on basically by a bunch of students and ex-students.”

The Buskirk-Chumley Theater serves as the main hub for screenings with some activities, such as the Horror Filmmaking Workshop with George Bonilla, taking place at the John Waldron Arts Center Rose Firebay on Sunday afternoon.

Films shown on opening night include “Shut-Eye Hotel,” an animated short by Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton, and “Unearthed.” Celebrity guests will also make appearances throughout the festival.

On Friday, festivities move to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater for an adults-only screening with actress Tiffany Shepis and the Hot Halloween Fashion Show. Also starting at midnight on Friday, bands Race Bannon and First Jason, featuring “Friday the 13th” star Ari Lehman, will perform at Uncle Fester’s.

While the official start is Thursday, the Cinemat will also show films tonight.
Pruett started a group on campus five years ago to promote independent filmmaking, and Pruett and the group were looking for a way to raise funds. Pruett and friend Arthur Cullipher, one of the festival’s producers, decided to take fundraising to the next level with a film festival.

For the first time, the festival will also feature a question and answer panel discussion on the topic of women in horror.

“All the monsters and the victims in ‘Suspiria’ are women,” said Joan Hawkins, panel member and IU film studies associate professor. “Despite all the violence this says something interesting about women, about what’s important to us.”

Although the film might be violent and criticized as misogynistic, Hawkins believes it says something deeper about the connection among women.

Following the panel, there will be a meet and greet with television horror host Sammy Terry at the Buskirk-Chumley. Later that day, Scholar’s Inn will hold a VIP banquet and awards ceremony for the filmmakers and guests.

“What I’m most looking forward to is the banquet ... it’s kind of like the Oscars for Dark Carnival,” said Marv Blauvelt, local actor and the festival’s sponsorship coordinator.

The festival also provides an atmosphere for networking and connections in the film industry.

“Probably no less than about seven or eight new projects came out of last year’s festival from these guys sitting around talking, including a remake of a cult horror film called ‘Don’t Look in the Basement,’ which is going to be made here in Indiana,” Pruett said.

The festival isn’t just for horror fans.

“It’s kind of interesting, because it’s definitely a different flavor of films, you know,” Pruett said. “Sometimes independent horror films reflect what’s going on in Hollywood, and sometimes they reflect just the opposite.”

The festival takes a broad approach to the term horror, so there is something there for everyone.

“We don’t concentrate on slasher films,” Pruett said. “In fact, we have very few.”