“We’re really pleased to have him as part of our program,” IU Cinema Director Jon Vickers said.
In the past 10 years, at least five of West’s films have reached national theatrical distribution, Vickers said.
“He is paying homage to a lot of horror films from the past in his own work,” he said.
Along with his work directing horror films, Vickers said West has acted in several of his friends’ films. The independent film industry is a very community based institution.
“He seems to be a great collaborator,” Vickers said.
Since the IU Cinema became the home for the Diabolique International Film Festival, Vickers said he and the festival organizers all wanted to bring West in to speak.
Along with his lecture, three of his films, “The Sacrament,” “The Innkeepers” and “The House of the Devil” will be shown at 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. respectively. following his 3 p.m. lecture.
“It’s kind of the Ti West Day,” Vickers said of the first day of the festival.
Vickers said West is an important speaker because his age will make him both valuable and relatable.
“He’s a great, young independent film voice,” Vickers said.
He said an interview with West will be conducted and end in a question and answer segment with the audience.
“I hope that we have over 100 people to the lecture,” Vickers said, expecting that both the lecture and West’s films will be relatively crowded.
Vickers said fans of horror and good independent film work will enjoy the experience of being able to both interact with and learn from West and see his recent work.
“He has a fresh look at the horror genre,” Vickers said.
