Blood, It's In You To Give

We have been absolutely floored by the response to this year's Women In Horror Massive Blood Drive.

Donations are just pouring in (forgive the obvious pun). Elisabeth and Brenda Fies beat their goal collecting blood at this month's BLEEDFEST collecting an astounding 25 pints and a list full of names to donate bone marrow. GeekGirlCon is encouraging geeks to unite and bleed for this very worthy cause.

We've also received two sensational videos promoting the donation of blood all month long, all over the world in celebration of Women In Horror. They come courtesy of two insanely talented women, Sandra S-buckshot and Lindsey Peterson. Both ladies are disgustingly talented make up artists. Please enjoy their gore~geous art below!

Watch, share with your friends (your cool friends), and pass on the word! We want YOUR blood. Don't be too afraid to help.





A most sincere thanks ladies for your wonderful work!

~Jen

Elisabeth and Brenda Fies

"Our mission is to spotlight edgy genre work and their fearless makers, and allow audiences to feel and see through a variety of women’s eyes. We prove to the world that the derogatory label “chick flick” (now applied to ANY film about or by a woman!!) needs to be retired. We want women’s hard work to be talked about and seen, so that there is indisputable proof that talented ladies are creating exciting multi-genre films, and can no longer be ignored." -Mission Statement of the Bleedfest Film Fest

Last year, Jen and I were invited to Bleedfest for the LA premiere of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. These lady and sister film makers, Elisabeth and Brenda Fies, were organizing the event - a feature fest in junction with the Viscera Film Fest - and I knew I had met someone special because she invited us into her home to crash. You see these sisters don't only organize the incredible, monthly indie film festival - known as Bleedfest - where independent film makers get a fabulous venue and audience with the best and the brightest in the LA indie scene, but they are independent film makers themselves (hence, they knew we were broke and might not be able to make it). But HA-ZA! we squeezed the last bit of juice out of a credit card and we were on our way! This little girl's dream come true (movie premiere in LA) was brought to you by VISA.

"The holocaust of creativity in modern indie films. With the exception of Lars Von Trier, Crispin Glover and The Short Bus guys, people aren't using the digital revolution to express themselves and push artistic boundaries. Instead they're copying Hollywood films and trying to break into an industry that's already died. Maybe it's a good thing there's no money left in filmmaking and we're all splintering off into niche distribution sources." -Elisabeth Fies

We played with their cult thriller, THE COMMUNE. Elisabeth wrote and directed the film, while Brenda produced. It's evident in every frame of this talented family's work that there is real talent there as well as a seriously dark and fucked sense of humor - you will dig it. There is something beyond impressive about independent film makers like these women - they work their asses off, they spend all their money to back a project, they put their heart into it, and it shows.


Here's an interesting fact for you aspiring film makers, some regions will buy a movie just because there is female nudity in it. Bare breasts. I kid you not. Not wanting to put any of her actresses through such a potentially uncomfortable situation, Elisabeth decided her character in the film would be the one that would take it off.


Now, you might be thinking - 'Oh, God. That poor woman. How awful.' Your own sexuality can be used against you only if you allow it to. Flashback to Bleedfest, we're all sitting in the darkened theater with THE COMMUNE playing. By the by, Elisabeth is a fantastic actress. You uber nerds already know that she's fought the MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS twice. She can play evil. She can also play a sexually liberated mother whose daughter is away from the weekend and wants to get her freak on. It's very sexy and Elisabeth is no victim. She is a strong actress and handles mature themes well. This can also be seen in her directing.

"Twin Peaks is the single biggest influence on me. After it, my two favorites are a tie: Sex, Lies, And Videotape and Terminator 2. Sex was when I realized I could make a movie too, and I could make it very personal and embarrassing and confessional. T2 was when I realized the best way to get a message out into the world was hidden in amazing entertainment value." -Elisabeth Fies

Brenda Fies is a producer and a damn good one. She's already produced four projects - THE COMMUNE, DISTRAUGHT, CONSUMED, and SCREAM QUEEN. DISTRAUGHT is the dark and and disturbing directorial and writing debut for Brenda and it's brilliant.



She is currently working on a new feature called I HATE LA which follows suicide attempts gone wrong - she would know all the gory details, too, as she has twenty five years as a registered nurse. That's right she is actually a hero. She is also incredibly down to earth and generous (as you might have guessed, these ladies are two of the best people on the planet) - there is a lot of medical subject matter in an upcoming project and Brenda was kind enough to see if my medical information was accurate and also, she's a producer, so she can tell you what you can do for the sake of the film and story.


I feel like I know these women and their family intimately and you might too if you have read Mom's Cancer. It is a very real and very beautiful beautiful graphic novel written by their brother, Brian Fies. When their mother in real life is diagnosed with lung cancer, Brian decided to make a comic strip about it. It's insightful, sad, raw, funny, and moving. I mention it now as I was given a copy by Elisabeth during a particularly difficult time and the book was a godsend.


Elisabeth and Brenda are a powerhouse, film making, sibling duo. Their work is edgy, brave, and imaginative. I can't hardly wait to see their new projects. They are so impassioned about independent film making that they put on these Bleedfest Film Festivals at their own expense.


If you are passionate about indie film making and an excellent venue to showcase new talent, then you can join Bleedfest - the community's generosity and support will help keep this festival healthy and alive. Here is the donation link, big spender (insert cheeky wink).

The Fies sisters are an excellent example of what Women In Horror Month is all about - being strong role models that not only make their own fantastic work but also give back to the community by supporting and promoting fellow indie film makers. Brilliant work all around, ladies! Now, get your butts to Bleedfest -- happening today and every first Sunday of the month.

~Sylv

Happy Women In Horror Recognition Month!

It's February 1st and that means it's now officially WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH!! The month is brain child of feminist, horror writer, and all 'round badass bitch, Hannah Neurotica of Ax Wound Zine.

The month is filled with women in horror being recognized and celebrated with special events, articles, podcasts, radio shows, interviews, film festivals, and charitable events. To find out about these events, check out them out HERE. Nothing near you? Well, why don't you do something yourself? Start an event and spread the word!

How else can you take part ANY time in February ANYWHERE in the world? You can give blood! We Twisted Twins started the Women In Horror Massive Blood Drive in celebration of Women In Horror. You can't really think "horror" without thinking "blood" and it's a way we can be strong like the heroines of horror that first make little girls say, "I wanna be her!" and give back. Every TWO seconds someone needs blood and there is no substitute.

This year, we joined forces with some very amazingly talented Women (and gentlemen supporters) of Horror...

THE SCARLET ENDING

Our music is an original song by the Scarlet Ending. The Scarlet Ending is a six piece Indie band from Syracuse, New York. The group is fronted by identical twin sisters Kayleigh Goldsworthy (Vocals, Guitar, Violin) and Kaleena Goldsworthy (Vocals, Piano, Accordion, Pennywhistle, Melodica, Ukulele), with Jon Tedd (Guitar, Vocals), Jess Hafner (Cello, Synthesizer), and Aaron Garritillo (Bass Guitar). Loosely defined as indie rock, The Scarlet Ending offers a blend of pop with cabaret, the grit of dive bar rock with the charms of three part harmony. Treat yourselves to a little listen of their wonderful music HERE.

CJ WALLIS

The video is directed, shot, cut, and choreographed by CJ Wallis of FortyFPS Productions. CJ is a director, writer, film maker, composer, musician, producer and one of the many men that are strong supporters of women in horror. We will also be working together on AMERICAN MARY. He supported us Twisted Twins before we even began calling ourselves the Twisted Twins and it has been an honor and a pleasure to be able to collaborate with not only a gifted artist, but a great friend.

SHANNON LARK

Shannon Lark is the living personification of the best qualities of a woman in horror: brilliance, beauty, strength, fearlessness, and that "I wanna be her" je ne sais pas. Widely known for her role as the first ever Fangoria Magazine Spooksmodel Shannon continues to pave the way for women in the evolving genre of cinematic horror. She is a director, writer, dancer, actress, and professional Scream Queen. Along with fellow femme fatale Heidi Martinuzzi (of the wicked awesome FanGirlTastic), she heads the first ever women only horror film festival, Viscera Film Festival, an annual event showcasing horror cinema as exclusively created by women. Her anthem of “Bring your daughter to the slaughter” is the siren song to the male dominion within commercial horror cinema. Shannon runs The Chainsaw Mafia (a website for reviews, news, and articles as well as for networking writers, filmmakers, and various artists within the horror genre) a production company focused on horror film and splatter theater.

MAUDE MICHAUD

Maude Michaud is a beautifully gifted fellow Canadian director, film maker, director of photography, writer, and photographer. Even though she is a huge horror fan, she loves to explore a variety of genres in the films she directs, which results in an eclectic body of work including: horror dramas, slightly surreal quirky tales, and explorations of unconventional relationships. Over the years, she independently wrote, directed and produced over 15 short films and video projects, both personal projects and commissioned works. Her work has screened as part of the Young Cuts Festival (Montreal & Toronto), the Wreck-Beach Film Festival (Barrie, Ontario), the Short Film Corner during the Cannes Film Festival (Cannes, France), the Montreal Fetish Film Festival and the International Teen Movie Festival in Toronto.

MARICHELLE DAYWALT

Marichelle Daywalt is one of the incredible female film makers we met during last years Viscera Film Festival. Her twisted and disturbing short film, MOCKINGBIRD, was among the top films of the festival and a personal favorite of ours. She has recently worked with Scream Queen extraordinaire, Tara Cardinal on her latest short, The Many Doors of Albert Whale which we are just dying to see.
Also, as an independent consultant for Arbonne.com, for the month of February, 15% of all orders placed at Arbonne.com using her referral ID #18707479 (or by phone with her directly) will be donated to the Red Cross!

BRENDA AND ELISABETH FIES

Brenda and Elisabeth Fies are a pair of sister film making and festival heading femme fatales. They are the co-creators and festival heads of the incredible monthly sensational film festival, BLEEDFEST. Directing, producing, writing, and acting are just a few of their many talents. They are a powerful voice for women in horror and a force to be reckoned with. It is an absolute honor to be able to call these ladies friends.

JENNIFER COOPER

Jennifer Cooper is an amazing writer and artist. She has been a huge supporter of Women in Horror. She worked along side of the wonderful Nia Edwards-Behi on the Ghouls On Film Festival of 2010 that marked the VERY first festival in the world to show our demented first born child, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. This year she will be bringing DHIAT at LONG last to Scotland at her gore~geous festival cheekily named JENNIFER'S BODIES.

Also featured in the video are your trulys, the Twisted Twins, co-creators of the WiH Massive Blood Drive and story/concept creators for this video, alongside the talented Sierra Pitkin (who many of you will recognize from JUNO and most recently recognize from RUNAWAY).

And who is captivating creature making a very special appearance? Well, that's our Mary. Yes, in this WiH Massive Blood Drive PSA we feature all the talents of these artists AND reveals the actress that will be taking the title role of our highly anticipating up coming film, AMERICAN MARY.

That's right. Happy Women In Horror month!! Let's start this mother fucker off with a BANG!!

Bloody Soaked Best!
Jen and Sylv

Starting Women In Horror Recognition Month off with a Bang!

This year we'll be doing our part to start Women In Horror recognition month off with a bang! For any late comers to the party, Women In Horror month is February, with world wide celebrations, film festivals, and special events!!

How will we be celebrating this year? Just with a little PSA for our MASSIVE BLOOD DRIVE. It happens all month long, world wide, wherever you are, whenever you can. Just donate blood. That's all. It's that easy. Send us proof via photos and video, and you'll be rewarded. Last year, we began getting behind this very worthy cause in celebration of WiH month and this year we are happy to be continuing this proud tradition with a new WiH Blood Drive video with very special appearances from incredible women in horror.

And we also have a little extra treat in store for everyone. We'll have an appearance by... (wait for it) the actress who will be taking the title role in our upcoming film, AMERICAN MARY. Yes, on February 1st via our site, you will not only have an amazing new Blood Drive video featuring some incredible ladies with original music from the Scarlet Ending, (if that's not enough for you!) you will also meet our Mary. And this, boy and grrls, is going to be some very big fucking news.

Horror Community prepare to go bat shit crazy.

Stay Tuned...

1/2/2011

Right here.

Bleedfest Returns with a Very Special Women in Horror Month Edition

BleedFest Hosts Blood Drive and Women in Horror Month Screening Event

Take a look at the two incredible women above. Boys and grrls, it's an honor for us to know these women. Brenda (left) and Elisabeth (right) Fies are not only incredibly gifted film makers, but also strong feminist voices, festival creators and heads of the gore~geous Bleedfest, and pretty much two of the coolest people currently walking the Earth. Bleedfest has become a bloody force to be reckoned with and is back with a vengeance this February. This month is a VERY special month as WOMEN IN HORROR month is on us again. Time to celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of women and to give a little back. Not only will this month's edition be in honor of Women In Horror, they will also be giving back. How they find the time to be SO radcore is beyond me.

In short, we adore these women and LOVE Bleedfest!! Here's what you have to look forward to this month!!

Monthly female genre film festival BleedFest is throwing an epic event February 6th, 2011 in honor of Women in Horror Month. There will be a Blood Mobile parked outside the CAP Theatre from 10:30am-4:30pm. Donation appointments can be made by clicking on this link: http://bleedfest.givesblood.org All donors are eligible for half off tickets to the BleedFest Film Festival until the event is sold out, in addition to a pint for a pint Baskin Robbins coupon.
The BleedFest WiHM screening event begins at 11am and ends at 4:00pm. There will be three red carpet opportunities with a dozen press partners and photographers from Getty Images and PR Photos. The event will feature an open bar with Bloody Marys. Screenings include short horror films written, directed, and produced by female filmmakers, including wunderkind Xstine Cook, international filmmaker Ana Almeida, tyro horror writer/director Tyrell Shaffner, festival stalwart Susan Bell, BleedFest co-founders Elisabeth Fies and Brenda Fies, Lori Bowen with a short and a music video, alumna Marichelle Daywalt with the world premiere of THE MANY DOORS OF ALBERT WHALE starring Tara Cardinal and Kit Williamson. The feature film is the US premier of SLAUGHTERED, a slasher whodunit by Australian writer/director Kate Glover. VIP guests include Lil Zane, award recipients Katt Shea and Stacy Title, genre journalist Nic Brown from Kentucky, underground filmmaker Lori Bowen from Florida, actresses Tara Cardinal and Michelle Tomlinson, and horror director Kevin Tenney. Carl Manes of I Like Horror Movies will reprise his popular horror trivia with giveaways. A showing of Dark Art and Fine Art will be available for purchase by internationally renowned horror photographer April A. Taylor.
The Awards Show will include the audience’s choice for best short in competition, and Elisabeth Pinto will receive the Best Producer Award. Horror icon Katt Shea will be given the Inanna Trailblazer Award. Stacy Title will be awarded the Inanna Best Social Statement Award. The Inanna Award was designed exclusively for BleedFest by amazing horror filmmaker and mask-maker Neal Harvery of Rubber Gorilla.



BleedFest sponsors are Film Radar, Werewolf for Hire.com and B Movie Man, WriteWord PR, Burris Image, Monster Island Resort, Rubber Gorilla, Christina Wickers.com, Love That Rebecca.com.



BleedFest operates on donations, and is holding an IndieGogo Fundraising campaign at:

http://www.indiegogo.com/BleedFest-Film-Festival-genre-movies-by-women



BLEEDFEST BLOOD DRIVE

Date: 02/06/2011

Time: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

Organization: BleedFest

Location: CAP Theater - Blood Mobile

Address: 13752 Ventura Blvd.

Collection Goal: 20 pints with 2 donors per 15 minutes



BleedFest Film Festival

February: WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH



Sunday February 6th, 2011

TIME: 11am-4:00pm



Location: CAP Theatre

13752 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

$10 cash at door for all day ticket and open bar

http://www.BleedFest.com



Special Appearances by Lil Zane, Katt Shea, Stacy Title, Lori Bowen, Tara Cardinal, Kevin Tenney, Michelle Tomlinson, Nic Brown. Schedule subject to change, personal appearances dependent on schedule.



11am-11:10am RED CARPET, MIXER



11:10am-2:20am PARTNERSHIP AWARD RESCREENING

HORROR OF OUR LOVE by Dave Reda (7 minutes)



11:20-11:30am TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Inanna Award presented to Katt Shea



11:30-11:50pm AWARD: Best Female Producer

NIGHT OF THE HELL HAMSTERS Produced by Elisabeth Pinto (17 minutes)



11:50-12:00pm AWARD: Best Social Commentary

Inanna Award presented to Stacy Title



12:00-1:25pm SHORTS: In Competition

*******Ballots given to audience*************



SUCKATHUMB by Xstine Cook (10 minutes)

THE PATCHWORK MONKEY by Susan Bell (10 minutes) Q & A

ESSENGER by Lori Bowen (4 minutes)

AFTERSHOCK by Lori Bowen (3 minutes) Q & A Lori Bowen

MIRROR MIRROR by Sophia Segal (4 minutes) Q & A

MEOW by Sarah Brown and Cyriak Harriss (3 minutes)

A NOIVA (AKA: THE BRIDE) by Ana Almeida (7 minutes)

THRENODY by Tyrrell Shaffner (12 minutes) Q & A

THE MANY DOORS OF ALBERT WHALE by Marichelle Daywalt (5 minutes) Q & A



*******Ballots collected from audience*************



1:25pm-1:45pm BREAK: Open Bar, Red Carpet, Mixer



1:45-2:04pm WORKS IN PROGRESS

HARD TO DO by Elisabeth Fies & Kit Williamson (8 minutes)

PSYCHOSEXUAL by Elisabeth Fies (8 minutes)



2:04pm-2:15pm PARTNERSHIP AWARD

HOME by Cam McCulloch (11 minutes)



2:15pm-2:25pm AWARD CEREMONY

Award presented to Marichelle Daywalt

Award presented to Tara Cardinal

Inanna Statue presented to Cindy Baer (Audience’s Choice from December)

Inanna Statue presented to the Audience's Choice



2:25-2:35 BREAK: Open Bar, Bathroom Break



2:35-4:00pm FEATURE

SLAUGHTERED written and directed by Kate Glover (83 minutes)

Everyone's getting slaughtered in the pub tonight!

Do NOT miss this incredible festival!! They really should've had you at "open bar" and believe me, boys and grrls, there's nothing like a Bloody Mary after giving a pint of blood. Totally hits the proverbial spot.

XO,
Jen

Starting the Year Off Awesome with Beth at Bleedfest

Missed BLEEDFEST? Oh, C'MON!! We totally told you about it WAY in advance. If you're in California, shame on you. If, however, you're in some distant corner of the world (much like ourselves...), here's the next best thing to having actually been there.

Beth Accomando, you may recall her downright gore~geous pics posted in our PENNY DREADFUL DIARY from the HORRIBLE IMAGININGS HORROR FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN DIEGO. You can see that post and drink in a hard, but satisfying shot of radness HERE. It's cool, I'll wait. This entry will be waiting for you when you return.

All done? Welcome back to the party. See? I told you Beth rocks. And, she was also in attendance at this past BLEEDFEST.


As promised, here's the next best thing to having been there yourself. Allow Beth to take you through the festival. What was hot? What was so very not? Her writing is not only insightful and beautifully written, it is also bullshit free. Check out the festival through her eyes HERE.



And get ready for the NEXT BLEEDFEST IN FEBRUARY!! Why's it so special? Well, aside from BLEEDFEST being chalk full of wickedness, it will be a very special WOMEN IN HORROR month edition. That's right, boys and grrls. Start hitch hiking to the West Coast now...

XO,
Jen

Kill For a Girls (and Boys) Night Out

Our friend Ken of Killingboxx knows a rad event when he sees it. Is it the open bar? Is it the comradity within the horror community? Is it the array of excellent independent films that are put on display? Whatever the reason - you should check out the monthly Bleedfest Film Festival in sunny Sherman Oaks, CA at the CAP Theater. Read his excellent piece here.

Need more details? Here's what you can expect in a couple of days at the next Bleedfest --

JANUARY 2nd, 2011 WESTERN & GENRE GOULASH

OPEN BAR!

11:30am-1:00pm FEATURE FILM
A FOUNDLING by Carly Lyn (90 minutes)

~~~~~~~~~~~~Ballots given to audience~~~~~~~~~~~~
1:45pm-2:15pm IN COMPETITION: feature trailers
FUGUE by Barbara Stepansky Q&A
IN MEMORIUM by Amanda Gusack
STOP I’M NOT DEAD YET by Anne Norda Q&A
GOLDEN EARRINGS by Marion Kerr Q&A
AMERICAN MARY by The Soska Sisters
LEGEND OF THE RED REAPER produced by Tara Cardinal Q&A
~~~~~~~~~~~~Ballots collected from audience~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's right, boys and girls. See the new teaser for our upcoming feature, AMERICAN MARY. I hear she looks amazing on the big screen. Please, if you can make it to the venue, check it out and let me know how the girl did. We are awful proud of our Mary.

Then --

2:50pm-3:40pm SHORT FILM GOULASH
DRUG(ged) by Brenda Fies (7 minutes) Work in Progress, Out of Competition
THE BOARDER by Susan Bell (9 minutes)
SUPER MORNING by Julia Camara (3 minutes) Q&A
UGLY ON THE INSIDE by Whitney Boe (17 minutes) Q&A
CONSUMED by Elisabeth Fies (6 Minutes) Out of Competition

We feel so very lucky to have had our work screened at the first two Bleedfest Film Festivals and this will be our hat trick appearance. The folks that come out to these events are top notch - if you are working in the genre or are a fan of it, drop on by and meet some like-minded friends. It's an incredibly high-quality event. A huge and humble thanks to Elisabeth and Brenda Fies - film sister power team - for putting on such an event.

~Sylv

Start 2011 Off Right With BLEEDFEST

Introducing the Bleedy Award...


I'd be lying if I said I haven't already fantasized about winning and lovingly caressing one.

BLEEDFEST, started and headed by the fantastical film making, femme fatales, the Fies sisters, Elisabeth and Brenda, has become a phenomenon blowing audiences away by bringing them hidden gems in indie film making.


We had the esteemed honor of having DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK and BAD GIRLS play at these incredible festivals and we're way beyond honored to be back with our seductive teaser for our upcoming AMERICAN MARY.

Here's the line up for January...

Monthly BLEEDFEST FILM FESTIVAL announces January 2nd lineup:
Starts the New Year with a BANG! celebrating female filmmakers who make westerns and horror !

December 29, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA -

The highly anticipated Inanna Award (AKA "The Bleedy") a bronze statue designed by Neal Harvey of RubberGorilla.co.uk, was revealed in a video presentation at the BleedFest December 5th Awards Ceremony. The first Bleedy Award will be handed out live January 2nd. Your sneak peak: http://www.vimeo.com/17512261


The Bleedy will be awarded to the In Competition Feature Trailer chosen by the audience, and to the feature A FOUNDLING.

Three short films screened will receive an Award Certificate and Winner Laurels to add to their publicity campaigns, as well as pictures on the red carpet: period thriller THE BOARDER by Susan Bell (Bell's THE PATCHWORK MONKEY will play February 6th's WOMEN IN HORROR BleedFest), caped comedy SUPER MORNING by Julia Camara (BleedFest December alum SCREAM MACHINE, AREA Q), and western domestic abuse comedy UGLY ON THE INSIDE by Whitney Boe (MYTHIC JOURNEYS).

The In Competition category is comprised of six trailers of feature films written or directed or produced women. They are FUGUE by Barbara Stepansky (HURT, Emmy winner for THE TROJAN COW), AMERICAN MARY by the Soska Sisters (BleedFest alum DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK), BleedFest alum IN MEMORIUM by Amanda Gusack (THE BETRAYED), STOP, I'M NOT DEAD YET! by Anne Norde, GOLDEN EARRINGS by Marion Kerr, LEGEND OF THE RED REAPER produced by and starring Scream Queen Tara Cardinal (SONG OF THE SHATTERED, DOG FIGHT).


BleedFest's coveted Partnership Award is bestowed each month to a male filmmaker whose genre film has captured the spirit of BleedFest in its unusual, bold, and refreshing female protagonist. The recipient of January's Partnership Award is filmmaker Mando Franco, for his riveting and inventive short film LUNA.

BleedFest has a red carpet, an event photographer, a VIP Guest section, and an OPEN BAR for only ten dollars cash at the door.

Help us help female filmmakers! We need your financial support, and for you to spread the word that we, and genre female filmmakers exist!
http://www.indiegogo.com/BleedFest-Film-Festival


JANUARY 2nd, 2011 WESTERN & GENRE GOULASH
Schedule & appearances subject to change.

Sunday January 2nd, 2011
TIME: 11am-3:30pm
Location: CAP Theatre
13752 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

$10 cash at door for all day ticket and open bar

11:00am-11:30am RED CARPET, MIXER

11:30am-1:00pm FEATURE FILM
A FOUNDLING by Carly Lyn (90 minutes)

A western, sci-fi, feminist, period piece starring two Asian women
and an alien baby. Made by a young female filmmaker. Really.


1:00pm-1:15pm Q & A: Carly Lyn and actors

1:15pm-1:45pm BREAK: Open Bar, Red Carpet, Mixer


~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ballots given to audience~~~~~~~~~~~~

1:45pm-2:15pm IN COMPETITION: feature trailers
FUGUE by Barbara Stepansky Q&A
IN MEMORIUM by Amanda Gusack
STOP I’M NOT DEAD YET by Anne Norda Q&A
GOLDEN EARRINGS by Marion Kerr Q&A
AMERICAN MARY by The Soska Sisters
LEGEND OF THE RED REAPER produced by Tara Cardinal Q&A

~~~~~~~~~~~~Ballots collected from audience~~~~~~~~~~~~

2:15pm-2:35pm PARTNERSHIP SCREENING AND AWARD
LUNAR by Mando Franco (14 minutes)

2:35pm-2:50pm BREAK: Open Bar, Red Carpet, Mixer

2:50pm-3:40pm SHORT FILM GOULASH
DRUG(ged) by Brenda Fies (7 minutes) Work in Progress, Out of Competition
THE BOARDER by Susan Bell (9 minutes)
SUPER MORNING by Julia Camara (3 minutes) Q&A
UGLY ON THE INSIDE by Whitney Boe (17 minutes) Q&A
CONSUMED by Elisabeth Fies (6 Minutes) Out of Competition

3:40pm AWARD CEREMONY Audience Award presented

See the Bleedfest website at www.bleedfest.com for film synopsis, filmmaker bios, links, and contact info.

COMING February 6th: WOMEN IN HORROR RECOGNITION MONTH

February schedule will be online January 3rd, 2011.

Submissions are Free to filmmakers, and BleedFest is always looking for quality genre work. http://www.BleedFest.com/submissions

Badgirls Sends a Holiday Message of Twisted Love

When people you love go through difficulty, sadness, and pain - it hurts. One can feel powerless and weak while wanting their loved one to be happy and safe - for things to go back to how they 'used to be'. I think that's one of the hardest realizations when you can't save everyone and sometimes the inevitable is just that.

Trying to get a grasp on morality and the cruelty of life having to come to terms with death we wrote and directed a short called BADGIRLS for a 48 hour fast horror film competition called 'Bloodshots'. The film was a top three, audience choice for favorite short but the shocking nature and our dark humor fell on a crowd that just wasn't that into that 'sort of thing'.


But redemption was just around the corner. The short would screen at the second (now monthly) Bleedfest Film Festival in California - hosted by the incredibly talented and hardworking Fies Sisters, Elisabeth and Brenda Fies. Would the short be better liked and enjoyed by a crowd of horror enthusiasts? Let's see what Jonathan Weichsel of Film Radar would say...

"Highlights included Bad Girls, an early short by the Soska sisters, the twisted minds behind the feature Dead Hooker in a Trunk, which I previously reviewed here, as well as the upcoming and highly anticipated feature American Mary. Bad Girls, about a bunch of college kids who avenge the twin’s grandmother after she is attacked, features the Soska sister’s signature twisted sense of humor and bad-ass attitude."

Oh, happy day! Oh, how wonderful! Don't take my word for it - read the whole fan-fucking-tastic review on the festival here - and then get involved in the festival here - and get your bum down to the CAP Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA and get your drinking, horror face on because you will see rad indie horror films with an OPEN BAR!


How can heaven be so close to earth? Every first Sunday of the month you can get your Bleedfest on. And I simply insist that you do! Thank you to Jonathan for heading out to the fest and spreading the word (and digging BADGIRLS) and to the fabulous Fies for putting on this great festival.

~Sylv