Utah is already known for the world famous Sundance Film Festival held every year in Park City. Starting Thursday, Salt Lake City hosts its own. The Salty Horror International Film Festival will be hosting it’s first year in downtown Salt Lake City.
“The Salty Horror International Film Festival’s main goal is to be the main horror film festival, which it’s the only one so it shouldn’t be too hard, in Utah forever,” Mario DeAngelis, the festival director and creator said.
The festival will be showing 22 different films from three countries and across the United States. Several of the films have won awards in other festivals and are glad to showcase them at the Salty Horror. Richard Dutcher, famous in Utah for making God’s Army will be showcasing his latest horror, Evil Angel. The New Jersey film, Evil Things, will also be showcased, as well as films from Canada and Australia.
“It’s not just Utah films. This was a misconception we had early on that we were just doing Utah horror films. Not true. This is never a Utah horror film festival.” DeAngelis said.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will also have several after parties where lovers of horror can sip drinks and chat about their favorite scenes. The parties will take place at the Hive Gallery at Trolley Square. Proceeds from some of these parties will go to help the Boys & Girls Club. The parties will feature live bands, as well as a chance to get to know others on the horror scene.
Throughout the festival booths and features will be set up celebrating and promoting horror. Local fashion designer Andrea Hansen will be showcasing her line of “Pretty Macabre,” fashion geared towards horror. Also the festival will be selling the “2011 Girls of Salty Horror” calendar, a hot piece of merchandise festival goers will want to get their hands on.
Appearing at the Salt Lake City Library and also with the festival on Friday will be Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith, two famous horror comic writers. They will participate in a panel discussion on horror comics with movie critic Jeff Vice, owner of Black Cat Comics Greg Gage and filmmaker and SLCC student Loren Teryl. The writers will also be doing a book signing on Saturday at Black Cat Comics in Sugarhouse.
DeAngelis didn’t put this event together by himself. He had several dozen people helping him by donating their time to make this festival a reality. In addition the community has been helping by donating at indiegogo.com and searching “Salty Horror International Film Festival,” Those who donate over $500 will be given an all festival pass for free, which will get into every screening and VIP party. The donations will go to make sure that not only this festival goes off without a hitch but will help make sure that there will be a festival next year.
For those who don’t want to lose their Halloween spirit just yet, spook junkies can spend some time at the Salty Horror International Film Festival and see how long it takes before they have a good scream.
For a full schedule with times of the festival’s events, go to www.saltyhorrorfilmfestival.com and to donate to the festival go to www.indiegogo.com and search “Salty Horror International Film Festival.”