Yup, you read the headline correctly. We Got This Covered is proud to announce that 2016 marks the inaugural year of New York City’s FIRST EVER Brooklyn Horror Film Festival! Justin Timms (Festival Director) and his team of horror enthusiasts decided that NYC needs one more reason to never sleep, which spawned an idea to start a genre festival that dares to be bigger and bolder than anything NYC currently offers.
From October 14th-16th, Brooklyn will play backdrop to a host of premieres, events, and parties set to unite horror fans across all five boroughs from dusk ’till dawn.
Here’s the official synopsis that details everything Timms’ vision aims to bring:
The 2016 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) will be held the weekend of October 14, 2016. The BHFF will be showing nothing short of the best in badass genre cinema. We accept film submissions in all genres including but not limited to Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Fantastic, Documentary, Weird Dramas – if your film is fun, we want to see it. In addition to the screenings, we will have parties, Q&A’s with filmmakers, panels, events, food & drinks and more. The directors of the BHFF are committed to celebrating the art of horror filmmaking and you can expect a lot more than just a standard regional film festival.
We Got This Covered is happy to come on board as the festival’s Media Partner in its first year, and furthermore, our very own Matt Donato (me!!) will be serving as one of the BHFF’s esteemed judges. Joining me in judges positions will be Arrow In The Head Managing Editor Eric Walkuski, Shudder Curator Sam Zimmerman, and Producer/Director Jenn Wexler, who will help me hand out awards on the festival’s closing night.
As the October date approaches, we’ll have more exciting announcements in terms of selected films (expect something in the ballpark of 10-12 features), planned events, and other fun goodies the team has in store for you. As of this moment, we’d simply like to thank all the sponsors who have already come on-board (Coney Island Brewing Co. will be the Official Festival Beer, and El Buho Mezcal has been selected as the Official Festival Liquor) – but our lips are sealed otherwise. The film submission period is still open for a short amount of time. If you’ve got a messed-up, scream-worthy, wickedly twisted flick worth showing, submit before it’s too late!
So how is the BHFF going to set itself apart? Well, for starters, NYC is the greatest city around – advantage, BHFF. But if location isn’t enough, Timms wants his festival to be more of an engaging appreciation of the horror genre as a whole. Most screenings will be accompanied by some kind of themed “event” that puts attendees inside the film. Curated panels will let you interact with your favorite horror critics (or berate them mercilessly). Parties will rage on in the name of hellish, sinful fun. Timms wants you to get lost in an experience – not just sit there and watch a movie. All the typical post-screening Q&As and whatnot will take place, but so, so much more.
As of now, festival badges are on sale for $75 that include 6 screenings (yet to be announced) of your choice, access to all festival parties, the ability to select films a week before the general public, a lanyard, and a gift bag. Prices will then increase on August 1st ($85), and one more time on September 1st ($95) – don’t wait too long and regret the savings!
If you can’t tell, I’m excited. The Brooklyn Horror Films Festival is one of those passion-fueled projects run by devoted fans who love all things horror, and want that same excitement to be shared with as many people as possible. Austin has Fantastic Fest, Montreal has Fantasia, and now Brooklyn has BHFF. We’re going to have a ton of fun this October, and I don’t want any of you missing out. Be sure to be on the lookout for full programming announcements to come, but until then, rest (un)easy knowing that the East Coast is about to get way more than “just another” genre film festival.
