When horror conventions begin rolling out their guest announcements, fans eagerly await to see which of their favorite celebs will make the bill. The anticipation rivals that of hoping a much-desired gift makes it under the tree come the holidays yet also creates a tunneled view of a small segment of the event at large. We want to meet and greet because of the films that elevated those stars to begin with.
The film fest portions of shows like the fan-favorite Spooky Empire are where indies cut their teeth. Grassroots projects offer a glimpse into the future of genre cinema, creating “I knew them when” moments for those who are willing to take a chance on directors and casts who themselves are taking a chance.
The SPOOKY EMPIRE FILM FESTIVAL is a year-long passion and a half-year labor of love for those dedicated to spearheading genre cinema. Led by festival director Alea Figueroa, the festival brings together the contributions of And You Films, Reel Dreams And You, Inc., Brendan Rogers, Will Phillips and Nathaniel Falk and a gaggle of judges, volunteers and sponsors.
Alea recently spoke with RUE MORGUE about the importance of her festival.
Film fests that are a part of horror cons are sometimes overlooked amongst guests, with all the goings-on. What would you say to convince those people to come to your screenings?
We live in a world where audiences are craving independent cinema. You’ve seen it with films like Backrooms and Obsession. People are getting tired of reboots; the same franchises being played out over and over and recycled ideas. They want something different. They want filmmakers who aren’t afraid to take risks, who aren’t answering to a studio and who have something original to say. That’s what I love about independent film, and especially the SPOOKY EMPIRE FILM FESTIVAL.
And I know there’s sometimes this misconception that independent films aren’t very good. That’s simply not true! Our short film acceptance rate is around 32%, so we’re incredibly selective about what makes it onto our screens. Many of our feature selections have gone on to receive domestic and international distribution, which means you could literally be among the first people to see the next big thing in horror.
But beyond the films themselves, what makes our festival special is the community. For that weekend, we’re this wonderful little bubble of filmmaking love. We care deeply about our filmmakers because we ARE filmmakers. Our own film, Bubba the Redneck Werewolf, premiered at Spooky Empire back in 2014 and it was a dream come true for us. That film eventually made its way to Hulu and is currently available on Tubi, but it all started right here at Spooky Empire. So, we know firsthand how much a festival screening can mean to a filmmaker.
And it’s not just about sitting in a theater watching movies. Every year, we host our Cinema Café with our Film Festival Guest of Honor. This year, it’s the legendary Clint Howard! We provide free coffee, courtesy of Coffee by Kuzco’s, and give attendees and filmmakers the opportunity to sit down and have a genuinely casual conversation with someone who’s been in the industry for decades. At the end of the day, you’re already at Spooky Empire because you love horror. Why not spend an hour discovering a filmmaker or a film you might end up talking about for years?
What are some of the films playing this year?
We have 109 short films and five feature films officially selected. Our short film submissions are always competitive, but the feature film category? Whew! This was easily one of our toughest years yet. We had some incredible submissions, and narrowing down the selections was no easy task.
If you’re looking for a ridiculously good time on Halloween night, you absolutely cannot miss Friday the 69th.It’s the perfect blend of camp, horror and comedy, with a hilarious spin on a storyline we’ve all seen a hundred times: a group of friends goes on a trip, and one by one, they start getting picked off.
If you want something much darker, Unsavory Elements might be right up your alley. Starring Bai Ling, this film takes us into the underbelly of a brothel, and when I say it’s dark, I mean DARK. It’s a twisted comedy with some of the best practical effects I’ve seen in a submission. The ensemble cast is fantastic, and I particularly appreciate how the film tackles issues surrounding the sex work industry without reducing its commentary to a simple “all men are bad” narrative. It’s provocative, uncomfortable and incredibly well done.
And if you only have time for one screening all weekend, make it our “Best of Fest!” This is a 90-minute showcase featuring some of the best short films from across our festival programming. We’ve got blocks like Occult, Animated Terrors, WTF?! and plenty more, so it’s a great way to experience a little bit of everything that makes independent horror so much fun.
Anyone who has ever judged a film fest knows that there are hundreds of entries that have to be whittled down to a select few choices. How do you decide on which to keep?
After spending over a decade on the film festival circuit as a filmmaker, I had the opportunity to learn how different festivals select their films. And honestly, I was surprised to discover how many festivals rely on just one or two people to make those decisions.
Film is so subjective. What one person absolutely loves, another person might not connect with at all. And at Spooky Empire, we’re not just programming for filmmakers and cinephiles. We’re programming for an entire convention full of horror fans, all with different tastes. So, we wanted a selection process that reflected that diversity. That’s why we have a committee of 20 people who help select our films. We believe it’s one of the fairest ways to approach programming a festival.
Our committee meets weekly from February through late July, screening and scoring approximately two hours of films each week. Then, in August, we come together for our final selection day. And this is where it gets fun!
Every committee member has the opportunity to fight for up to two films that didn’t initially make the cut. Because here’s my philosophy: if someone feels that strongly about a film, enough to go to bat for it in front of 19 other people, there’s a good chance that film is going to resonate with audience members, too. Some of our most interesting conversations happen during those discussions.
We also take the integrity of our selection process very seriously. We keep all of our scores and offer optional feedback to filmmakers who want it. And that part is especially important to me. As a filmmaker, I always wanted to know why. If my film wasn’t selected, what didn’t work? And if it was selected, what resonated with the judges? Filmmakers are constantly learning and growing, and I believe film festivals should be part of that process. Of course, we can’t select every film, no matter how much we’d like to. But even if a filmmaker doesn’t make it into this year’s festival, I hope they can still walk away from the submission process with something valuable.
How important is the concept of the indie film fest to the world of horror at large?
Horror has always been a wonderful starting point for independent filmmakers. It’s a genre where you can make something genuinely compelling on a shoestring budget and have a marketable film at the end of it. And let’s face it, a filmmaker is probably going to be a lot more willing to take creative risks on a film that costs $100,000 than one that costs $20 million!
That’s what I love about independent horror. We see innovation, experimentation and filmmakers who aren’t afraid to push boundaries. Horror audiences are also incredibly supportive of independent films. They’re willing to embrace something weird, unconventional or completely outrageous, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.
We’re giving these filmmakers a platform. We’re putting their work in front of audiences who might never have discovered it otherwise. We’re creating opportunities for filmmakers to connect with each other, learn from one another and potentially take that next step in their careers. Some of the most influential voices in horror started with small independent films, and festivals are often where those voices first get heard.
Independent horror festivals aren’t just important for the genre. They’re important for the future of filmmaking. And honestly, I think they’re important for society, too. We need artists who are willing to challenge us, make us uncomfortable and show us the world from a different perspective.
And if they can scare the shit out of us while doing it? Even better!
Tickets are on sale now for Spooky Empire, October 30–November 1, in Orlando, FL.
