The Shriekfest Film Festival, an international horror/sci-fi film and screenplay competition, has announced its 2017 finalists and is slated to screen the black comedy Mercy Christmas. The movie follows Michael Briskett, who meets the perfect woman, and his ideal Christmas dream comes true when she invites him to her family’s holiday celebration. What could go wrong? “This is a laugh out loud horror comedy & I’m thrilled to have it be the opening film!” says Festival Director Denise Gossett.

The Shriekfest Film Festival will open with a party on October 5, 2017, at Boardners/Club Sinister in Hollywood; the remainder of the festival will take place October 6 – 8 at the legendary Raleigh Studios on Melrose Ave. Ten films will be screened over the weekend, in addition to more than 30 international short films that range across the spectrum of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.

Celebrating its 17th year, Shriekfest was created in July 2001 by Denise Gossett and has grown into the longest-running and one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the country. Shriekfest kicks off its first bi-coastal event this year as well, with Shriekfest Orlando on October 21. Since its inception, Shriekfest has offered young and upcoming writers, actors and producers a chance to have their work screened and rated by peers.