Viscera Announces its 2013 Film Festival Line-up Co-Presented by American Cinematheque

VISCERA ANNOUNCES ITS 2013 FILM FESTIVAL LINE-UP

CO-PRESENTED BY AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE

Filmmaker Jennifer Lynch to Receive 2013 Inspiration Award at Ceremony on July 13th

Los Angeles, CA – June 3rd, 2013 -- Today, the Viscera Organization announced the stellar line-up of 13 brand new short films that have been selected to screen on July 13, 2013 in a co-presentation with the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Boulevard) in Hollywood for this year's Viscera Film Festival. The festival’s gala celebration will spotlight emerging female horror directors from around the world, including the UK, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Canada, and the US and will serve as host to four world premieres and two Los Angeles premieres.

This year’s Viscera Film Festival line-up was carefully selected by an esteemed panel of industry judges who had the difficult task of selecting winners from the record-breaking number of entries for the 2013 festival and tour season, ultimately proving that innovative and dynamic short-form storytelling is still alive and well within the horror community.

"This year we had over 200 amazing entries,” says programmer Heidi Honeycutt. “It was mind-blowing. So many new filmmakers are taking a crack at horror and making some truly unique and amazing films. Unfortunately, we can only program about a dozen shorts, so we have to turn away a lot of great films. It's incredibly heartening to see so many new women making horror films and so much enthusiasm and dedication. The 2013 lineup is truly the best we have ever had and I can't wait to show our audiences what women are making these days. They are going to be shocked at how good these films are!"

This year’s panel of judges for the prestigious 2013 Viscera Film Festival includes Rachel Talalay (FREDDY’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE), Jeffrey Reddick (FINAL DESTINATION series), Amber Benson (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Trent Haaga (CHEAP THRILLS), Anthony Masi (HIS NAME WAS JASON), Brea Grant (“Dexter”), Andrew van den Houten (Lucky McKee’s THE WOMAN), Elizabeth Stanley (TRAILERS FROM HELL), Anthony DiBlasi (DREAD), Shade Rupe (“Dark Stars Rising”), Jim VanBebber (THE MANSON FAMILY), Drew Daywalt (LEPRECHAUN’S REVENGE), Kier-La Janisse (“House of Psychotic Women”), Chris Alexander (BLOOD FOR IRINA), John Skipp (legendary splatterpunk author), David DeCoteau (SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIMEBALL BOWL-O-RAMA), Alan Spencer (SLEDGEHAMMER), Barbara Peeters (HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP), Jennifer Thym (Viscera Winner 2012, Best Cinematography for BLOODTRAFFICK) and Mae Catt (Viscera Winner 2011, Best Director  for 12-15-96).

Also serving as a judge this year is pioneering female filmmaker Jennifer Lynch (CHAINED, SURVEILLANCE) who will receive the 2013 Inspiration Award during the festival on July 13th.

Barbara Stepansky, the Viscera Organization’s newly named Chief Operations Officer says, "I'm thrilled to have joined the Viscera Organization as the new COO. I've been a part of the festival in the past as a filmmaker, and it’s an honor to now be a part of the organization as a key staff member. I’m really looking forward to the 2013 festival, we have a fantastic line-up and it’s really exciting to see how rapidly Viscera is expanding in its ways of supporting our genre fans and filmmakers alike.”

Those that attend Viscera Film Festival will experience films created by many of the most original and dynamic voices in independent filmmaking today as well as a star-studded carpet ceremony (www.facebook.com/events/553487211357304) and an after party (www.facebook.com/events/453050628119448) to be held directly following the festival at the legendary Hollywood hot spot and VFF sponsor, Cat & Fiddle (6530 W Sunset Blvd.). For those interested, they may return to the scene of the VFF after party for a special "recovery" brunch where fans and filmmakers alike are encouraged to come out, drink some coffee and work off those hangovers together at the Cat & Fiddle on Sunday at 11 am (www.facebook.com/events/181999185291813).

The Viscera Film Festival will also be kicking off an international tour for the selected short films as well as a handful of tour selections that aren’t screening at the premiere event. This past year, the Viscera Tour landed at over 20 venues around the world ranging from independent movie houses to universities, screening an eclectic program of shorts that have been curated by the Viscera Organization since 2007. The tour provides an outlet for up-and-coming female filmmakers around the world to have their work shown on the big screen and to industry professionals.

"This year's incredible line-up proves, yet again, that women are equal to men in every facet of storytelling, particularly in horror,” said Lori Bowen, Viscera’s Director of Operations. “It's so wonderful to see so many women at the helm, putting their stories up on the screen and sharing their unique visions with the rest of the world. I'm honored to be a small part of the Viscera Organization's hugely important mission to help get their voices heard."

The 2013 Viscera Film Festival Official Selections:

Anniversary Dinner – USA

Directed by Jessi Gotta

Synopsis: A survivor of the zombie apocalypse is about to discover that 'Til Death Do Us Part' was just the beginning.

Dead Crossing - LOS ANGELES PREMIERE - Canada/Mexico

Directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero

Synopsis: A Mexican family attempting to cross the border with a group of immigrants encounter a vicious and terrifying secret involving the way the United States deals with illegal immigration.

Eternal Springs - WORLD PREMIERE – USA

Directed by Kate Rhamey, Allison Rohm

Synopsis: Erma, a deranged old woman who thinks she's eleven years old, captures young women to be her dolls.

Halloween Bash - WORLD PREMIERE – USA

Directed by Jenn Wexler

Synopsis: A mean girl bent on playing tricks receives a mysterious Halloween treat.

In the Dark – USA

Directed by Helen Truong

Synopsis: As the only survivor of a psychological experiment that killed her fellow participants, a woman must find the courage to face a terrifying truth -- one that will finally set her free or trap her forever.

My Brother’s Keeper – UK

Directed by Jen Moss

Synopsis: Holed up at the end of the world with her well-meaning but dim-witted brother Jo (Alex Esmail), Jess (April Pearson) isn’t sure what will destroy her will to live first: the zombies or Jo’s incessant optimism.

No Place Like Home - WORLD PREMIERE – Japan

Directed by Nicholas Humphries

Produced by Mai Nakanishi, Christine DeJoy

Synopsis: What happens when Dorothy's desperate wish to go home faces a most unexpected turn where she finds herself in zombie apocalyptic Kansas?

Orange County Hill Killers – USA

Directed by Katie Downer

Synopsis: Storytelling and reality are blurred when four teenagers enter the infamous Blackstar Canyon.

Outbreak - LOS ANGELES PREMIERE – USA

Directed by Maddison Lopez

Synopsis: A toxic plant explosion releases a fume that does strange things to nearby high school students. Everyone's trying to get out alive.

Phantom Limb - WORLD PREMIERE – USA

Directed by Lark O. Arrowood

Synopsis: Jeffery has always suspected that something was wrong with his body. We find him in the eye of the storm, on the verge of collapse. He is disheveled and beginning to suspect that he has made a grave error.

Self-Portrait – Canada

Directed by Jovanka Vuckovic

Synopsis: In the process of taking off her make-up, a young woman reveals her true face.

Slumber Party – USA

Directed by Jenn Wexler

Synopsis: A dark wish becomes a nightmarish reality when best friends play a game of Bloody Mary.

The Meeting - US Premiere – Canada

Directed by Karen Lam

Synopsis: In a weekly meet-up, four serial killers confess their sins and hope for redemption. But all hell breaks loose when a newcomer pops in, and threatens to join the group...

**This film was made by a member of the Viscera Staff.**

Other films that will be joining the 2013 Viscera Tour include:

Estigma – Spain

Directed by Sara Ibáñez Mayor

Synopsis:  A girl commits murder in a bath, but the crime may not be over... still.

Fashion Victim – Canada

Directed by Caroline Trudel

Synopsis:  A woman awakens in her party dress & heels. The sounds of distress she hears make it clear she needs to find a way out fast. Will her attire impede her ability to escape? Will she be fashion’s latest victim?

Racist Zombies – USA

Directed by Jennifer Treuting

Synopsis: The only thing worse than zombies is racist zombies. A comedy short by The Charlies.

Shelter – USA

Directed Eve Edelson

Synopsis: A battered woman finds an unusual way out of a very unusual relationship in a night of cosmic justice in an animal shelter.

Tickets for the 2013 Viscera Film Festival can be purchased through the American Cinematheque's website at www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/egyptian_theatre_events and out-of-town attendees are encouraged to stay at The Redbury (1717 Vine Street), Hollywood’s premiere boutique hotel and official sponsor of this year’s festival (www.theredbury.com). The special rate, which is only available until June 14th, and accommodation information for attendees can be found at www.viscerafilmfestival.com/#!__carpet-ceremony/hotel.

This year's award ceremony is sponsored by Vincent Damyanovich of SoulFX Studio, www.soulfxstudio.com; the 2013 Viscera Film Festival poster was designed by Irene Langholm with photography by Joshua Hoffine.

The Viscera Film Festival is a co-presentation of the Viscera Organization and the American Cinematheque in Hollywood, California. Both organizations are 501(c)3 not-for-profits.

Official sponsors for the 2013 Viscera Film Festival include Cat & Fiddle, The Redbury, Diabolique Magazine, Final Draft, Fangoria Magazine, Western Digital, Evil Supply Company, Too Fast Brand Alternative Apparel, Mago's Magic Shoppe, The House of Mirthquake, Joshua Hoffine, Irene Langholm, The Homicidal Homemaker, Laughing Vixen Lounge, Deep Midnight Perfumes, Fangtastic Cards, The Art of Kamille Freske, Solocosmo: Art by Jessica Grundy, NikytaGaia Photography, The Shoggoth Assembly Special Effects, SoulFX Studio, Jungle Software, Sony Creative Suites, and The Poisoned Apple.

About the Viscera Film Festival and Viscera Organization:

The Viscera Film Festival was created in 2007 by Shannon Lark to encourage and promote the work of female horror filmmakers. The fest has grown each year, morphing into a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with an ever-expanding, dynamic staff of men and women who eat, sleep and breathe genre cinema. Beginning as a touring festival, Viscera has now become a highly anticipated genre event every summer in Los Angeles, complete with a carpet ceremony (what we affectionately refer to as the “Bloody Carpet”), celebrity guests, and a raucous after party. 2012 marked the third annual Bloody Carpet event in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theatre and Viscera’s tentacles continue to encircle the globe, programming  films at festivals and theaters throughout the world.

About Viscera’s other festival and organizations:

Etheria Film Festival: Viscera’s sci-fi/fantasy festival premiered in Boston, MA on September 15, 2012 to a nearly sold-out crowd or ravenous sci-fi fans. This sister fest was created because of the enormous amount of high-quality fantasy and sci-fi films that are submitted to Viscera’s horror festival each year; the Organization created a festival just for these films. http://www.etheriafilmfestival.com

Full Throttle Film Festival: Viscera’s brand new film festival specializing in action and thriller films directed by women. Full Throttle will be launched in 2013 in Austin, Texas. The selected films will be screened in venues domestically and internationally via tour coordinators through Partner festivals and locally-hosted events and screenings. http://www.fullthrottlefilmfestival.com

Women in Horror Month: Women In Horror Month is under Viscera’s bloody umbrella, as Viscera and WIHM, founded and executed by Hannah Forman, shares the same positive mission: To educate the public about women’s roles (via the horror genre) and how equality can be attained. The WIHM Board of Directors approves WIHM-created content. Wherever you see the WIHM seal, you’ll know that it’s “WIHM Approved”. http://womeninhorrormonth.com