The Salem Horror Fest returned to the Halloween capital of the world this October for the event’s fifth anniversary with an in-person event earlier this month, and now the virtual portion of this year’s Salem Horror Fest kicks off today, Friday, October 22nd!
The virtual program runs from October 22 – October 31, and you can get yourself a virtual pass right now that gives you access to ALL of the films and events for just $125.
This year’s virtual program showcases more than 100 features, shorts, music videos, and other exclusives in partnership with ALTER, Fangoria, and the George A. Romero Foundation.
Leading the pack is 17 year old trans director Alice Maio Mackay’s jury award winning queer teen vampire romp So Vam. Mackay became one of the first-ever recipients of the George A. Romero Foundation Fellowship chosen by program mentor Jenn Wexler (The Ranger).
“So Vam is so much fun. I had such a blast with it. The film has a killer aesthetic with really cool vampires. I’d like to be friends with them,” Salem Horror Fest’s Kay Lynch tells us.
Director Paul Owens was also selected for a Romero Fellowship by Travis Stevens (Jakob’s Wife) for his innovative low budget, high concept found footage film LandLocked which reimagines his own family video tapes in a haunted house of analog nightmares.
You’ll also be able to stream What Happens Next Will Scare You, a “clickbait horror satire” from Writer/Director/Producer Chris LaMartina and Writer/Producer Jimmy George, the duo behind WNUF Halloween Special and Call Girl of Cthulhu. What Happens Next Will Scare You includes a wrap around story and eight spooky anthology segments.
In the movie, “Staying late in their office, a motley crew of click-bait writers are watching the top thirteen scariest viral videos in preparation for a Halloween listicle, but when an early entry curses whoever watches the cryptic link, our snarky hipsters must distinguish fact from fiction before a tidal wave of terrifying supernatural activity leads to real-life murders.”
The double-sized edition of Wicked Shorts features the jury winning short Verified from director Ali Chappell documenting an influencer’s deterioration into the undead. This year’s program dominated by women directors and queer themes inclulde shorts such as Bed, Koreatown Ghost Story, The Lovers, and Sundown Town.
Also featured this year is a collection of interviews, podcasts, lectures, makeup effects demos and more in partnership with the George A. Romero Foundation fundraising drive. All donations made before October 31 will be matched.
Salem Horror Fest will expand its digital footprint with a bonus collection of shorts on the Dust streaming app in partnership with ALTER and afternoon blocks of music videos co-presented with Fangoria Tuesday, October 27 – Thursday, October 29.
The virtual program will be available on demand Friday, October 22 – Sunday, October 31. View the entire lineup and buy passes at Salem Horror Fest.
