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‘Hostile’ Trailer Debut; Mathieu Turi Talks First Feature

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“My name is Juliet, and I survived the apocalypse. You think I’m lucky? You’re wrong.”

Mathieu Turi‘s feature debut, the post-apocalyptic creature feature Hostile, may have only just started its festival run but audiences are responding in a big way.

The film has already won “Best Foreign Film” and “Best Makeup FX” at FilmQuest as well as the “Youth Award” at the prestigious Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival. And some big stops are yet to come including Shriekfest in L.A next week and New York City Horror Film Fest at the end of October.

But the biggest thrill for Turi is being accepted to SITGES, where Hostile will screen the 10th and 11th October.

“It’s a dream to be there with such amazing movies and directors,” Turi says. “Especially for the 50th birthday, and with master Guillermo Del Toro as President!”

The film, which follows Juliette, a young scavenger who must fight to survive in a post-apocalyptic world against hunger, thirst and, oh right, deadly creatures that only come out at night, has been a fever dream that’s haunted Turi for years now.

A veteran working behind the camera as assistant director on films like Luc Besson’s Lucy and Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds, Turi found time between blockbusters to completed the first draft of Hostile back in 2012, going onto spend another two years showing it to producers, rewriting… rinse and repeat.

It was when I finally found Xavier Gens and these crazy and ballsy producers at Full Time Films in May 2015 at Cannes that everything clicked, admits Turi.

“Xavier was there from the start. He’s a real friend of mine, and also kind of a godfather to me. He introduced me to the three-headed dragon of Full Time Films, Thomas Lubeau, Eric Gendarme and Olivier Chateau. He was also very respectful of my creative process. He was never on set, never interfered. I have his trust, and it was a dream to work that way. I owe him a lot.”

While Turi won’t cop to any direct influences on the film, he admits some parallels that are impossible to ignore. “Richard Matheson’s masterpiece I am Legend is my favorite book, I read it twice a year. And also The Last of Us, which I consider the Citizen Kane of video games. The way that story is driven by character and the relationship between Joel and Ellie– I think it’s just perfect.”

As to whether there could there be a sequel if Hostile continues to wow audiences, Turi only laughs.  I suppose it would be a lie to tell you it’s never crossed my mind. Hostile is very much a one arc story but, yeah, I’ve got some ideas if I was allowed to expand the Hostile universe. Why not?

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“Bite Size Short: Her House of Horrors” Announce Short Grant Program!

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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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