When horror fans gather this October for the third annual Blood Flood Film Festival, they can take heart in the fact that all the gore and mayhem they’re reveling in will make a positive contribution to society.
Redfilms, the organizers of the festival, contributed all profits from last year’s Blood Flood to Middle East Children’s Alliance and other charities. President Red Clark said he’s prospecting groups that address African pandemics and environmental protection to benefit from this year’s Blood Flood.
“We are trying to tie everything back to social change, even the obnoxious horror movies,” said Clark. “The festival is something audience members and filmmakers can come out and have a great time, laugh their asses off, scream, and hopefully meet some cool people?all for a good cause.”
Clark and co-organizer Mike Logan are still scouting venues for the fest. They hope to expand to two nights from last year’s well-attended single night at the Lake Zurich Regal Cinemas.
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| Red Clark’s “Burying Boyd” debuted at last year’s Blood Flood Film Festival. |
The festival is accepting submissions through Oct. 1, but has already slated Jason Collums’ scream queen doc “Something to Scream About.” “One kid said he made a movie about a Bigfoot slaughtering Chicago punks,” Clark enthused. “I do hope he sends it in.”
Clark plans to debut his own DV horror feature “Hollow House” at Blood Flood. He’s in production on “Hollow House” now in Chicago and Michigan, along with another feature, “Screamies,” a love story set a horror movie fest. He’s in post on two docs: “A Struggle, A Gift” about Tourette Syndrome, and “Three Nights of the Creeps” about the weekend horror short production contest Redfilms held this summer.
This November Redfilms plans to start shooting an indie horror TV series tentatively entitled “Night of the Living Red,” screening films, interviewing filmmakers and showcasing musical performances by “bands of monsters.”
Clark and his Redfilms partner Mike Miller will open an office in Chicago at the end of September. Until then, they’re at 126 E. Wing St. #109, Arlington Heights. See www.bloodfloodfilmfest.com.
– by Ed M. Koziarski, edk@homesickblues.com
