Indie
AFM ’08: Parasites Take Over in ‘Growth’
Beyond the break you’ll find the American Film Market sales art and long synopsis for Gabe Cowan’s GROWTH, which stars Alexi Wasser, Richard Riehle, Brian Krause, Robert Culp, Chris Shand and Nora Kirkpatrick. We caught a glimpse of the film at the market, which looks inspired by both NIGHT OF THE CREEPS and SLITHER. Read on for the skinny.
In 1989, on a quiet vacation island off the coast of picturesque New England, a groundbreaking experiment is underway. Scientists, working with the island population, have successfully unlocked the gateway to advancing human evolution. Using a parasite, they have been able to amplify the vision, hearing, speed, strength and intellect of the human subject, promising to usher in a new age for mankind…
Until disaster strikes.
Now, twenty years later, JAMIE (Mircea Monroe, TEKKEN), who escaped the island catastrophe as a child, returns with her boyfriend MARCO (Brian Krause, TV’s CHARMED), step-brother JUSTIN (Chris Shand, RETURN TO SLEEPAWAY CAMP) and party girl best friend KRISTIN (Nora Kirkpatrick) to sell the property recently inherited from her great uncle. Once there, the group uncovers the key to Jamie’s disturbing past, and the horrifying secrets hidden by Larkin (Richard Riehle, HATCHET) and the other town elders for over two decades.
The early setbacks did not deter the locals from pursuing their research, and now Jamie and the group must fight to escape an island overrun with deadly parasites that turn you super human before turning you super insane!
GROWTH is an action packed psychological sci-fi thriller, filled with special effects that will blow your mind every killer step of the way…
Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.
The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:
“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.
“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.
“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.
“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”
Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.
WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.
To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.
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