The Haunted House FearFest, presented by HauntTV with media sponsor Den of Geek, has announced that the 1999 film CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH will play the festival on Saturday, October 25th, with a special post-screening Q&A with producer Michael Monello, who also served as a producer on THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.
Michael Monello’s video game Broken Spectre won “Best Video Game of the Year” at the 2023 Haunted House FearFest. He will be presented with the award at this year’s festival.
As previously announced, the festival will run October 24 – 26, 2024 at the Triad Theater in New York City. Check out a festival sizzle reel trailer:
“I am delighted to meet NYC’s horror fans at Haunted House FearFest this year and share my favorite part of the Blair Witch story, a fake documentary about a fake documentary about the Blair Witch,” said CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH producer Michael Monello.
“I am thrilled to welcome Michael Monello to the Haunted House FearFest Film & Video Game Festival to screen Curse of the Blair Witch—a groundbreaking mockumentary that explores the The Blair Witch Project, which he also produced,” said Renee Huff, Owner & Executive Director, HHFF. “I am also excited to honor him with the Best Video Game of the Year award for Broken Spectre, recognizing his incredible contributions to both horror film and video game storytelling.”
Along with the screening of CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH and subsequent Q&A, additional expected highlights from the festival include:
- A special screening of season 3 of HauntTV’s hit series Haunted Discoveries, featuring Ghost Hunters’ star, Mustafa Gatollari, who will be in attendance to present an episode from the new season.
- Special pre-screening introductions from filmmakers, including Academy Award-nominated director John R. Dilworth, who will introduce his short film Howl If You Love Me, and award-winning director Lauren Keller, who will introduce her short films A Little of Glass of Rum and Dark and Stormy.
- Closing night awards ceremony to take place on Saturday, October 26th, where select films will be honored with awards including the grand prize “Grim Reaper Award for Best in Show.”
- Kodak Motion Picture will be awarding filmmaker grants to the winners of “Best Director” and “Best Cinematography.”
Renee Huff will continue her role as the festival’s Owner & Executive Director. The festival, which obtained new ownership in 2022, is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the work of innovative independent filmmakers, game developers, and artists from around the world, with a special focus on promoting the talents of women and underrepresented groups in the horror genre.
“Haunted House FearFest is the fulfillment of my lifelong dream – to immerse audiences in the art of horror while transforming bold ideas into lasting legacies. It serves as a powerful platform for filmmakers and game developers from all backgrounds, with a special emphasis on elevating women creators. Here, their stories are not just shared; they are honored, amplifying voices that deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated in ways that transcend the screen.” said Renee Huff, Owner & Executive Director, HHFF.
