The always-awesome Chattanooga Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, celebrating its 10th anniversary with the in-person fest running from June 23 – 25. However, for those of you unable to attend in the flesh, fear not, because CFF have a HUGE virtual line-up running from June 23 – 29. That’s pretty much a full entire week of features, shorts, and exclusive live events – all from the comfort of your very own couch.
CFF’s official press release lets us know that also coming to the virtual line up is the festivalโs new Red Eye block, ‘a series of seven lovingly selected secret screenings happening at the end of every day that are designed to squeegee your third eye and to help you avoid the tyranny of โgoodโ taste.’
Here’s just some of the virtual highlights you can expect to enjoy over the packed few days:
KING ON SCREEN
Director Daphnรฉ Baiwirย |ย France, USA, 2022
Presented by Dark Star Pictures
Synopsis: 1976, Brian de Palma directs Carrie, the first novel by Stephen King. Since then, more than 50 directors have adapted the master of horror’s books, in more than 80 films and series, making him the most adapted author still alive in the world. King On Screen reunites filmmakers that have adapted Stephen King’s books for cinema and TV.
*In-person and virtual.
NEW RELIGION
Director Keishi Kondoย | Japan, 2022
*Southeast Premiere
Presented by Screambox
Synopsis: After her daughter’s death in an accident, Miyabi gets a divorce, starts working as a call girl and moves in with her new boyfriend. In a meeting with a new customer, he asks to take a picture of her body โ first her spine, then, her feet, and after that, he begins to photograph her every time they meet. One day, while at home, Miyabi feels a small hand touching her leg and soon realizes that every time she allows her body to be photographed she can feel her daughter’s spirit reaching closer and closer. Soon, only her eyes remain to be captured, leading to the outcome which defines this unique art-house fantasy from a culture-shocking Japanese voice.
*In-person and virtual.
SOUR PARTY
Directors Amanda Drexton, Michael A. Drextonย |ย USA, 2023
*World Premiere
Synopsis: Sour Party follows Gwen and James, two broke, flailing 30-somethings on a quest to scrounge money from a collection of low lives and failed artists in an attempt to show up to Gwen’s sister’s baby shower with a proper gift.
*In-person and virtual.
TEARSUCKER
Director Stephen Vanderpoolย |ย USA, 2023
*World Premiere
Synopsis: Emotionally vulnerable women are preyed on by a charming psychopath who wants to suck their tears.
*In-person and virtual.
THE ELDERLY
Directors Raรบl Cerezo, Fernando Gonzรกlez Gรณmezย |ย Spain, 2022
Presented by Dark Star Pictures
Synopsis: After his beloved wife suddenly commits suicide, octogenarian Manuel starts behaving strangely, much to the distress of his family and his increasingly independent granddaughter. He becomes aggressive, still believes that heโs talking with his dead wife, and even tries to implant a radio receptor into his chest. His family are confused and angry, and as the temperature in Madrid literally rises due to a summer heat wave, it appears that Manuel isnโt the only senior citizen preparing for something big. All the elderly folk are acting suspicious, and they all seem to know something the young ones don’t.
*In-person and virtual.
Virtual events include:
BORDELLO OF BLOOD: Live Commentary
*Presented by Diabolik DVD
After the success of DEMON KNIGHT, the first Tales From the Crypt feature, filmmakers Gil Adler and A L Katz were busy preparing a follow-up, set in New Orleans, that was to be called DEAD EASY. Sadly DEAD EASY never got made, and instead, the pair were forced to adapt filmmaker Robert Zemeckis’s student screenplay BORDELLO OF BLOOD into the second Tales from the Crypt feature film.
The making of BORDELLO is well-known to horror fans as one of the most horrifically troubled shoots in the genre’s history, with Adler and Katz facing impossible odds, impossible egos, and studio nonsense at every turn. CFF is proud to help them further exorcise these past cinematic demons with a very special 2023 edition of our live filmmaker commentary series. We join Adler and Katz as they watch the film that neither has been able to sit through in nearly 25 years, and we learn firsthand How NOT to Make a Movie.
*Virtual only
DEAD EASY: Live Script Reading
Featuring an “all-scar” cast of genre cinema fan favorites, CFF is proud to have Gil Adler and A L Katz join us for a live script read of DEAD EASY – their never filmed follow-up to Tales from the Cryptโs first feature film DEMON KNIGHT. If you’re a Tales from the Crypt fan, you know what a treat this is going to be, and if you’re a CFF fan, you’ll know we’ve got a few tricks for you too.
*Virtual only.
The Pumpkin Pie Show: Ghost Eaters and Other Stories
Horror author and performer Clay McLeod Chapman returns with a fresh batch of macabre tales fresh out of the oven. To celebrate the paperback release of his most recent novel, GHOST EATERS, Clay will regale audiences with a reading… and a few new spooky stories, to boot. Tales of madness, human monsters, and ghosts abound. Copies of GHOST EATERS will be sold by A Little Bookish.
*In-person and virtual.
For more info and to grab your tickets, head on over to CFF’s official website – you might wanna start stocking up on snacks now!