The opening and closing selections of the sixth annual International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival have been announced.
The opening night film, screening 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, is Drones, a sci-fi comedy about a cubile worker directed by Adam Busch (famous for being skinned alive by Alyson Hannigan in Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Bush will present the film along with producer Jordan Kessler. It stars Samm Levine (Inglorious Basterds, Freaks & Geeks), Jonathan Woodward (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly) and Angela Bettis (May, Masters of Horror).
The closing film, Night of the Demons, stars Edward Furlong (The Green Hornet, Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie, Thir13en Ghosts). It’s about a group of friends who attend a Halloween party in a New Orleans mansion with a mysterious past. The film also stars Monica Keena (Freddy vs. Jason), Bobbi Sue Luther (The Poughkeepsie Tapes), and Tiffany Shepis (The Queen of Screams, The Violent Kind) — who will host a live Q&A and sign autographs after the screening, 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17.
The festival will take over Tempe’s MADCAP Theaters Oct. 14-17. Guests include Lance Henrikson, best known as the android Bishop in Aliens and as former FBI agent Frank Black in TV’s Millennium, and Charles Cyphers, a staple of John Carpenter films such as The Fog and Halloween. Cyphers will present a showing of The Fog and Henriksen will present Aliens.
Other events include parties, the annual “Gore Girl” competition, a “Beat the Geek” contest pitting contestants against horror/sci-fi experts, and exclusive discussions with filmmakers. Also look for the Arizona premiere of RoboGeisha, from the makers of Tokyo Gore Police, a special showing of the classic horror film Suspiria, and the Arizona premiere of the futuristic Sci-fi anime thriller King of Thorn.
Prices start at just $10 for single showings. Passes good for four films are $30 and VIP full festival passes are $99, with discounts available for students and seniors. All ticketing will enable guaranteed seating. For more information, call (602) 955.6444 or visit www.horrorscifi.com.
