Prepare to be thrilled and chilled, as the Eerie Horror Fest unveils its spine-tingling First Wave of Official Film Selections and the highly anticipated Pitch Competition Finalists for its upcoming 2023 edition. With submissions pouring in from a staggering 25 different countries, the festival’s esteemed Festival Director, John C. Lyons, expresses his excitement, stating, “Every film submission underwent meticulous review by at least 4 members of our programming team. We even pushed the boundaries to select 6 Pitch Competition finalists. The sheer talent we encountered was mind-blowing, a testament to the enduring vitality of the horror genre!”

Scheduled to haunt the historic Warner Theatre nestled in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, from October 4th to 7th, 2023, the Eerie Horror Fest promises an unforgettable experience for horror enthusiasts and cinephiles alike. Secure your tickets and unearth more details at the official festival website, www.eeriehorrorfest.com.

The following films will be screened in competition at the Eerie Horror Fest. Screening schedules and additional films will be announced in the coming days.

Demon Box – 14 minutes – Canada – Sean Wainsteim

After festival rejections, a director revises his intensely personal short film about trauma, suicide, and the Holocaust, and transforms it into a painful, blunt and funny dissection of the film and his life. Ten years in the making. *Please be advised that this film deals with themes of trauma and suicide.

English Tutor – 10 minutes – Republic of Korea – Jaho Koo
A Korean university student takes on an unusual tutoring job and encounters a young child who refuses to write in English. As the tutor attempts to get to the root of the child’s reluctance, she uncovers a shocking revelation about the child and her mother. *First time filmmaker.

Match – 8 minutes – Spain – Victor Basallote
Rachel, a bored and insomniac young woman, contacts Zalir through a dating app, a creature who will do the impossible to make their paths cross, forever…

Mother Noctura – 100 minutes – Italy – Daniele Campea
Agnese is a wolf biologist who gets back to her family after a long hospitalization in a mental institution. Her daughter Arianna is an introverted teenager who lives for dancing and has a problematic relationship with her mother. Her husband, Riccardo, is a doctor who tries to hold the pieces of a family about to collapse. The moon has an occult power over Agnese, whose mind begins to disrupt and her body transforms, while the visions of the “God of the Woods” intrude on reality. As Riccardo gets seriously ill due to the pandemic, mother and daughter will find themselves alone to deal with the ghosts from the past, locked in a house surrounded by woods, where nightmares take over, and obscure presences become evermore disturbing.

Sætnere – 8 minutes – Pittsburgh, United States – Jeremy Parsons
Set in 1888, a traveling vampire seeks lodging with an unsuspecting rural family. The family has other intentions.

Treeline – 12 minutes – United Kingdom – Freddie Bonfanti
11-year-old Neil ventures into local woods to find his missing brother Vincent, only to discover a truth that challenges the community’s accusations against their father. *First time filmmaker.

We Forgot About the Zombies – 4 minutes – United States – Chris McInroy
Two dudes think they found the cure for zombie bites.

PITCH COMPETITION FINALISTS:
Each project listed will be pitched, live and in-person, to our panel of industry professional judges by the screenwriter(s) on Thursday, October 5th at 5:00 PM in the Warner Theatre’s 2nd Floor Lounge. Festival attendees are welcome and encouraged to attend.Each Pitch Competition Finalist will receive hotel accommodations at our partner, Red Roof Inn PLUS & Suites, for the duration of the festival. The winning project will receive a consulting package from Blood Oath and a “Skullie” award designed by “Monster” Mark Kosobucki.

Arkham: The Thing on the Doorstep – Bradley & Christopher Thompson

Photojournalist Natalie Rice begins a new life in the strange city of Arkham, where the denizens hide many dark secrets. One of those citizens, Randolph Carter, also begins a journey of self-discovery while battling an addiction to a mysterious drug. Throughout their journeys they meet several strange characters, such as a body stealing magician, a mystical sailor, a dark religious order that attempts to manipulate their lives from the shadows, a lawyer that is plotting his own coup, a handyman that knows more than he lets on, and many creatures. Will these two people find their way each other and overcome the powers against them?

Beyond A Goodbye – Jacob Perrett & Taylor Rhoades

Following the suicide of her father, Natalie is unable to walk the aisle without him. In an effort to gain closure, she visits “The Limbo Room,” a place where the living can meet with the dead. Natalie spirals when she encounters a stranger claiming to be her true deceased biological father.

Look Twice – William Davis & Kyle WIlson
A night surveillance security guard spots a trespasser on the property, then regrets grabbing their attention once he realizes the intruder is paranormal.

Oread – Lee Copeland

A group of friends takes a trip to the mountains to reconnect and have some fun only to cross into the realm of myth, madness, and horror.

Queen of the Night – Lauren Pruitt

An introverted young woman in NYC attempts to sabotage her love interest’s current relationship as she discovers a newfound thirst for blood.

The Tale of Nick Stalker – Katie Nixon
A young woman named Lilah moves to Azaela Valley to start a new life as a lawyer. However, she quickly becomes entangled in an affair with her boss, who starts to exhibit some alarming behavior. After breaking things off with him, Lilah finds herself trapped in a new, nightmarish reality.

Brace yourself for four days of macabre magic as the Eerie Horror Fest unfolds its sinister delights. The hauntingly beautiful Warner Theatre in Erie, Pennsylvania, sets the stage for a captivating showcase of both short and feature-length horror films, where terror and creativity intertwine seamlessly. But that’s not all—the festival also beckons attendees into the realm of celebrity encounters, captivating cast and crew Q&A sessions, illuminating panel discussions, a mesmerizing vendor hall, and spine-chilling receptions.

At the heart of the Eerie Horror Fest lies a passionate mission to bring trailblazing films and visionary filmmakers to the forefront. Beyond mere entertainment, the festival aims to foster a platform where knowledge, skills, and connections flourish, inspiring generations of horror fans and creative minds alike.