OFFICIAL SELECTION - TELLURIDE HORROR SHOW

Friends in Colorado! We are honored to announce that The Smiling Man is an Official Selection of the 2016 Telluride Horror Show! We will be celebrating our Colorado Premiere with a curated selection of genre features and shorts at the historic Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theatre in Telluride, Colorado! The event runs over three days from October 14-16. Writer/Director AJ Briones will be in attendance!

TIckets are limited, so if you're looking to get them, you should do so today! Click the button below to get them from the Telluride Horror Show website:

About the Telluride Horror Show

The Telluride Horror Show, Colorado's first and longest-running horror film festival, returns for its 7th edition October 14-16, 2016. Every year, the festival attracts the latest & best horror films from all over the world and attendees from all over the country for an intimate gathering of genre film fans in the world-famous mountain resort town of Telluride, Colorado. For three days and nights, experience an eclectic mix of horror, suspense, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi and dark comedy in Telluride's historic Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theatre, with many of the films showing for the first time in the US. The festival features an average of 25 feature films and 50 short films, and hosts special programs, guests, and events. If you love horror, and film, then you can't miss this fest. Named one of the "20 Coolest Film Festivals" by Moviemaker Magazine.

Find out more on their website at http://www.telluridehorrorshow.com/

Official Selection - Scare LA 2016

The Smiling Man comes back to Los Angeles, as part of Shriekfest's Festival Block at the iconic ScareLA! The convention rocks out August 6-7 with official host Elvira, the Mistress of the Dark running the show! We are proud to be one of 74 films selected to screen out of 2,100 submissions from 20 countries! On top of that, the convention features exhibitors, classes, presentations, experiences and more!

Come see The Smiling Man the way it was intended: in a dark room full of horror fans! Cast and crew will be in attendance!

As soon as the organizers sort out screening dates and times, we'll let you know! Meanwhile, you can check out the film's page here: http://2016.scarela.com/2016/06/07/the-smiling-man/

About Scare LA

ScareLA premiered in 2013 as the first fan convention dedicated to celebrating Halloween. Situated in the entertainment capital of the world, it combines the city’s top talent and unique cultural setting with a twist! Drawing fans and haunt entertainment professionals, the event features top attraction designers and operators, manufacturers, artists, filmmakers and more. The weekend-long Halloween season teaser celebrates California’s hottest scary faire with attraction unveils, workshops and classes, top industry panels, haunt tours, screenings and activities. Share, inspire, play – ScareLA.

Find out more on their website at http://2016.scarela.com/

Official Selection - Crypticon Seattle 2016

Friends in Seattle! We'll be heading your way in May as an official selection of Crypticon Seattle 2016! We'll be screening with an amazing curated selection of horror shorts May 27-29, along with great exhibitors, special events and VIP guests like Elvira, Lance Henricksen, Michael Biehn, Tony Todd and more!

As soon as the screening schedule is finalized, we will let you know!

About Crypticon Seattle

Crypticon Seattle is the largest convention of its type in the Pacific Northwest, and 2016 is our 9th year. We anticipate 5000+ attendees for this year’s 3 day event. Our fans will travel from the region extending from Vancouver, BC Canada to Eugene, OR and including Portland, OR, and of course the greater Seattle, WA area. Fans come to meet their favorite celebrities, watch the latest films – many making their premiere at Crypticon -, purchase gifts and collectibles, meet their favorite authors, dress up as their favorite characters, learn the latest make up techniques, meet other fans, and enjoy macabre-themed party events. Crypticon is the gathering for the true fan of creepy stuff in all its forms. It’s the place to be for every fan, and brands familiar to our fans.

Find out more on their website at http://crypticonseattle.com/

Official Selection - Sciuridae Film Festival

We are excited to announce our return to Boise in a special screening at the first annual Sciuridae Film Festival. The festival happens April 16th, 2016. Writer/Director AJ Briones will be skyping in live at 1:30pm for a special Q&A session with attendees. It should be a fun time!

About the Sciuridae Film Festival

The Sciuridae Film Festival is for amateur and student filmmakers to showcase their most recent works. We are currently accepting short films 15 minutes or less of any genre. See Rules for more information. The focus of the festival is to build relationships among filmmakers and the local community.

Find out more on their website at https://sciuridaeff.wordpress.com

The Smiling Man Nominated for Best Horror Short Film at North Hollywood Cinefest 2016

Aww snap! It's an honor for us to announce that we are in competition for Best Horror Short Film at the North Hollywood Cinefest this year! We will be screening in Shorts Session 7 on Monday, March 21 at 9:30pm at the iconic Laemmle Noho 7 theaters in North Hollywood.

Check out the other nominees here: http://www.nohocinefest.com/#!2016-award-nominees/c1933

About the North Hollywood Cinefest

Located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles, the North Hollywood CineFest has established itself as a premiere event for independent cinema from all over the world.

By combining a vibrant local social scene with a state-of-the-art cinema, every filmmaker and film lover is sure to be impressed and delighted with the location. The combination of great film screenings, press and red carpet events, parties, seminars, all offered in this seven-day event, is what makes this a dynamic and must-go film festival.

Find out more on their website at http://www.nohocinefest.com/

The Smiling Man Nominated for Two Awards at Asians On Film Festival 2016

Awww yeah! We are excited to announce that The Smiling Man is in competition for two awards at the 2016 Asians on Film Festival: Best Horror/Thriller and Best Original Score. We will be screening on Thursday, March 10 at 7pm at the Japanese American National Museum in West Hollywood. Tickets are available now! Click the button below to purchase tickets!

Click here to take a look at the complete list of nominees: http://asiansonfilm.com/10287-2/

About the Asians on Film Festival

Asians on Film started as something small in 2010 as a way to promote Asian American minorities in Hollywood and break down stereotypes and create more representation in film and TV.

Asians on Film is a 501 (C)3 non-profit devoted to arts & entertainment with a primary focus in providing recognition to the talent of Asian/Pacific Islanders who are minorities in the film industry either as talent, filmmakers and/or those who work in other aspects of filmmaking.

Find out more on their website at http://asiansonfilm.com/

Official Selection - SXSW Film Festival 2016

I cannot stress to you how amazing it feels to be able to announce that The Smiling Man is an Official Selection of the 2016 SXSW Film Festival. This is, without a doubt, our biggest festival acceptance so far. With 3 screenings over 10 days and attended by 85,000 people, we are humbled at the opportunity to share our little film with the people of Austin.

We know the odds: with over 5,000 short films submitted for 110 coveted slots, we understand how incredibly fortunate we are and we look forward to making the most of this opportunity to spread the word about our little film. Huge thanks to our cast and crew, and to every film festival, big and small, that screened and believed in our film.

We will let you know as soon as screening dates and times are finalized, and we look forward to meeting some of you in Austin!

About the SXSW Film Festival

For nine days in March, creatives of all stripes gather at the SXSW Film Conference and Festival to celebrate raw innovation and emerging talent both behind and in front of the camera.

Featuring a high caliber and diverse film lineup, conversations with today’s most talented creators, one-on-one mentor sessions and more, SXSW Film brings together visionaries from all corners of the entertainment and media industry to share the stories and ideas that will shape the future of filmmaking.

The 2016 SXSW Film Conference and Festival will take place March 11-19, 2016.

Find out more on their website at www.sxsw.com

Official Selection - Los Angeles Short Film Festival 2016

We're adding another screening in LA with our Official Selection to the Los Angeles Short Film Festival! We'll be screening March 5-6, in competition with a fantastic selection of shorts from all over the globe!

As soon as we know more about event dates and times, we will let you know!

About the Los Angeles Short Film Festival

Film festivals are still the best place to screen independent work and get it noticed. With YouTube and Vimeo so overcrowded, good shorts often drown in a sea of bad. Showing the best of the best is priority at Los Angeles Short Film Festival. We provide filmmakers  an opportunity to share their shorts with an enthusiastic and responsive audience that’s eager to see new films, new faces, and new art. Los Angeles Short Film Festival – where emerging talent finds a place to shine!

Find out more on their website at http://losangelesshortfilmfestival.weebly.com/

Official Selection - North Hollywood Cinefest 2016

We are thrilled to announce that The Smiling Man has been chosen as an Official Selection to the 2016 North Hollywood Cinefest! We are honored to screen in North Hollywood with some of the best independent features and shorts in all genres! 

The festival takes place the week of March 18-24. As soon as we get more information on screening dates and times, we will let you know! We're looking forward to sharing The Smiling Man with you!

Check out all the other Official Selections here: http://www.nohocinefest.com/#!2016-official-selections/c1933

About the North Hollywood Cinefest

Located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles, the North Hollywood CineFest has established itself as a premiere event for independent cinema from all over the world.

By combining a vibrant local social scene with a state-of-the-art cinema, every filmmaker and film lover is sure to be impressed and delighted with the location. The combination of great film screenings, press and red carpet events, parties, seminars, all offered in this seven-day event, is what makes this a dynamic and must-go film festival.

Find out more on their website at http://www.nohocinefest.com/

Official Selection - SoCal International Film Fest 2016

Friends in Los Angeles! The Smiling Man heads back to California as an Official Selection of the 11th Annual SoCal International Film Fest! The festival, named as one of 20 festivals worth the entry fee by MovieMaker Magazine, is held February 10-15 in Huntington Beach. Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance, and there will be a Q&A after the screening!

As soon as we know more about screening dates and times, we will let you know!

About the SoCal Film Fest

Named as one of MovieMaker Magazine's 20 Festivals worth the entry fee, the SoCal has award winning movies and screenplays; industry speakers; professional workshops; Q&As with directors and actors; special guests; a professional panel of jury members and screeners; volunteer opportunities; and scores of film watching attendees ... Our goal is to continually create a truly important film festival for independent filmmakers and screenwriters ... and a truly independent film festival.

Find out more on their website at www.socalfilmfest.com/

Official Selection - Twister Alley International Film Festival 2016

Happy New Year everyone! Our festival run continues with our first Official Selection of the new year, as The Smiling Man is a "First Fifty" selection of the Twister Alley International Film Festival! We are very honored to be in such great company, screening with Cannes, Sundance, SXSW and Fantastic Fest darlings in Twister Alley International's 2016 Midnight Shorts block. 

Take a look at the amazing First Fifty official selections from all genres on the Twister Alley International Film Festival website here: http://www.twisteralleyfilmfestival.com/films.html

The Smiling Man writer/director/editor AJ Briones will be in attendance for the screening, and we are looking forward to checking out the fest and the city of Woodward, OK. The festival runs from May 5-7, and we are looking forward to seeing you there!

About the Twister Alley International Film Festival

Twister Alley International is a unique film festival run by filmmakers...for filmmakers. After screening at hundreds of film festivals, seeing the good and the bad, Twister Alley Festival Directors Josh Hope & TJ Treece are proud to bring their favorite indie films from across the globe back home to NW Oklahoma by designing a film festival that provides the perfect setting for both filmmakers and movie fans alike.  With complimentary food & lodging expenses for screening filmmakers and a jury loaded with working filmmakers and actors, Twister Alley sets itself apart from the mass of tired film festivals by putting the filmmaker first.

Find out more on their website at http://www.twisteralleyfilmfestival.com/

The Smiling Man visits San Francisco for Another Hole in the Head on 11/7!

The Smiling Man heads to San Francisco this weekend when it screens at the 12th Annual SF Indie's Another Hole in the Head 2015! Screening on Saturday, November 7 at the New People Cinema in Japantown at 2pm with a great selection of short films and with the writer/director in attendance (it's weird talking about myself in the third person, haha), tickets are on sale online now!

This is the second time I've had a film in this festival, and I missed it last year, but I'm so excited to be there this time! If I had my way, I'd be there for the entire run, but unfortunately I will only be there for an evening, but I'm definitely going to make it count!

Tickets are available online now! Click the button below for details!

About Another Hole in the Head

SF IndieFest's Another Hole in the Head genre film festival runs 11 days Dec 5-14 2014.This is our 12 year anniversary and we're going big. Our annual festival of horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy and exploitation cinema defies convention to bring you the most outrageous genre films from both emerging and established filmmakers. Almost two weeks of celluloid mayhem not usually found in your local cineplex!

“San Francisco’s original genre film festival is characterized by a scrappy, DIY aesthetic that eschews big studio content and recent trends towards elevated genre. Holehead’s programming remains curatorially committed to the genre’s graphic roots in shockploitation, visceral thrills and gleeful mayhem.” – Michael Guillen, The Evening Class

Find out more on their website at http://sfindie.com/

The Smiling Man Wins Best Post Production Award at Connect Festival USA 2015

The Smiling Man just took home the award for Best Post Production against very strong competition across all genres at the Connect Festival USA. We are very proud to bring this award home with us and congratulate the nominees: A Peaceful Man, Detectives of Noir Town, Frog, Little Red Riding Hood (starring Christina Ricci), Swiped, Krisha (SXSW Grand Jury and Audience Award winner and our personal favorite film of the fest), and Day One (a Project Greenlight finalist).

Our visual effects team consists of veterans in the industry spanning decades of experience,  and we are grateful to them for all their efforts in helping make The Smiling Man a creepy-ass experience for audiences all over the world!

The screening was very special for me, as I am always excited to screen in a non-genre festival with an audience has no idea what they are about to experience. The Downtown Independent is also one of my favorite single-screen theatres: great seats, excellent BARCO DP4K-32B projector, 7.1 DATASAT surround, a huge 34 foot screen, and the projectionist with the propensity to keep the volume nice and loud. 

It was a blast to sit in a full house and watch them squirm, scream, and laugh nervously through the tension and anxiety. I also got to enjoy some very engaging conversations with audience members and other filmmakers. We got so much love from the audience at this screening, it was such an honor. Seriously, no award beats the feeling of experiencing that.

Thanks so much to festival founder Lindsey Loon and her team for an unforgettable event! Also, thanks to Connect Festival for all but one of the photos! Man, I'm terrible at taking photos.

About Connect Festival

Share great films. Connect with great filmmakers. Make better films together.

Why Connect?

Connect Film Festival combines a short film festival and creative hub.

Founded in Australia, Connect Film Festival expands to Los Angeles in 2015.

Connect is an IMDB-listed festival granting 8 recognised awards for short film achievement. 2014 Connect films screened at Cannes and won awards in festivals in Toronto, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Houston, and Berlin.

More than anything, Connect is a filmmaker’s hub and a creative movement. An idea born in a pub and raised in an art space, Connect celebrates superb short films and encourages a vibrant filmmaker community.

Find out more on their website at http://connectfilmfestival.com/

7 Chances to see The Smiling Man this Weekend - Week of 10/25

That's right, you have SEVEN chances to see The Smiling Man this weekend, from California all the way out to Puerto Rico! Look below for details, screening times and ticketing information!

Saturday, 10/24 @ 1:00pm - Northern Frights Festival / Ontario, Canada

The Smiling Man treks up north for our Canadian Premiere at the Northern Frights Film Festival!  We screen at 1pm at the Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre, in Ontario! An all day pass is only $15 and there will be some great vendors as well as a haunted house to round up the festivities! Grab your tickets online below!

Saturday, 10/24 @ 5:40pm - Knoxville Horror Film Fest / Knoxville, TN

Tennessee! The Smiling Man screens at the Knoxville Horror Film Fest at 5:40pm in Shorts Block 6 with some great short films! We screen at the Regal Downtown West Cinema 8! Stick around for the Grindhouse Grind-out and the awesome features! A full day pass is only 30 bucks!

Saturday, 10/24 @ 7:00pm - East Bay Express Horror Film Festival / Oakland, CA

You're in for a raunchy good time at the East Bay Express Horror Film Festival, where they have an evening celebrating the darker side of independent cinema! The event is strictly for those 21 and over, with live horror-inspired burlesque and music performances. It's going to be a crazy good time at Club XOXO!

Saturday, 10/24 @ 10:30pm - The San Jose International Short Film Festival / San Jose, CA

The best short films of all genres the world over come together at the San Jose International Short Film Festival! The Smiling Man screens in the BEYOND MIDNIGHT block alongside a world-class selection of shocking, amazing and dark shorts! The festival is held at CineArts Santana Row in San Jose! Tickets are available online!

Sunday, 10/25 @ 11:00am - Halloween Horror Picture Show / Tampa, FL

Tampa! You can see The Smiling Man for FREE this Sunday! Hell, not just that, the entire Halloween Horror Picture Show is free all day! You can't beat that! There will be celebrities in attendance as well as some great vendors! Doors open at 10am, shorts program begins at 11!  It's all going to happen at the Tampa Pitcher Show! Click the button below for a map!

Sunday, 10/25 @ 2:10pm - Puerto Rico Horror Film Festival / Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

The Smiling Man screens at the Caribbean Cinemas in beautiful Guaynabo, Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Horror Film Festival! We will be screening at 2pm in a shorts block called YOU + ME = DEATH, alongside a theme-matched curated selection of horror shorts!

Full day and festival passes are available online, while individual screening tickets are available at the door for only $6!

Sunday, 10/25 @ 8:00pm - Connect Film Festival / Los Angeles, CA

This Sunday, we will be screening in Downtown Los Angeles in one of my favorite independent single screen theaters, the Downtown Independent, for the Connect Film Festival! This is going to be great for us, as it's a very filmmaker-centric fest and we're looking forward to meeting like-minded creatives and checking out their work. Come on down, tickets are available at the door and online!

The Smiling Man Wins Best of the Fest at Idaho Horror Film Festival 2015

The Smiling Man just took home a fantastic trophy, winning Best of the Fest the 2015 Idaho Horror Film Festival. Screening in front of the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Leatherface actor Andrew Bryniarski, we had a great showing with an overwhelmingly positive audience response.

It was my first time in Boise, Idaho and I was floored by the city's beauty and the warmth of the people of Idaho Horror Film Festival. This is also a pretty significant win for us, as The Smiling Man was in very tough competition against a strong lineup of shorts from around the world.

About the Idaho Horror Film Festival

The Idaho Horror Film Festival is a non-profit international film exhibition whose mission is to shine a spotlight on Idaho’s emerging filmmakers. The genre of horror is the common thread that has stitched itself into the fabric of the filmmaking community.  Through the mediums of independent film, food, music, literature and art, we strive to expand the cultural experience within Boise’s vibrant community.   We aim to develop a supportive framework for Idaho’s emerging filmmakers with the mission of providing more access to resources and education for individuals wanting to explore the medium of film. By strengthening the film making community in Idaho, we will fan the flames of creativity and set Idaho’s film industry ablaze.

Find out more on their website at http://www.idahohorrorfilmfestival.org/

Official Selection - Connect Film Festival 2015

The Smiling Man heads back to Los Angeles on Sunday October 25, screening at the Downtown Independent for the Connect Film Festival!

We will be screening our glorious 2k Scope and 5.1 Dolby Surround DCP! Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance! This is a great filmmaker's festival, so there will be a lot of filmmakers in attendance and we're hoping for a lot of great conversations and interactions!

About Connect Film Festival

Founded in Australia, Connect Film Festival expands to Los Angeles in 2015.

Connect is an IMDB-listed festival granting 8 recognised awards for short film achievement. 2014 Connect films screened at Cannes and won awards in festivals in Toronto, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Houston, and Berlin.

More than anything, Connect is a filmmaker’s hub and a creative movement. An idea born in a pub and raised in an art space, Connect celebrates superb short films and encourages a vibrant filmmaker community.

Revitalising what can be an exhausting “festival circuit,” Connect strives to inspire filmmakers to “connect with other creatives, and find future collaborators.”

Find out more on their website at http://connectfilmfestival.com/

The Smiling Man Wins Best Super Short Film at Shriekfest 2015

Wow, what a whirlwind weekend!

The Smiling Man took home the award for Best Super Short Film at the 2015 Shriekfest Film Festival! It's a great honor, as Shriekfest is one of the premiere genre festivals in the world, listed as one of "13 Horror Film Festivals to Die For," and among the top "25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" by MovieMaker Magazine!

It was such a great experience being able to attend the festival, as it's a rare occurrence for me. I met some really great people, filmmakers and genre fans alike, and got to spend quality time in the dark watching truly inspiring and stunning films. Furthermore, it was a real treat to have long conversations about film and the craft of filmmaking with like-minded folks.

It was an honor just to see our little film counted among the brilliant selection of films, so it was a great surprise to find out that we won Best Super Short Film. Huge thanks go out to the entire team who made The Smiling Man possible: from my producing partners Tefft Smith II and Nathan Hopkins, to our brilliant actors Strange Dave, Mellisa Chally and her talented daughter Abbi Chally, our DP David Holechek, the fantastic makeup fx team led by Melanie Leandro, and the entire crew that worked diligently and passionately, enabling us to shoot on time and (mostly) on budget! On the aural end of the spectrum, our genius composer Vivien Villani provided the eerie and haunting melodies and the great Jamey Scott filled in the soundscape and ensured that our mix sounded absolutely amazing. I also should thank our vendors SimpleDCP and Gotham Press!

Lastly, and definitely not least, the Smiling Man team would like to thank Shriekfest festival director Denise Gossett for running an amazing festival for 15 years! I can't state enough how thankful I am for the experience!

At the end of the day, the awards are definitely flattering, but what matters the most is watching the reactions from the audience and talking with them after the fact. The messages and emails we receive from film fans mean so much to us!

Next up: we will be screening at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, where Abbi and Mellisa Chally will be in attendance, and in two weeks I will be heading off to Boise for the Idaho Horror Film Festival! Hope to see some of you there!

Meanwhile, for a look at the complete list of Shriekfest 2015 Award Winners, check out their website here: https://www.shriekfest.com/previous-winners/

About Shriekfest

Shriekfest is an international film and screenwriting contest celebrating the work of independent artists in the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy film genres. Los Angeles’ longest-running horror festival, Shriekfest is now celebrating it’s 15th year. Superior screening facilities, parties, and panels make this a wonderful networking experience for all. Awards will be given in most categories and prizes include cash, product awards, trophies, etc. The festival will be taking place in early October. More information about Shriekfest can be found on www.shriekfest.com, www.twitter.com/shriekfest, and www.facebook.com/shriekfest.

The Smiling Man Nominated for Best Horror Short Film at Shriekfest 2015!

We are thrilled to share the news that The Smiling Man is nominated for the Best Horror Short Film award at Shriekfest 2015! The Smiling Man screens at 2pm on Saturday October 3 at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles, California! We will be screening with a great selection of horror shorts in what MovieMaker Magazine calls one of the "13 Horror Film Festivals To Die for" and also one of the "Top 5 Coolest Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festivals!"

You can purchase tickets online now by clicking on the button below!

About Shriekfest

Shriekfest is an international film and screenwriting contest celebrating the work of independent artists in the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy film genres. Los Angeles’ longest-running horror festival, Shriekfest is now celebrating it’s 15th year. Superior screening facilities, parties, and panels make this a wonderful networking experience for all. Awards will be given in most categories and prizes include cash, product awards, trophies, etc. The festival will be taking place in early October. More information about Shriekfest can be found on www.shriekfest.com, www.twitter.com/shriekfest, and www.facebook.com/shriekfest.

Official Selection - Sacramento Horror Film Festival 2015

Friends in Sacramento, The Smiling Man will be slithering your way October 9-11 as an Official Selection to the Sacramento Horror Film Festival 2015! We will be screening at the historic Colonial Theatre, whose iconic doors first opened in 1939. As soon as screening dates and times are announced, we will report them here! This is our lead actress' home town, so it's very possible that cast and crew will be in the screening and available for the Q&A!

About the Sacramento Horror Film Festival

The Sacramento Horror Film Festival was created in 2007 with many purposes. The festival founder desired the festival to be a platform for the horror filmmaker while providing a satisfying and valued movie going experience to the film patron.  

The SHFF screens more films over fewer days than any other horror film festival thus providing a greater chance for exposure for the horror filmmaker. We have a profound dedication to the horror genre. The festival screens all things horror including features, shorts, documentaries, music videos, trailers, and animations.  

We do more than screen a series of films. We enhance the film going experience between film programs by inserting live music, performance art, interactive games, costume contests, and comedy all hosted by horror host personalities. The Sacramento Horror Film Festival is more than a festival- it is multi-faceted arts and entertainment event.  

Find out more on their website at http://www.sachorrorfilmfest.com/