New York City Horror Fest makes 2010 call for entries

By Michael Gingold

It’s only the first of February, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the fright festivals gearing up for Halloween season 2010. The organizers of the New York City Horror Film Festival dropped us a line to let us know that they’ve already begun accepting entries for this year’s event.

The fest is seeking features, short films, trailers screenplays, accepting regular submissions through September 15 and late submissions (with an additional fee) through October 15. You can find submission forms and more info on past editions at the site linked above. “After one of your best years, we are now gearing up for 2010 with more films, more nights and more frights!” according to the fest folks; further details will be announced soon.

Prizes will be given in multiple categories: 2009’s big winner was THE REVENANT, which scored Best Feature, Best Director for D. Kerry Prior (pictured below), Best Actor (a tie for leads David Anders and Chris Wylde) and the Audience Choice Award. Best Actress went to Ellia English for CORNERED!; Andreas Schaap won Best Screenplay for MUST LOVE DEATH; THE SHADOW WITHIN’s Pier Luigi Santi scored Best Cinematography; Kristi Boul, Marcus Koch and Mike Oliver took Best Special Effects honors for SWEATSHOP; Eric Scherbarth’s SINKHOLE was named Best Short Film; and Best Submitted Screenplay was won by Vincent Ho and Stan Shaw for GARGOYLE. William Lustig received the annual Lifetime Achievement Award.