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September is upon us, and that can mean only one thing: Horror season is here. Well, more so than any other time of the year. With Midsummer Scream only a few weeks past, folks in the LA area can look forward to the premier of the newest horror festival, Night Frights LA. Founded by Tristan and Gavin Winchester of the production company 2100 Films, these ambitious twenty-somethings are setting out to make their fest “a premier destination for horror filmmakers, fans, and industry professionals, showcasing cutting-edge horror films, exclusive panels, and immersive experiences,” according to the latest press release. Having previously hosted the Summer of Scream event this past July, the horror-buff brothers are preparing to take their passion to the next level.
Taking place on Saturday, September 20, from 10am to 10pm in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, the event will boast an all-day red carpet, along with an official red carpet event for filmmakers and screenwriters prior to the premiere of the film Catch a Killer that afternoon. Featuring sponsors such as Angel City Brewery, Screambox, and various media outlets (including Film Inquiry) among others, Night Frights LA is set to be the next notable name in late-summer scares.
The full schedule of screenings and events can be found here.
source: Night Frights LA
In addition to a screenplay competition and a panel with members of the Horror Writers Association, Night Frights LA will also be screening 23 different films across different categories:
Best in Blood – Found Footage, Slashers, Horror Comedy, Horror Los Angeles, Horror Cartoon/Animation
Ghosted — Dir. Jamie Dee Lyons — Jamie Lyons, Alexandra Deigh, Sean Fisher, Victoria Reynolds
Playback — Dir. Gavin Zahn — Alex Moynihan, Emma Dhanda
No Slasher Here — Dir. Robert Tiemstra — Llenelle Gibson, Noelle Hensler, Ethan Haslam
Knife — Dir. Michael Kuciak — Jason Markoff, Anthea Greco
Chickenboy — Dir. Matthew Rush — Matthew Rush, Matthew Rush, Matthew Rush
A Simple Life — Dir. Manoa Raine — Dillon Stewart, Christie Griffin, Rachel Mathias, Michael Johnson
Banjo — Dir. Cameron Poletti — T.J. Sullinger, Alex Poletti, Hunter Torr
Where the Shadows Feast — Dir. Aaron M Cabrera — Corey Allen, Alicia Blasingame, Troy Twisty James, Demetrius Daniels
The Carvening — Dir. Matthew R Cinotti — Beau Batchelor, Matthew Incontri, Adam Incontri, Samantha Wright
Love Forevermore — Dir. Jeremy Mowery, Annette Bedrossian — Victoria Reynoso
Mental Carnage – Horror Short Films, Horror Gore, Horror Psychological
Vivir — Dir. Gerardo Maravilla — Joey Marue Urbina, Alex Felix
The Specter of Christmas — Dir. Joel Harlow — Paul Giamatti, Rod Maxwell, Ashley Edner-Tanch
Devil’s Prism — Dir. Kika Magalhães — Emma Raimi, Jasmine Akakpo, Kika Magalhães
Keep Coming Back — Dir. Kyle Kouri — Kyle Kouri, Bettina Olivieri, Sosie Bacon, Travis Hammer
The Last Thing She Saw — Dir. Anthony Cousins, Rebecca Daugherty — Bailey Bolton, Nathan Tymoshuk, Agatha Pokrzywka
The Vanity — Dir. Megan Rosati — Megan Rosati, Evan Watkins, Geoff Ross, V Nixie Lin
Contraction — Dir. Andy Greene — Liesel Hlista, Cameron Bender, Hildegaard Feaver
Planet Terror – Horror International, Horror Actress, Horror Actor
LaCroix — Dir. Joris Fleurot — Anaïs Parellò, Léa Pellin, Brigitte Chambon
Umbra — Dir. Pablo Otero — Adriana Camarena, Alicia Moruno, Isabel Quintana
Bananahead — Dir. Christopher Greenslate — Sally Maersk, Ryan O’Nan
The Overkill — Dir. Joanna Tsanis — Gillian Fortin, Jeremy Johnson
The Nature of Death — Dir. Sean Cruser — Murphy Martin, Tyler Beveridge, Torean Thomas, Christopher Garcia
The Smell of Sin — Dir. Gabriel Paul Gonzales — Tony Amendola, Time Winters
Of course, no competition would be complete without an award ceremony, hosted by Elias Alexandro.
Tickets are only $20, with VIP badges available for $40 (plus a few dollars in fees for either). Both will get you into the fest, of course, with VIP including:
Prime Reserved Seating: First five rows at all screenings
Automatic Raffle Entry: Signed books from select members of the Horror Writers Association
Collectible, Limited-Edition Festival Pin
VIP Red Badge and Lanyard
Exclusive Screening and Q&A: A Q&A session with composer John Massari, followed by a screening of Killer Klowns From Outer Space
Afterparty Entry
Despite this being the very first year of Night Frights LA, the Winchesters aren’t stopping there. They’re already planning monthly horror screenings, spotlighting both major franchises and indie filmmakers, beyond the festival. Get your tickets today, and get ready to celebrate horror all year long.
For more information, visit Night Frights LA’s website, Instagram, or TikTok.
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