PRESS RELEASE
Between the 20th and the 30th of November, Cinema Nova, Carlton and Yah Yah's, Collingwood will be hosting over 40 films, several parties, five days of master-classes, trivia nights, VIP international guest ‘meet & greets’, exclusive filmmaker Q&A sessions and much, much more.
We're also, for the first year, running a series of master classes called 'The Monster Fest Academy of Horror & Mayhem'. It will be a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in the art of genre filmmaking. Featuring some of the key players in the genre world today, participants will be guided through the genre filmmaking process from concept through to delivery, distribution and exhibition. International guests include:
BILL MOSELEY: Horror fiends will be moist at the thought of Bill Moseley appearing at Monster Fest. An undisputed horror icon, Bill’s first foray into the genre was as ‘Chop Top’ in Tobe Hooper’s amazing THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2. He then solidified his place as a horror immortal by playing Otis in HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, and its follow up, THE DEVIL’S REJECTS. Bill is horror Royalty. What can we say other than, ‘welcome your Highness – we are not worthy!’
LLOYD KAUFMAN: The legendary founder of Troma Films has been involved with film for six decades, and his ‘Make Your Own Movie’ master-class is the stuff of legend. The undisputed King of trash cinema will be presenting a number of classic films as well as a full day master-class. Not to be missed.
MATTHEW KENNEDY & CONOR SWEENEY: From Winnipeg Canada, we bring you two of the infamous Astron 6. Their previous film FATHERS DAY was banned from screening at the 2012 festival. Well they’re here to present their new film THE EDITOR, and will be involved in the festival from start to finish – including a screening of FATHERS DAY with a live commentary. Meet and hang out with them at Monster Fest.
JEN & SYLVIA SOSKA: ‘The Twisted Twins’ have made a huge impact since their debut feature, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. In 2012 they came to Monster Fest with their amazing AMERICAN MARY, and found an army of Aussie fans. They’re gorgeous, gruesome and great!
JAMES CULLEN BRESSACK: If you were to describe James Cullen Bressack as a prodigy, you’d be on the money. Still in his very early twenties, he’s already made a string of genre features. James’ passion for cinema is massive and it shows in all his work. A winner of multiple Best Picture and Best director awards, he is one of the few indie filmmakers ‘Verified’ on twitter, where he has 70,000 + loyal fans.
TRISTAN RISK: Vancouver based performer who shot to fame after playing ‘Beatress Johnson’ in AMERICAN MARY. At Monster Fest 2014 she appears in no fewer than three films, THE EDITOR, THE ABCs OF DEATH 2 as well as CALL GIRL. A burlesque performer par excellence, she’ll also be strutting her magnificent stuff at various events during the festival.
JESSICA CAMERON: Canadian, now based in LA, she’s someone you wouldn’t think could melt butter in her mouth – until you see her films, then that you realize that somewhere deep within this lovely exterior lays the mind of a gore hound of the highest caliber! TRUTH OR DARE, in which she starred, produced, co-wrote and directed, is one of the most brutal and shocking genre films in years, by one of horror’s true rising stars.
ASHLEY C. WILLIAMS: The lone survivor of THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, Ashley is a brilliant actress on the rise. Her new film JULIA is a tour de force, and establishes her truly as a talent to behold. Ashley is here to present JULIA and to take us through a live commentary of the film that launched her career in film, Tom Six’s brilliant, THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE.
JASON TROST: Monster fans will know Jason Trost from ALL SUPERHEROES MUST DIE which he produced, wrote, directed and starred. This guy is an indie genre powerhouse – cranking out films at the rate of knots. Trost is a regular visitor to Australia and HOW TO SAVE US was shot here in Tassie. With recent appearances in big films such as THIS IS THE END and HATCHET 3, Jason Trost is very much a man on the rise!
KEVIN & MIKE McCARTHY: From Tampa, Florida, these brothers have made one of the coolest, grittiest, hard-boiled genre films in years. They’re brash, ballsy with a taste for the severely nasty and they’re a whole lot of fun – meet them and hang out with them at Monster Fest.
You can watch and share the trailer HERE