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Marcus Dunstan Directs Thanksgiving-Themed “Into the Dark” Episode, “Pilgrim” [Austin Film Festival]

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Today, the Austin Film Festival announced their full film & conference schedule that includes the World Premiere of Pilgrim, the upcoming edition of Hulu and Blumhouse Television’s “Into The Dark”, and other previously announced programming like Daniel Myrick presenting a 20th Anniversary screening The Blair Witch Project, while also presenting the World Premiere of his next film, Skyman.

The fest reveals that next month’s Thanksgiving-themed episode of “Into the Dark” is entitled Pilgrim, and is written and directed by none other than Marcus Dunstan, co-writer of the Feast films and several Saw sequels, and director of The Collector trilogy. Patrick Melton and Noah Feinberg wrote the screenplay.

“Inspired by true events, in an attempt to remind her family of their privilege and help them bond, Ms. Anna Barker invites Pilgrim re-enactors to stay with them over Thanksgiving. When the ‘actors’ refuse to break character, the Barker family learns that there is such a thing as too much gratitude.”


In addition, here are the genre films playing within the “Dark Matter” section of the festival:

A Patient Man
Writer/Director: Kevin Ward

In the aftermath of a terrible car accident, a man tries to make sense of his life and seeks revenge for what his has lost.


Macabre (North American Premiere)
Writer: Lucas Paraizo, Rita Gloria Curvo
Director: Marcos Prado

“Macabre is based on the true story of two brothers, known as the Werewolves of Freiburg, accused of multiple brutal murders in the 1990s.” (ScreamDance)


Noise (North American Premiere)
Writer/Director: Jeremy Laval

After an accident, Vincent has become deaf. Unwilling to accept his handicap, he isolates himself more and more, and shies away from society. Yet, Vincent is obsessed with one thing: getting his old life back and rightful place in society. One day, as science has just given up on him, Vincent begins to hear again. Initially just noises – then people. Passed that initial shock, another realization starts to dawn on him. What Vincent thought to be people’s voice, is turning out to be something entirely different.


Sleeping in Plastic (World Premiere)
Writer/Director: Van Ditthavong

A Texas town awakes when a high school wrestler gets entangled with a drifter and her psychopathic lover. Lives then intertwine and spiral violently out of control once he becomes her escort driver.


Swing Low
Writer/Director: Teddy Grennan

When a nature photographer explains to the Police how she fought her way out of the Watchatoomy Valley, they dismiss her crazed and violent story as a meth-induced nightmare. But when they discover that she’s telling the truth, it’s too late.


The Wretched
Writer/Director: Brett Pierce, Drew Pierce

A defiant teenage boy, struggling with his parent’s imminent divorce, faces off with a thousand-year-old witch, who is living beneath the skin of and posing as the woman next door.

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

Indie

“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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