{"id":34253,"date":"2025-04-14T17:34:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T21:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/?p=34253"},"modified":"2025-04-14T20:08:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T00:08:21","slug":"overlook-film-fest-2025-audience-jury-awards-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/overlook-film-fest-2025-audience-jury-awards-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Overlook Film Fest 2025: Audience and Jury Awards for the Largest Ever Overlook Film Fest \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Overlook Film Festival is a four-day celebration of all things horror held in haunted, historic & iconic venues throughout New Orleans. Presenting superior film programming with an expanded focus on experiential events, the festival showcases exciting work in new and classic horror cinema alongside the latest in interactive and live shows for a fully immersive weekend.<\/em><\/p>\n

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As a summer camp for genre fans, The Overlook is a community event bringing the best of horror storytelling to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience within an intimate and inspirational environment. Evoking the spirit of the Overlook hotel, horror\u2019s most infamous fictional haunt, the 2025 Overlook Film Festival runs from April 3 – April 6, headquartered at the Prytania Theatres at Canal Place in Downtown New Orleans and Prytania Theatres Uptown.<\/em><\/p>\n

The festival advisory board includes Joe Dante (Filmmaker – Gremlins, The Howling), Karyn Kusama (Filmmaker – Jennifer\u2019s Body, The Invitation), Ryan Turek (VP of Feature Film Development, Blumhouse Productions), Leigh Whannell (Actor \/ Writer \/ Filmmaker – Saw, Insidious), Diana Williams (CEO & Co-Founder, Kinetic Energy Entertainment), Elijah Wood (Founding Partner, SpectreVision), and<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Ugly Stepsister, Touch Me, Best Wishes to All, The Traveler & the Troll and Los Muchacho Among the Awarded Films Festival Highlights Include Ernest Dickerson Receiving Master of Horror Award, Opening Night Screening of Drop, Flying Lotus As Inaugural Guest Curator and Shudder Second Line and 10th Anniversary Party<\/h3>\n

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The Overlook Film Festival<\/strong><\/a> announced April 10, 2025, the winners of the audience and juried prizes, as well as some of the festival highlights, from the largest edition yet of the annual celebration of all things horror.<\/p>\n

Feature film Audience Award<\/strong>, voted on by festival attendees, went to Emilie Blichfeldt\u2019s The Ugly Stepsister:<\/em><\/strong> A warped, sinister spin on the Cinderella story. The honorable mention award went to director Alexander Ullom\u2019s It Ends<\/em><\/strong>. For short films, the Audience Award<\/strong> was given to Adam Murray\u2019s The Traveler & the Troll<\/em><\/strong>, which told the story of a traveler who encounters a monster in a haunted forest. Receiving the honorable mention in the shorts category was Last to Leave <\/em><\/strong>by Mary Elizabeth Ellis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an honor to be at the Overlook Film Festival,\u201d said Emilie Blichfeldt. \u201cThis fest has such great audiences and I loved eavesdropping on their reactions. Thank you to those audiences for appreciating my film.\u201d<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s an incredible honor to win the audience award,\u201d Adam Murray was quoted as saying. \u201cThis film was made as a celebration of both horror-fantasy and practical FX filmmaking. It\u2019s the work of a dozen artists coming together to handcraft a tangible world and to express love for the magic that movies have. We\u2019re so thankful that the audiences at Overlook felt the same way!”<\/p>\n

For the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film<\/strong> the jury awarded Touch Me <\/em><\/strong>from director Addison Heimann, stating \u201csmart, hilarious, unpredictable, gory and emotionally authentic, Touch Me<\/em> is a film that perfectly represents The Overlook Film Festival – and horror genre itself. Also, who knew Lou Taylor Pucci had that dawg in him?\u201d Honorable mention went to Redux Redux <\/em><\/strong>from directors Kevin and Matthew McManus.
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\n\u201cI was over the moon to be invited back to the Overlook Film Festival this year and to receive this award is just the bees knees,\u201d said Addison Heimann. \u201cThanks to Landon, Mike and the whole team for having me and thanks to the jury for recognizing this weird little tentacle movie. Make movies with friends! It\u2019s just the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

The jury awarded the Scariest Feature Award <\/strong>to Y\u00fbta Shimotsu\u2019s Best Wishes to All<\/em><\/strong>, declaring that \u201cwith its unrelenting dread in broad daylight, a tableau in which the familiar becomes terrifying, and a social theme that would make George Romero, Bong Joon Ho and Jordan Peele proud, Best Wishes To All<\/em> gets under your skin and stays there.\u201d Honorable mention went to Good Boy<\/em><\/strong> from director Ben Leonberg.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am honored to have been selected for the \u201cscariest feature\u201d amongst all the wonderful entries,\u201d said Y\u00fbta Shimotsu. \u201cThe word \u201cfear\u201d can be defined in many ways as there are many different kinds of fear. With this award, I will continue to work hard so that you can feel a new sense of fear that you have never felt before. Thank you very much!\u201d<\/p>\n

The features jury consisted of film journalist Haleigh Foutch,<\/strong> editor-in chief of Fangoria Phil Nobile Jr.<\/strong> and filmmaker Alice Waddington<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the shorts juried prizes, Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film <\/strong>was awarded to Los Muchachos <\/em><\/strong>by Alejandro Arties, with an Honorable Mention for Creature Design<\/strong> given to The Traveler & the Troll<\/em> <\/strong>from Adam Murray. The award for Scariest Short <\/strong>went to Cruelty<\/em><\/strong> from director Sam Das, with an Honorable Mention for Production Design<\/strong> given to Easybake<\/em><\/strong> from director Sasha Duncan.<\/p>\n

“From the moment we started work on Cruelty, <\/em>our team’s goal was to terrify audiences, so being named The Scariest Short at The Overlook Film Festival is a deeply humbling honor,\u201d said Sam Das. \u201cI\u2019m beyond grateful to The Overlook\u2019s visionary team and my fellow filmmakers for making this year\u2019s festival lineup truly unforgettable.”<\/p>\n

“Thank you to the jury,\u201d said Alejandro Arties. \u201cIt’s an honor to share our short film with you. I guess life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock!”<\/p>\n

In awarding these films, the short film jury stated: \u201cIn a competitive slate of films, our winners impressed the judges with their accomplished and inspired work. Grand Jury winner Los Muchachos<\/em> tells a heartbreaking and horrific story through writing and performance, while Scariest Short Cruelty<\/em> combines righteous fury with propulsive storytelling. Meanwhile, our Honorable Mentions Easybake <\/em>and The Traveler and the Troll<\/em> both support their creators\u2019 visions with exceptional filmmaking craft. We thank this year\u2019s filmmakers for their passion and dedication.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The 2025 Overlook Film Festival Short Film Jury<\/strong> was composed of filmmaker Brooke H. Cellars<\/strong>, film journalist Deirdre Crimmins <\/strong>and filmmaker Addison Heimann<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The 2025 festival welcomed 90 filmmaker guests to America\u2019s most haunted city, New Orleans, LA, from April 3-6, for the ninth annual horror celebration. The record-breaking edition included 41 sold out screenings and events and approximately 7500 audience members in attendance \u2014 the festival’s highest number of attendees to date.<\/p>\n

Among the highlights of this year\u2019s festival was the Opening Night screening of Drop<\/em><\/strong>, the new movie from the acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Landon<\/strong>, which played at the historic Prytania Uptown theater on April 3. \u201cScreening Drop<\/em> at the Overlook Film Festival was a dream come true,\u201d said Christopher Landon. \u201cThere\u2019s no greater joy than being among other horror fans and feeling the excitement and love for a genre that has defined my career. The whole festival felt like coming home and I\u2019m so grateful to everyone who welcomed me with open arms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legendary filmmaker and cinematographer Ernest Dickerson <\/strong>was on hand to present a special 30th anniversary screening of his film Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight<\/em><\/strong>, while also receiving the festival\u2019s prestigious Master of Horror Award<\/strong>. Previous recipients of the award include Roger Corman, Mick Garris, Stuart Gordon, Mike Flanagan and Joe Dante.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the Overlook Film Festival!\u201d said Ernest Dickerson. \u201cIts celebration of all things horror and cinefantastique just fills the air with a warm fearful excitement. An at once huge but intimate film festival for lovers of horror and a great place to catch up on the old and discover new genre classics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Iconic horror writer Joe Hill<\/strong> joined the festival for the world premiere of Abraham\u2019s Boys<\/em><\/strong>, based on his short story. He also hosted a packed panel and book signing event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Overlook Film Festival is like Woodstock for horror fans: a merry long weekend of can’t-miss scary films, lively panels and conversations and terrific people,\u201d said Joe Hill. \u201cI can’t remember the last time I came away from an event so excited about horror’s possibilities or so happy to be among the fright faithful. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you all over again of that great truism… you can’t spell ‘slaughter’ without ‘laughter’!\u201d<\/p>\n

Also in attendance was the festival\u2019s inaugural Guest Curator, the acclaimed filmmaker and Grammy-winning musician Flying Lotus<\/strong>, who screened his film Ash<\/em><\/strong> as well as programmed and introduced a selection of his personal favorite films, including Death Becomes Her<\/em><\/strong>, The Descent<\/em><\/strong> and Lost Highway<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverlook Film Festival was next level,\u201d said Flying Lotus. \u201cGreat films and great community. Definitely one of my favorite film festivals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joining for the festivities were the incredible Boulet Brothers<\/strong>, performers and hosts of Shudder\u2019s Dragula<\/em><\/strong>. They performed at the Opening Night Shudder 10th Anniversary Party, as well as hosted a panel.<\/p>\n

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“After a terrifying weekend at the Overlook Film Fest, we\u2019re still basking in the haunting glow of indie horror,\u201d said the Boulet Brothers. \u201cIt was a true celebration of creativity, where filmmakers and fans alike gathered to share their passion for the macabre. From spine-tingling screenings to our lively panel discussions, it was a joy to connect with fellow enthusiasts. Here\u2019s to the daring storytellers who keep the spirit of horror alive and thriving\u2014until we meet again in the shadows!”<\/p>\n

Other highlights also included the Closing Night screening of Eli Craig\u2019s Clown in a Cornfield<\/em><\/strong>; the Shudder second line leading to an incredible 10th anniversary party, a 40th anniversary screening of Re-Animator<\/em><\/strong> featuring a 4k restoration of the film and special guest Barbara Crampton<\/strong>; and a unique, 65th anniversary screening of William Castle\u2019s 13 Ghosts<\/em><\/strong>, presented in its originally intended Illusion-O form, and accompanied by Phantom Follies<\/strong>, an ode to depression-era traveling live midnight horror shows performed by the magician Zabrecky<\/strong> and presented by the Academy of Magical Arts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The festival is programmed by Co-Founders Landon Zakheim & Michael Lerman; Programming Manager Daniel Crooke; Short Film Programmer Katie Rife; and Festival Director Sheryl Santacruz.<\/p>\n

The Overlook Film Festival is a 4-day celebration of all things horror held in haunted, historic & iconic venues throughout New Orleans. Presenting superior film programming with an expanded focus on experiential events, the festival showcases exciting work in new and classic horror cinema alongside the latest in interactive and live shows for a fully immersive weekend. As a summer camp for horror genre fans, The Overlook is a community event bringing the best of horror storytelling to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience within an intimate and inspirational environment.<\/em><\/p>\n

Evoking the spirit of the Overlook hotel, horror\u2019s most infamous fictional haunt, the 2025 Overlook Film Festival runs from April 3 – April 6, headquartered at the Prytania Theatres at Canal Place in Downtown New Orleans and Prytania Theatres Uptown. The festival advisory board includes Joe Dante (Filmmaker – Gremlins, The Howling), Karyn Kusama (Filmmaker – Jennifer\u2019s Body, The Invitation), Ryan Turek (VP of Feature Film Development, Blumhouse Productions), Leigh Whannell (Actor \/ Writer \/ Filmmaker – Saw, Insidious), Diana Williams (CEO & Co-Founder, Kinetic Energy Entertainment), Elijah Wood (Founding Partner, SpectreVision), and more.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Click here for Part 2<\/a><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

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the WORD<\/strong><\/em> Editor Gregg W. Morris<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Overlook Film Festival is a 4-day celebration of all things horror held in haunted, historic & iconic venues throughout New Orleans. Presenting superior film programming with an expanded focus on experiential events, the festival showcases exciting work in new and classic horror cinema alongside the latest in interactive and live shows for a fully immersive weekend. As a summer camp for horror genre fans, The Overlook is a community event bringing the best of horror storytelling to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience within an intimate and inspirational environment. \u2013 Article by the WORD<\/strong><\/em> staff.<\/p>\n

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