The 6^th Annual Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, aka JTIFF, kicks off on April 20 and runs through April 23. This year’s line-up includes a heavy dose of genre films that we here at HorrorBuzz are looking forward to watching and covering, along with several blocks of shorts, live music, and director Q & As. Below is a list of some of our most anticipated films screening at this year’s fest.

Divinity

Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, this black and white sci-fi mindbender is the opening night film. Written and directed by Eddie Alcazar, the film stars Scott Bakula as Sterling Pierce, Stephen Dorff  as Sterling’s son, Jaxxon Pierce, and Bella Thorne as Ziva. Considering its impressive cast, this one is an absolute must-see and sounds like quite the trip.

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster

There’s been a lot of hype about this one building within the horror community. Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this feature, written and directed by Bomani J. Story, follows the story of teenage anti-hero Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes). She tries to cure death after the brutal murder of her brother. Fans of “The Walking Dead” and “The Wire” will recognize Chad L. Coleman, who plays Donald.  We’re amped to see this unique take on Shelley’s well-known tale. There will be a Q & A with the director following the film.

Birth/Rebirth

Filmmaker Laura Moss already has an impressive resume. Their work has screened at Tribeca, South by Southwest, and other festivals. Their short film, “Fry Day,” is featured on the Criterion Channel. This feature is another take on the Frankenstein mythos. The story centers on a morgue technician who reanimates the body of a little girl. To keep the corpse breathing, she has to harvest biological materials from pregnant women. When the girl’s mother discovers her baby alive, she makes a deal with the morgue technician that sends them down a dark path. Stick around after the credits roll because there will be a Q & A with Moss following the screening.

8 Found Dead

Maybe there should be a subgenre called Airbnb horror. There has been a wave of films within the last few years, including Superhost and Barbarian, with the premise of an Airbnb trip gone terribly, terribly wrong. In director Travis Greene’s 8 Found Dead, a couple goes on a weekend getaway, only to find out that their Airbnb is already occupied. Talk about a travel nightmare. What makes Greene’s film unique is the fact it’s told from four different points of view.

I Like Movies

This one sounds like the perfect feature for cinephiles and should be a crowd pleaser at the JTIFF. It stars Isaiah Lehtinen as Lawrence Kweller, a socially inept 17-year-old, who gets a job at a video store and forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager. The film was written and directed by Chandler Levack, a two-time Juno Award nominee for Video of the Year. Her debut as a narrative filmmaker, the short film “We Forgot to Break Up,” premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

The Grindhouse Block

The grindhouse block is an absolute must for genre fans. The block takes place on Saturday at 11:45 pm and features about a dozen shorts and two director Q & As.  Sorry kids, but this selection is for those 18 and over. As for the adults, make sure that you grab a coffee and prepare to watch some of the most jaw-dropping shorts that you’ll see this year.

Other JTIFF highlights include a block of PA student film and the filmmakers’ gala on Friday night. For the full schedule, and to purchase tickets, visit www.jimthorpeindependentfilmfestival.com.