• By Mabel Pais

Screening Shorts

YOGESH CHANDEKAR’s ‘Giallo’

RAMONE MENON’s ‘My Scary Indian Wedding’

And many more

The HorrorFest International Film Festival 2023 takes place at St. George, Utah, October 18-21. The Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah presents the films and events at Southern Utah’s historic Electric Theater once again serving as the primary venue for the event. This year’s edition of the international survey of horror/thriller cinema will screen 46 films (8 features and 38 shorts) representing 15 countries. In addition, 16 feature-length scripts and 8 scripts for short films will also participate in the film festival’s script competition over the four-day fright-filled event. Additionally, HorrorFest International 2023 will host its always anticipated secret screening, filmmaker and horror-themed panels, its traditional trivia event, a live script read of a beloved horror classic, a costume contest, and more.

Recognized as one of the top horror festivals in the world and taking place in beautiful St. George, Utah, HorrorFest International FF not only has the benefit of utilizing one of the truly historic theaters in the United States as its festival hub, but it is also surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenic locales in the U.S. including Zion National Park, Pine Valley, and Snow Canyon.

HorrorFest International Film Festival Co-Founders and Senior Programmers, Adam Mast and John Pugh, said, “This year’s lineup not only offers up great thrills and scares, but also challenges our preconceptions of what makes a horror film a horror film. Filmmaking and storytelling in the horror/thriller genre seems to be amid another artistic renaissance and is seeing a growing appreciation by audiences that aren’t what we traditionally think of as ‘horror film audiences. We love that idea and once again will enthusiastically bring those filmmakers and audiences together at the Electric Theater in St. George.”

2023 Horror Fest International Lineup

 OPENING NIGHT SELECTION

Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls

Director: Andrew Bowser; USA; 96m

Fledgling occultist Onyx and a group of worshipers attend a once-in-a-lifetime ritual at their idol Bartok the Great’s mansion.

CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION

Where the Devil Roams

Directors: Toby Poser, Zelda Adams, John Adams; USA; 93m

The latest effort from the creative filmmaking family behind Hellbender follows a family of sideshow performers as they travel the world on a dying carnival circuit during the Depression Era.

ADDITIONAL FILMS

There are 6 additional Feature films, 38 Short Films, 16 Feature Length Screenplays and 8 Short Length Screenplays.

To get a complete lineup of films, visit fmasu.com/horrorfest

FILM AND MEDIA ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN UTAH (FMASU) — Formed in 2017, FMASU is designed to encourage, inspire, nurture, and educate filmmaking talent and to preserve film history and the theatrical experience. While FMASU prides itself on its Southern Utah roots, it is equally interested in championing storytellers from all around the world. Of course, the primary goal is to engage everyone through the culturally expansive nature of the world’s greatest art form: Cinema! Learn more at fmasu.com.

 (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)