Recent Articles
NYCHFF Coverage Day Five - The Winners
By John Marrone
Oct 25, 2005, 22:08

And on the fifth day, the New York Horror Film Festival did come to a close - handing out its awards that Sunday evening.  Michael Hein did a good job putting together a quality event this year that did not disappoint.  Thanks go out to Tribeca Cinemas for the clean and classy venue - as well as all the filmmakers and fans who attended.  The atmosphere was as professional as it was enjoyable.  I'm not going to miss this when it comes around again next year.  Listed below are the winners of 2005's New York City Horror Film Festival. 

BEST FEATURE FILM:  The Dark Hours, directed by Paul Fox - starring Kate Greenhouse, Aidan Devine, and Gordon Currie.

Dr. Samantha Goodman, a psychiatrist, joins her husband and sister for a weekend at a winter cottage when an unexpected guest arrives from her past.  This film has been winning best picture and best actress awards left and right and is definitely one to watch for.  It will be released to Canadian theaters on November 11, 2005.  Visit the official website for the film at www.thedarkhours.com

BEST SHORT FILM:  Zombie Movie, directed by Michael J. Asquith.

New Zealand, 1986.  The zombie apocalypse is here and three mates are stranded.  The trusty Holden is out of gas.  With only fast food scraps and a few cigarettes for sustenance, surviving each other may prove harder than facing the undead outside.  This film is to be released online through Steam media, and was produced by 2Chums - a subdivision of Valve (yes the company that most recently put out Half-Life 2).  Visit www.2chums.com for more information on this short.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:  Headspace, directed by Andrew van den Houten - cinematography by William M. Miller.

Alex is alarmed when his intellect mysteriously begins to grow, along with the horrors that invade his dreams and even his waking hours.  Menaced from all sides by the forces of evil, Alex must overcome his past and contain his own deadly urges to discover the demons that haunt him.  For an amateur film, this was put together to look like a pro - burning some pretty dark and disturbing images into your memory.  Young director Houten had a great crew to help polish this creation.  Delve deeper into this shocker at www.headspacethemovie.com

BEST ACTOR:  Jason Scott Campbell, in Nightmare, directed by Dylan Bank

A film student wakes up one morning in bed with a woman he’s never met. They discover a video camera pointed at them, and when they play the tape back, they’re horrified to see themselves committing a bloody murder — even though there are now no signs of violence in the room. The young director becomes compelled to make a movie chronicling murders he believes he is committing, even as he continues to discover more shocking videotapes each morning, and tries to find out who’s taping him.    Find more about this gem at www.nightmarethemovie.com

BEST SCREENPLAY:  Headspace, directed by Andrew van den Houten - written by Steve Klausner and William M. Miller

Alex's nightmare begins when he meets Harry, a mysterious artist and chessmaster.  Long suppressed memories surface and Alex must face the terrors of his violent past.  But it is only the beginning of Alex's calamity.  www.headspacethemovie.com

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS:  Neighborhood Watch, directed by Graeme Whifler - special makeup effects by Leonard MacDonald

Nothing bad could ever happen on quiet, tree lined Wormwood Drive.  At least that's what Bob and Wendi thought, before they met their new neighbor, Adrien.  Behind Adrien's grin lurks a dark obsession with poison and self mutilation.  Strong stomachs - here is the new  film by which you will be measured.  It was confirmed - a patron of the Tribeca Cinemas DID pass out while watching this movie.  Gutcheck yourself at www.neighborhoodwatchthemovie.com

AUDIENCE CHOICE:  Road Kill, directed by Mark Mardini

With one murder left to complete the greatest killing spree of all time, the Southside Butcher picks an easy target to complete his masterpiece.  But chaos becomes inevitable when his final victim turns out to be more of a challenge than he originally expected.

I'd also like to point out some other films of interest...

Culinary Art, by BC Furtney

- A short splatter film complete with completely uncensored chainsawed meat and lovely dinner guests...  www.bcfurtney.com

Mortuary, by Tobe Hooper

- Black vomit, reanimating fungus, walking cadavers, embalming rooms - you'll jump out of your seat and get a few good laughs (my personal favorite of the festival)...  http://ver2.mortuarythemovie.com/

Shadow: Dead Riot, by Derek Wan

- A gory female prison kung-fu zombie flick starring Tony Todd, complete with flesh eating fetus and see-through acting!  www.deadriot.com

Stephen King's The Road Virus Heads North, by Dave Brock

- Skin crawler short that creeped me the hell out