Happy Women In Horror Recognition Month!

It's February 1st and that means it's now officially WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH!! The month is brain child of feminist, horror writer, and all 'round badass bitch, Hannah Neurotica of Ax Wound Zine.

The month is filled with women in horror being recognized and celebrated with special events, articles, podcasts, radio shows, interviews, film festivals, and charitable events. To find out about these events, check out them out HERE. Nothing near you? Well, why don't you do something yourself? Start an event and spread the word!

How else can you take part ANY time in February ANYWHERE in the world? You can give blood! We Twisted Twins started the Women In Horror Massive Blood Drive in celebration of Women In Horror. You can't really think "horror" without thinking "blood" and it's a way we can be strong like the heroines of horror that first make little girls say, "I wanna be her!" and give back. Every TWO seconds someone needs blood and there is no substitute.

This year, we joined forces with some very amazingly talented Women (and gentlemen supporters) of Horror...

THE SCARLET ENDING

Our music is an original song by the Scarlet Ending. The Scarlet Ending is a six piece Indie band from Syracuse, New York. The group is fronted by identical twin sisters Kayleigh Goldsworthy (Vocals, Guitar, Violin) and Kaleena Goldsworthy (Vocals, Piano, Accordion, Pennywhistle, Melodica, Ukulele), with Jon Tedd (Guitar, Vocals), Jess Hafner (Cello, Synthesizer), and Aaron Garritillo (Bass Guitar). Loosely defined as indie rock, The Scarlet Ending offers a blend of pop with cabaret, the grit of dive bar rock with the charms of three part harmony. Treat yourselves to a little listen of their wonderful music HERE.

CJ WALLIS

The video is directed, shot, cut, and choreographed by CJ Wallis of FortyFPS Productions. CJ is a director, writer, film maker, composer, musician, producer and one of the many men that are strong supporters of women in horror. We will also be working together on AMERICAN MARY. He supported us Twisted Twins before we even began calling ourselves the Twisted Twins and it has been an honor and a pleasure to be able to collaborate with not only a gifted artist, but a great friend.

SHANNON LARK

Shannon Lark is the living personification of the best qualities of a woman in horror: brilliance, beauty, strength, fearlessness, and that "I wanna be her" je ne sais pas. Widely known for her role as the first ever Fangoria Magazine Spooksmodel Shannon continues to pave the way for women in the evolving genre of cinematic horror. She is a director, writer, dancer, actress, and professional Scream Queen. Along with fellow femme fatale Heidi Martinuzzi (of the wicked awesome FanGirlTastic), she heads the first ever women only horror film festival, Viscera Film Festival, an annual event showcasing horror cinema as exclusively created by women. Her anthem of “Bring your daughter to the slaughter” is the siren song to the male dominion within commercial horror cinema. Shannon runs The Chainsaw Mafia (a website for reviews, news, and articles as well as for networking writers, filmmakers, and various artists within the horror genre) a production company focused on horror film and splatter theater.

MAUDE MICHAUD

Maude Michaud is a beautifully gifted fellow Canadian director, film maker, director of photography, writer, and photographer. Even though she is a huge horror fan, she loves to explore a variety of genres in the films she directs, which results in an eclectic body of work including: horror dramas, slightly surreal quirky tales, and explorations of unconventional relationships. Over the years, she independently wrote, directed and produced over 15 short films and video projects, both personal projects and commissioned works. Her work has screened as part of the Young Cuts Festival (Montreal & Toronto), the Wreck-Beach Film Festival (Barrie, Ontario), the Short Film Corner during the Cannes Film Festival (Cannes, France), the Montreal Fetish Film Festival and the International Teen Movie Festival in Toronto.

MARICHELLE DAYWALT

Marichelle Daywalt is one of the incredible female film makers we met during last years Viscera Film Festival. Her twisted and disturbing short film, MOCKINGBIRD, was among the top films of the festival and a personal favorite of ours. She has recently worked with Scream Queen extraordinaire, Tara Cardinal on her latest short, The Many Doors of Albert Whale which we are just dying to see.
Also, as an independent consultant for Arbonne.com, for the month of February, 15% of all orders placed at Arbonne.com using her referral ID #18707479 (or by phone with her directly) will be donated to the Red Cross!

BRENDA AND ELISABETH FIES

Brenda and Elisabeth Fies are a pair of sister film making and festival heading femme fatales. They are the co-creators and festival heads of the incredible monthly sensational film festival, BLEEDFEST. Directing, producing, writing, and acting are just a few of their many talents. They are a powerful voice for women in horror and a force to be reckoned with. It is an absolute honor to be able to call these ladies friends.

JENNIFER COOPER

Jennifer Cooper is an amazing writer and artist. She has been a huge supporter of Women in Horror. She worked along side of the wonderful Nia Edwards-Behi on the Ghouls On Film Festival of 2010 that marked the VERY first festival in the world to show our demented first born child, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. This year she will be bringing DHIAT at LONG last to Scotland at her gore~geous festival cheekily named JENNIFER'S BODIES.

Also featured in the video are your trulys, the Twisted Twins, co-creators of the WiH Massive Blood Drive and story/concept creators for this video, alongside the talented Sierra Pitkin (who many of you will recognize from JUNO and most recently recognize from RUNAWAY).

And who is captivating creature making a very special appearance? Well, that's our Mary. Yes, in this WiH Massive Blood Drive PSA we feature all the talents of these artists AND reveals the actress that will be taking the title role of our highly anticipating up coming film, AMERICAN MARY.

That's right. Happy Women In Horror month!! Let's start this mother fucker off with a BANG!!

Bloody Soaked Best!
Jen and Sylv

Starting Women In Horror Recognition Month off with a Bang!

This year we'll be doing our part to start Women In Horror recognition month off with a bang! For any late comers to the party, Women In Horror month is February, with world wide celebrations, film festivals, and special events!!

How will we be celebrating this year? Just with a little PSA for our MASSIVE BLOOD DRIVE. It happens all month long, world wide, wherever you are, whenever you can. Just donate blood. That's all. It's that easy. Send us proof via photos and video, and you'll be rewarded. Last year, we began getting behind this very worthy cause in celebration of WiH month and this year we are happy to be continuing this proud tradition with a new WiH Blood Drive video with very special appearances from incredible women in horror.

And we also have a little extra treat in store for everyone. We'll have an appearance by... (wait for it) the actress who will be taking the title role in our upcoming film, AMERICAN MARY. Yes, on February 1st via our site, you will not only have an amazing new Blood Drive video featuring some incredible ladies with original music from the Scarlet Ending, (if that's not enough for you!) you will also meet our Mary. And this, boy and grrls, is going to be some very big fucking news.

Horror Community prepare to go bat shit crazy.

Stay Tuned...

1/2/2011

Right here.

Bleedfest Returns with a Very Special Women in Horror Month Edition

BleedFest Hosts Blood Drive and Women in Horror Month Screening Event

Take a look at the two incredible women above. Boys and grrls, it's an honor for us to know these women. Brenda (left) and Elisabeth (right) Fies are not only incredibly gifted film makers, but also strong feminist voices, festival creators and heads of the gore~geous Bleedfest, and pretty much two of the coolest people currently walking the Earth. Bleedfest has become a bloody force to be reckoned with and is back with a vengeance this February. This month is a VERY special month as WOMEN IN HORROR month is on us again. Time to celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of women and to give a little back. Not only will this month's edition be in honor of Women In Horror, they will also be giving back. How they find the time to be SO radcore is beyond me.

In short, we adore these women and LOVE Bleedfest!! Here's what you have to look forward to this month!!

Monthly female genre film festival BleedFest is throwing an epic event February 6th, 2011 in honor of Women in Horror Month. There will be a Blood Mobile parked outside the CAP Theatre from 10:30am-4:30pm. Donation appointments can be made by clicking on this link: http://bleedfest.givesblood.org All donors are eligible for half off tickets to the BleedFest Film Festival until the event is sold out, in addition to a pint for a pint Baskin Robbins coupon.
The BleedFest WiHM screening event begins at 11am and ends at 4:00pm. There will be three red carpet opportunities with a dozen press partners and photographers from Getty Images and PR Photos. The event will feature an open bar with Bloody Marys. Screenings include short horror films written, directed, and produced by female filmmakers, including wunderkind Xstine Cook, international filmmaker Ana Almeida, tyro horror writer/director Tyrell Shaffner, festival stalwart Susan Bell, BleedFest co-founders Elisabeth Fies and Brenda Fies, Lori Bowen with a short and a music video, alumna Marichelle Daywalt with the world premiere of THE MANY DOORS OF ALBERT WHALE starring Tara Cardinal and Kit Williamson. The feature film is the US premier of SLAUGHTERED, a slasher whodunit by Australian writer/director Kate Glover. VIP guests include Lil Zane, award recipients Katt Shea and Stacy Title, genre journalist Nic Brown from Kentucky, underground filmmaker Lori Bowen from Florida, actresses Tara Cardinal and Michelle Tomlinson, and horror director Kevin Tenney. Carl Manes of I Like Horror Movies will reprise his popular horror trivia with giveaways. A showing of Dark Art and Fine Art will be available for purchase by internationally renowned horror photographer April A. Taylor.
The Awards Show will include the audience’s choice for best short in competition, and Elisabeth Pinto will receive the Best Producer Award. Horror icon Katt Shea will be given the Inanna Trailblazer Award. Stacy Title will be awarded the Inanna Best Social Statement Award. The Inanna Award was designed exclusively for BleedFest by amazing horror filmmaker and mask-maker Neal Harvery of Rubber Gorilla.



BleedFest sponsors are Film Radar, Werewolf for Hire.com and B Movie Man, WriteWord PR, Burris Image, Monster Island Resort, Rubber Gorilla, Christina Wickers.com, Love That Rebecca.com.



BleedFest operates on donations, and is holding an IndieGogo Fundraising campaign at:

http://www.indiegogo.com/BleedFest-Film-Festival-genre-movies-by-women



BLEEDFEST BLOOD DRIVE

Date: 02/06/2011

Time: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

Organization: BleedFest

Location: CAP Theater - Blood Mobile

Address: 13752 Ventura Blvd.

Collection Goal: 20 pints with 2 donors per 15 minutes



BleedFest Film Festival

February: WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH



Sunday February 6th, 2011

TIME: 11am-4:00pm



Location: CAP Theatre

13752 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

$10 cash at door for all day ticket and open bar

http://www.BleedFest.com



Special Appearances by Lil Zane, Katt Shea, Stacy Title, Lori Bowen, Tara Cardinal, Kevin Tenney, Michelle Tomlinson, Nic Brown. Schedule subject to change, personal appearances dependent on schedule.



11am-11:10am RED CARPET, MIXER



11:10am-2:20am PARTNERSHIP AWARD RESCREENING

HORROR OF OUR LOVE by Dave Reda (7 minutes)



11:20-11:30am TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Inanna Award presented to Katt Shea



11:30-11:50pm AWARD: Best Female Producer

NIGHT OF THE HELL HAMSTERS Produced by Elisabeth Pinto (17 minutes)



11:50-12:00pm AWARD: Best Social Commentary

Inanna Award presented to Stacy Title



12:00-1:25pm SHORTS: In Competition

*******Ballots given to audience*************



SUCKATHUMB by Xstine Cook (10 minutes)

THE PATCHWORK MONKEY by Susan Bell (10 minutes) Q & A

ESSENGER by Lori Bowen (4 minutes)

AFTERSHOCK by Lori Bowen (3 minutes) Q & A Lori Bowen

MIRROR MIRROR by Sophia Segal (4 minutes) Q & A

MEOW by Sarah Brown and Cyriak Harriss (3 minutes)

A NOIVA (AKA: THE BRIDE) by Ana Almeida (7 minutes)

THRENODY by Tyrrell Shaffner (12 minutes) Q & A

THE MANY DOORS OF ALBERT WHALE by Marichelle Daywalt (5 minutes) Q & A



*******Ballots collected from audience*************



1:25pm-1:45pm BREAK: Open Bar, Red Carpet, Mixer



1:45-2:04pm WORKS IN PROGRESS

HARD TO DO by Elisabeth Fies & Kit Williamson (8 minutes)

PSYCHOSEXUAL by Elisabeth Fies (8 minutes)



2:04pm-2:15pm PARTNERSHIP AWARD

HOME by Cam McCulloch (11 minutes)



2:15pm-2:25pm AWARD CEREMONY

Award presented to Marichelle Daywalt

Award presented to Tara Cardinal

Inanna Statue presented to Cindy Baer (Audience’s Choice from December)

Inanna Statue presented to the Audience's Choice



2:25-2:35 BREAK: Open Bar, Bathroom Break



2:35-4:00pm FEATURE

SLAUGHTERED written and directed by Kate Glover (83 minutes)

Everyone's getting slaughtered in the pub tonight!

Do NOT miss this incredible festival!! They really should've had you at "open bar" and believe me, boys and grrls, there's nothing like a Bloody Mary after giving a pint of blood. Totally hits the proverbial spot.

XO,
Jen

There Will Be (monthly) Blood

Monthly Genre celebration BLEEDFEST FILM FESTIVAL announces schedule for its Thriller installment December 5th, 2010

The schedule for the highly anticipated second BleedFest Film Festival has been announced. It includes a dozen female filmmakers' short films and concludes with international genre superstar's Caroline Du Potet's thriller feature IN THEIR SLEEP, her follow up to the sensational and disturbing INSIDE.

Special guests sitting in their own VIP section include World Famous Scream Queens/producers Michelle Tomlinson and Tara Cardinal, prominent journalist/filmmaker Heidi Martinuzzi, Emmy winning filmmaker Barbara Stepansky, and horror filmmaking duo Marichelle and Drew Daywalt.

The Bleedy Award, a bronze statue designed by Neal Harvey of RubberGorilla.co.uk, will finally be revealed in a video presentation at the Awards Ceremony. It will be awarded to the In Competition short voted on by the audience, and to the feature IN THEIR SLEEP. All films screened will receive an award certificate and Winner laurels to add to their publicity.


The In Competition category is comprised of five short films by female writer/directors. They are BAD GIRLS by the Soska Sisters (sensational feature films DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK and AMERICAN MARY), ALGESIA by Cathy Alberich, DEAD BOYFRIENDS by Xstine Cook, MOCKINGBIRD by Marichelle Daywalt, and MORBID CURIOUSITY by Cindy Baer (acclaimed feature film PURGATORY HOUSE).

The Out of Competition block screens short films produced and/or written by women. December's BleedFest will feature SCREAM MACHINE written by Julia Camara (screenwriter of Spring 2010's Brazillian sci-fi blockbuster AREA Q), and UP UNDER THE ROOF produced by Danielle Stallings.

The Works in Progress section of BleedFest gives the audience top secret first looks at short films by several acclaimed female filmmakers including an Emmy winner, and are screening unofficially to get editing feedback from the audience of genre lovers and and generate buzz with BleedFest's press partners.

The festival will have two Open Bar sessions featuring free wine and beer, giving the audience a crucial chance to network. During these breaks, BleedFest will screen trailers of upcoming genre films (World famous Tara Cardinal's actioner LEGEND OF THE RED REAPER taracardinalactress.com), and trailers of genre work that is now available online (Marion Kerr's acclaimed feature GOLDEN EARRINGS indieflix.com/film/golden-earrings-30830/. Music videos by Sophia Segal will also be played at this time.

BleedFest's coveted Partnership Award is bestowed each month to a male filmmaker whose genre film has captured the spirit of BleedFest in its unusual, bold, and refreshing female protagonist. The recipient of December's Partnership Award is feature filmmaker Dave Reda, whose music video THE HORROR OF OUR LOVE will screen.

BleedFest has a red carpet, an event photographer, a VIP Guest section, and an open bar for only ten dollars cash at the door. You may buy half price tickets at Goldstar the week before the event, and can get two tickets for $12 by donating to their IndieGoGo campaign or using the PayPal link on BleedFest.com http://www.indiegogo.com/BleedFest-Film-Festival

Local renowned artist Kami Lerner will be present with a display of paintings and jewelry available for purchase. www.KamiArt.com


Festival founders and directors Elisabeth Fies and Brenda Fies are a filmmaking duo whose critically acclaimed feature thriller THE COMMUNE was embraced by the genre community in 2009 and 2010. They are thrilled to be filling a hole in the community by providing access to fantastic genre content by indie female filmmakers, and to disprove the widely spread myth that there are no female filmmakers making indie genre. Explains Elisabeth Fies about the discrepancy between reality and industry attention for genre female filmmakers, "It's not even about being taken seriously. It's about being discounted to the point that you're invisible and told you don't exist. BleedFest aims to prove to the world that hundreds of us ovary-challenged filmmakers are here, and we're making bold, exciting movies filmlovers need and don't want to miss. We're positive, we're fun, we're in partnership with men, and we're unstoppable." The Fies Sisters thank everyone for the outpouring of support and excitement about BleedFest that helped them reach their IndieGoGo fundraising campaign in under two weeks.

The BleedFest website will be updated Sunday November 28th 5pm Pacific time at http://www.BleedFest.com with the full schedule, and include bio info and links for each filmmaker featured in the festival. There will also be a Paypal link to purchase tickets now at a discount of 40%.

The lineup for the January 2nd BleedFest event will be announced live on the 5th, and includes a sci-fi western feature and a fairytale thriller. The schedule will be released to the press December 6th.


Submissions are free to filmmakers, and BleedFest is always looking for quality genre work. There is only one space left for the January and February screenings. Submit your film.

Tell us about a film we should screen

Find out how you can participate, attend as a vendor, VIP, or support us with a donation


Sunday December 5th, 2010

TIME: 11am-3:30pm

Location: CAP Theatre

13752 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

$10 cash at door for all day ticket and open bar


Schedule subject to change, personal appearances dependent on schedule:
11am-11:15 Mixer and greeting

11:15-11:45pm
Works in progress:
Titles are top secret and will be revealed at event
(32 minutes)

11:40-12:00 break (open bar)

12:00-1:05
In Competition:
ALGESIA by Cathy Alberich (15 minutes) Q & A
MOCKINGBIRD by Marichelle Daywalt (3 minutes) Q & A
MORBID CURIOUSITY by Cindy Baer (6 minutes) Q & A
DEAD BOYFRIENDS by Xstine Cook (7 minutes)
BAD GIRLS by The Soska Sisters (7 minutes)
(39 minutes)

Ballots collected from audience

Partnership Screening and Award:
THE HORROR OF OUR LOVE by Dave Reda (6 minutes)

BREAK:
1:05-1:25pm open bar

1:25-2:10pm
Out of Competition:
SCREAM MACHINE Written by Julia Camara (15 minutes)
UP UNDER THE ROOF Produced by Danielle Stallings (20 minutes)

2:10pm
Reveal of the new Bleedy Award design
Bleedy present to the Audience's choice

2:15-3:40
Feature:
IN THEIR SLEEP (90 minutes)

By Caroline du Potet and Eric du Potet, the duo behind Inside. The film stars Anne Parillaud, Arthur Dupont, Thierry Fremont, and Jean-Hugues Anglade.


Now, you better start driving, pack all your friends in the car, and get your bum to Bleedfest Film Festival and support some rad film makers that you wouldn't get the chance to see otherwise!

~Sylv

Twisted Twins Love Viscera Film Fest

fem·i·nism [fem-uh-niz-uhm]
the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.*

*sometimes it means we (male and female feminists) need to fuck some shit up. Artistically - that's where the Viscera Film Festival comes in.

"Viscera: A collective of soft internal organs in the body, particularly those within the abdominal cavity.

The Viscera Project was created by women to facilitate the advancement of females reaching for more powerful roles within the horror genre. Now, more than ever, women are running their own horror production companies and directing, producing, writing, branching out into cinematography and even creating special FX.

The mission of the VISCERA Film Festival is to give recognition through participating sponsors, awards, and distribution for today's female horror filmmakers making a difference in the genre."

We, Jen, CJ, and myself, had the incredible honor of being invited as guests to the festival by festival heads and mistresses of horror, Heidi Martinuzzi and Shannon Lark. Hell, they even asked us to bring our trailer for 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' to screen at the festival. The following day, the feature length Hooker would be screened at Viscera's sister festival, Bleedfest - we were invited by the incredibly talented and darkly humored Elisabeth Fies (but we will give her her proper props in a following Bleedfest post).




There were many talented gentlemen and ladies at the event, some fab celebrities (OMFG Amber Benson was a presenter and Hooker followed the trailer for her new film, 'Drones'). There were a lot of hip, edgy, and creative projects shown and lots of wicked folks - but here are some that really stood out that we would like to share:

'Mockingbird', a Viscera Film Fest Winner, directed by Marichelle Daywalt. We met Marichelle at the 'Mistresses of Horror Gathering' the night before the festival. She knows horror. She knows it well. She's one of those rare personalities that never makes you feel dumb despite the fact she knows her shit inside and out. As you may have guessed, she's also a completely wonderful human being. Her husband and sometimes collaborator, Drew Daywalt, is fucking awesome too. They're that cool couple you just want to hang with for hours. In related news, we (not being from LA) could not find our car and she kindly drove around in circles for at least half an hour while we muttered helpful things like: "I think that is was on 3rd or was it 4th." "It definitely had a sign near the parking lot entrance."



'Side Effect' directed by Liz Adams. This gem won the Audience Award at Viscera and it was well deserved. You know how sometimes you watch something and you think of something utterly disgusting and horrific that could happen but probably won't because the film maker isn't ballsy enough? Liz doesn't have that problem. The groan from the audience during the big reveal of her film said it all.



'Legend of the Red Reaper' starring Tara Cardinal. You know what I love other than badass actresses who do their own stunts and kick major ass? Beautiful and talented redhead actresses who do their own stunts and kick major ass. Too often you have stunt performers doing even the running for lazy-ass actors, so when you see the lead of a film getting bruised and bloodied to make something memorable, you tend to be impressed. With her passion and skill for stuntwork, I think we found ourselves a new shitkicker.



'Song of the Shattered' starring Devanny Pinn. Do you like horror? What about ladies covered in blood driven to the edge of sanity? Then have I got something fun for you. We were fortunate enough to catch the extended trailer for this flick and it was awesome - intercut between a very sweet scene, drinking what I assume was cocoa and completely gruesome, bloody insanity. Looks like a very good one.



When 'Women in Horror' month had its blood drive, Tara and her scream queen partner in crime, Devanny Pinn, took it upon themselves to collect blood from the citizens of sunny California. And, boys and girls, they collected gallons. They are also two of nicest, most hard working, and completely fun to hang out with chicks on the planet. But their trailers are dead giveaways for that.


'We Will Bury You' is a comic about a zombie outbreak in the 1920s written by Brea Grant (Heroes, Battle Planet, Rob Zombie's Halloween 2) and her brother Zane Grant. It's awesome. If you like comics like Preacher, you'll love it. Very graphic but done in a dark humor kind of way. Very dark or maybe I just laugh at things that no one else does. She did a great introduction to the 'scary' portion of films at the festival and the killed it with her comic. Also, she came out to Bleedfest to check out Hooker. After she watched it, she came over and told us that she dug it. We really dig her, too! And in total six degrees of Kevin Bacon, Rikki Gagne (who plays Junkie in Hooker) has been Brea's stunt double before. I know that has nothing to do with Kevin Bacon.


Speaking of bacon, 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' brought home some bacon -- in the form of a Viscera Award! It was a huge honor. They were also filming a documentary on the festival as we were there, so I believe there will be more videos and pictures in the future. It was really cool to hang out with so many horror folks and get our 'girl power' on. It was also cool to see so many guys at the event getting their feminism on. It was one of our first big festivals of that sort and it was sensationally orchestrated. Heidi and Shannon are hard working ladies.

Their shorts - 'Wretched' and 'Lipstick' were beyond hardcore. These ladies go places in their art that most film makers would shy away from because of the extreme content. It is so refreshing to see how fucked up and haunting their projects are. When you can see the audience squirm in their seats, you know a good job has been done. Thank you so humbly and kindly for having us at your event. It will always be a very special memory and we hope to be invited again.






Thank you for all the ladies and gents who came out to support 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' and indie film making. It was sweet getting to meet y'all and chat y'all up! If you have now heard about Hooker, but still haven't had the chance to check it out - hit us up (use the 'contact' option on the webpage). We are still diligently working to have it screened everywhere and anywhere. News just in today that we will be having an upcoming screening in Brazil - details to be posted soon.

xo
~Jen and Sylv