Short films are often a playground and a well from which exciting new names spring forth. A cornucopia of “keep your eyes on this title and/or filmmaker” and we are so excited Popcorn Frights is celebrating diverse short film storytellers sharing their nightmarish visions. From August 11-21, South Florida will be home to seven short film blocks featuring a record-setting 77 film premieres.
This year’s short film program features 16 world premieres including Slasher Squad, The Sprayer directed by Popcorn Frights alum Farnoosh Abedi, UK chillers Incubus and Yummy Mummy. Popcorn Frights’ “Homegrown: 100% Pure Fresh Squeezed Florida Horror” showcases Florida’s local filmmakers and homegrown talent. The homegrown block includes world premieres of horror satire Father Davis and the Demon Doll, workplace ghost story Overtime, black-and-white nocturnal odyssey Pest, holiday thriller Cookies By The Fire directed by Scott Vasey, winner of Popcorn Frights’ Best Florida Short Film award at the 2021 edition. Mike Marrero and Jon Rhoads’ Fried Pickles will makes its US Premiere, marking their fourth short film at the fest.
Swept Under
The festival will see a few familiar faces in the form of Popcorn Frights alumni, including Trent Shy’s animated Pumpkin Boy, Daniel DelPurgatorio’s Bug Bites, Kelsey Bollig’s Kickstart My Heart, Padraig Reynolds’ A Walk In The Park, and Chris McInroy’s gory Guts, which marks his fifth premiere at the fest.
The festival will also feature industry sessions hosted by ALTER at the historic Betsy South Beach on Ocean Drive, with panels covering various subjects from a discussion about “Finding Success with Your Short Film” featuring Popcorn Frights alumni Jonathan Cuartas and Michael Cuartas (My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To) as well as Jessica Henric (Don’t Let It In).
All in all, this year’s fest presents 113 film premieres in-theater and virtually, including a record-setting 28 World Premieres, 6 North American Premieres, 5 US Premieres, 19 East Coast Premieres, and 45 Florida Premieres, among others.
Pumpkin Boy
Access to Popcorn Frights’ in-theater experience will be available through individual tickets or an all-access badge, which will provide an all-inclusive experience for films and special events hosted at the Savor Cinema Fort Lauderdale and O Cinema South Beach (“The Alter Screening Room”), Popcorn Frights official host venues this year. Separate virtual passes are also available and will provide access to every film streaming in the festival’s virtual program. To order an In-Theater All-Access Badge, click here, to order a Virtual All-Access Pass, click here.
For more info about Popcorn Frights, visit PopcornFrights.com
Check out the full short film lineup below.
Animation Domination
The endless possibilities of genre animation are on dazzling display in this retina-reeling, round-the-world showcase of some of the medium’s most innovative, boundary-pushing, and mind-enhancing short films:Bestia, dir. Hugo Covarrubias (France); Bobby Pinwheel – The Movie; dir. Robert Kleinschmidt (USA); The Boy Who Woke Up Dead, dir. Sean Killer (USA); Brain Sync, dir. Jon Kruzic (USA); Contretemps, dir. Claire Sun (France); The Corridor, dir. James Mansell (UK, North American Premiere); The Eden, dir. Lucia Alessandri (France, International Premiere); The Exortwist, dirs. Luara Koval, Loren Bashkin Alamazan (USA); Folklore, dir. Abraham Matias (USA); Fulcrum, dir. Timothy David Orme (USA); Legend Has It, dir. Lainey Davidson (USA); Mom, What’s Up with the Dog, dir. Elliott Gonzo (France, US Premiere); Naïve Mischief in Oak Paso, dir. Manson, Marc Torices (Spain, US Premiere); New Tricks, dir. Matt Corsillo (USA); Posture, dir. Derek Stewart (USA); Pox, dir. Simon Young (Austria); Seniors 3000, dir. Julien Deparis (France); Slasher Squad, dir. Nathan Stone, Stuart Campbell (Australia, World Premiere); The Sprayer, dir. Farnoosh Abedi (Iran, World Premiere), Xtra Sticky, dir. Camille Gaillard (France, North American Premiere)
Homegrown: 100% Pure Fresh Squeezed Florida Horror
Celebrating the cream of the homegrown crop:Cookies By the Fire, dir. Scott Vasey (USA, World Premiere); Father Davis and the Demon Doll, dir. Andrew Geimer (USA, World Premiere); Fried Pickles, dir. Mike Marrero, Jon Rhoads (USA, US Premiere); Overtime, dir. Gabriel de Varona (USA, World Premiere); Midnight Screams, dir. Sean Menendez (USA); Pest, dir. Nicholas Long (USA, World Premiere); Praise for My Devourer, dir. Rostislav Vaynshtok (USA, World Premiere); The Siren of the Apparition, dir. Michael Macias (USA, World Premiere); Sweet Erebus, dir. Jaanelle Yee (USA); Villain, dir. David Borges (USA)
International Midnighters I, II
A celebration of some of the year’s most fantastic international short films from new emerging voices and established filmmakers:Don’t Go Where I Can’t Find You, dir. Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair (Ireland); Hantu, dir. Kim Kokosky Deforchaux (Netherlands, North American Premiere); Hunger, dir. Carlos Meléndez (Mexico); Incubus, dir. Tito Fernandes (UK, World Premiere); Meat Free, dir. Ben Ogunbiyi (UK, World Premiere); Moshari, dir. Nuhash Humayun (Bangladesh); The Receder, dir. Raymon Hilkman (Netherlands, North American Premiere); Shiny New World, dir. Jan van Gorkum (Netherlands); Smile, dir. Joanna Tsanis (Canada); Stuck, dir. David A. Romero (Italy); Sucker, dir. Alix Austin (UK); Tistlebu, dir. Simon Matthew Valentine (Norway); Unheimlich, dir. Fabio Colonna (Mexico); Unreel, dir. Christopher Ian Smith (UK); Yeast, dir. Eilliott Gonzo (UK, US Premiere); Yummy Mummy, dir. Gabriela Staniszewska (UK, World Premiere)
Midnighters I, II, II
A celebration of new works from cinematic scaremongers that bring nightmares into waking hours with thrills, chills, and spills:7 Minutes in Hell, dir. Shane Spiegel (USA); A Machine for Boredom, dir. Marc Cartwright (USA); A Walk in the Park, dir. Padraig Reynolds (USA, US Premiere); Book, dir. Eric Swiz (USA); Bug Bites, dir. Daniel DelPurgatorio (USA); Chaperone, dir. Sam Max (USA); Crimson Ties, dir. Francesca Kingsland Scorsese (USA); Cruise, dir. Sam Rudykoff (USA); Domestic Bliss, dir. Jennifer Scott & Nicole Townssend (USA); Get Out of There, dirs. Matthew Barber & Nathaniel Barber (USA, World Premiere); Glitch, dir. Rebecca Sonia Berrih (USA); Guts, dir. Chris McInroy (USA); Heartbeater,, dir. Rob Himebaugh (USA, World Premiere); Kickstart My Heart, dir. Kelsey Bollig (USA); Lethalogica, dir. Tony Reames (USA); Nice to Finally Meet You, dir. Jason Burke (USA); OST, dir. Abhichoke Chandrasen (USA); The Pey, dir. Ramone Menon (USA); Pumpkin Boy, dir. Trent Shy (USA); The Recipe, dir. Cameron Holly Dexter (USA); Return to Sender, dir. Russell Goldman (USA); Ringworms, dir. Will Lee (USA, World Premiere); Scooter, dir. Chelsea Lupkin (USA); The Sound, dir. Jason-Christopher Mayer (USA); Super Host, dir. Dan M. Franz & Andy Koeger (USA); Swept Under, dir. Ethan Soo (USA); They See You, dir. Jared Januschka (USA); The Unlocking, dir. Thomas Matthew Brush (USA); We Got a Dog, dir. Ryan Valdez (USA); Wild Bitch, dir. Rebekka Johnson & Kate Nash (USA); Witchy, dir. Liz Manashil (USA, World Premiere)
