By SHAWN MACOMBER
Here’s a deliciously sinister paradox: Some of the very best in dark cinema is coming out of Florida, the sunshiniest of states. There are a few epicenters of this, from the incredible Popcorn Frights, which has evolved into one of the best genre festivals on the planet in under a decade, to star-studded conventions such as Spooky Empire (November 1-3) and Nightmare Weekend Miami (October 18-20).
But if you want to get a peek at the most riveting, enchanting, disquieting up-and-coming genre filmmaking of tomorrow today, you absolutely cannot miss FilmGate Miami’s annual Horror Film Festival, which unspools this year on Wednesday, October 30 at Silverspot Cinemas in downtown Miami. The lineup features demonic possessions, ethereal hauntings, psychotic dinner party invites and an exploited landscaper running righteously amok, among other terrors. Founded by Diliana Alexander–who has produced projects for Netflix, HBO, Showtime and PBS, as well as John Ainslie’s 2022 psychedelic horror freakout DO NOT DISTURB–as a nonprofit media organization and studio in 2012 to empower South Florida indie filmmakers and showcase their work to discerning audiences eager for something new, FilmGate Miami reflects a vibrant and diverse city while also thriving in the celluloid shadows.
“There is a lot of recycled material coming from Hollywood, and the fear of risk-taking is producing derivative and uninspired content,” says Alexander, who describes herself as a devotee of “the school of hidden messages, poetic images and body horror” and cites Andrei Tarkovsky, Béla Tarr, Yorgos Lathimos, David Cronenberg, Karyn Kusama and Julia Ducournau as influences. “Low-budget horrors are saving the day, and taking risks. They are telling social justice stories, feminist stories, metaphysical relationship stories, through the lens of horror. Also, let’s be honest: We are finally seeing more diverse filmmakers in horror, and women directors are kicking butt. Look at TITANE and THE SUBSTANCE.”
“Horror has come full circle,” FilmGate Miami co-founder Jose Jacho adds, citing his formative years loving the cinema of Wes Craven and John Carpenter with as much enthusiasm as he brings to feting recent successes such as Ari Aster and Damien Leone. “And horror audiences are craving new prospects and new methods of engagement. Horror is a big genre with filmmakers in South Florida. This year’s FilmGate batch has blood, gore and crowd-pleasing spooks, but also something for audiences who adore elevated horror. We see filmmakers exploring feelings of uncertainty, anxiety and what is real and what is not, reflecting today’s world.”
Their mission to “assist and connect the most creative of filmmakers and wrap them with a cotton candy blanket of support and camaraderie” doesn’t end when the final short’s credits run, either. FilmGate Miami has served as co-producer and co-presenting partner for feature films such as TIN AND TINA, THE SLEEPING WOMAN (LA MUJER DORMIDA) and MALABAR and plans to launch the FilmGate Horror Film Club next year for regional filmmakers looking to connect, share resources and shoot feature-length genre movies.
That future, they believe, is…well, bright.
“Horror is probably one of the easiest genres to explore as an independent moviemaker,” FilmGate Miami filmmaker coordinator Michi Hung says. “This month, we especially have a lot of emerging talent–young filmmakers who got very creative in a short amount of time–and on small budgets! I am looking forward to our audiences experiencing Phi Phi’s CHERRY, Vance Osteen’s DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? and Nicole Santiago’s I DREAMT OF THIS, ESTHER, which feature refreshing, original feminist and queer takes on the genre. Another interesting spin in our lineup is William Christopher Watson’s NO DOGS DIE, a story about punishing those who kill dogs. The director even set up a fund to support anti-cruelty and animal welfare across Greater Miami and beyond.”
“In a very scary current media landscape, horror films are thriving,” Alexander adds. “For us, most of the best films of 2024 are in that genre. Our call for Florida filmmakers is that we want to produce local feature horror movies and are looking for great scripts and talented directors and cinematographers.”
The brimstone foundation is already set–just look for it beneath the palm trees. For more information or to get involved, visit the FilmGate Miami website.
