I received a press release in my inbox this past weekend from David Pruett, the festival director for the Dark Carnival Film Festival. David and company are looking for indie filmmakers to submit their films (short or feature-length) to be screened at the fest, and have announced a new venue as well. Here's the lowdown on what has been called one of the "13 Film Fests to Die For:"
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls – join us August 30-31, 2013 in Columbus, Indiana for the Greatest Show Unearthed! Founded more than seven years ago, the Dark Carnival International Film Festival strives to be the premier event for screening the best independent horror, sci-fi, and dark fantasy films. Our mission is to put fans and filmmakers first and present fantastic films from the four corners of the globe. Many of the movies at Dark Carnival have been picked up for distribution by major players in the industry, and our event has provided numerous networking opportunities for visiting filmmakers who have traveled from as far as Spain, the UK, Toronto, New York and LA.
Since 2007, Dark Carnival has screened nearly 200 films from more than a dozen countries all over the world, and from almost every state in the US. In the past seven years we have gained a reputation as a festival that values indie filmmakers and that loves genre films as something much more than a business niche. As a result, we’ve gained the attention of some of the most highly regarded publications, film distributors, and sponsors including Avid, R2 Entertainment, Diabolique Magazine, HorrorHound Magazine, GeekTyrant, and Final Draft. The festival has also been featured multiple times in MovieMaker Magazine, which recognized Dark Carnival as one of the “13 Horror Film Fests to Die For” (Fall 2011) and one of the top “25 Film Fests Worth the Entry Fee” (Fall 2009)
New Venue
While other similar film festivals often screen their movies in hotel conference rooms, from the very beginning we’ve been proud to showcase festival films in some amazing theater venues. During our first six years, Dark Carnival was held at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, a restored, 1930s era movie-house. For 2013, we’re excited to move to our new location – the historic Crump Theater in downtown Columbus, Indiana. Originally opened in 1889, the Crump is the oldest theater in the state - and is also recognized as one of the most haunted places in the midwest. The Crump began its own restoration project in 2001, and since then has hosted a variety of shows and events, including benefits for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Japan, as well a live performance by John Mellencamp.
Call For Entries
The Dark Carnival International Film Festival is currently accepting submissions for 2013 and festival organizers are looking for original, cutting edge independent films in the horror, fantasy and sci-fi genres. Both short and feature-length films are accepted, as well as documentaries, animation, experimental, music videos, and trailers. The early-bird deadline for submission is June 30, 2013. (Filmmakers should visit www.darkcarnivalfilmfest.com for more information.) The Dark Carnival International Film Festival is a different show every year. Screenings showcase a mix of 25-30 short and feature films. Events have included outdoor drive-in film screenings, filmmaking seminars, panel discussions, VIP award banquets, and filmmaker Q&A.
The festival has also offered a variety of after-hour events, including costume contests, dance parties, carnival sideshows, horror hosts, burlesque dancers, live fire shows and more! 2013 promises to be a special year for the event. This year’s festival theme will take advantage of the Crump Theater’s spooky reputation as a favorite location for ghost hunters from around the country, and festival organizers are hard at work planning our best show yet! Festival passes go on sale spring 2013, and a limited number of vendor tables are available. Visit www.DarkCarnivalFilmFest.com for more details.
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