Horror Highlights: Etheria Film Night 2018, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Bring the Noise Program, DISTORTED Trailer, THE HAUNTING OF MIA MOSS, THE HOLLOW CHILD

The lineup of the ten shorts set to debut at Etheria Film Night 2018 have been released as well as a stellar list of guests and the recipient of the 2018 Inspiration Award. Also in today's Highlights: Film Independent at LACMA's Night of the Living Dead Bring the Noise event, a look at the Distorted trailer, new Luz photos, first details for The Haunting of Mia Moss, and The Hollow Child's theatrical release.

Etheria Film Night 2018: Press Release: "(Hollywood, CA – May 9, 2018) Etheria Film Night (www.etheriafilmnight.com) is proud to present the 2018 Official Lineup of Shorts on Saturday, June 16.  Ten Short Films will be screened at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA followed by a Q&A with directors Maria Alice Arida (“Instinct”), Devi Snively (“Bride of Frankie”), Naledi Jackson (“The Drop In”), Mac Montero ("The Agency"), Anca Vlasan (“C U Later Tuesday”), Cidney Hue (“Ovum”),  Jocelyn Stamat (“Laboratory Conditions”), and Elizabeth Serra (“Skin Deep”) conducted by Rebekah McKendry (Shock Waves Podcast).  The 2018 Inspiration Award will be presented to director Rachel Talalay at the live ceremony by Lori Petty (“Tank Girl”).

Etheria Film Night is the world’s most respected annual showcase of genre films directed by women for an audience including producers, managers, showrunners, distributors, and genre fans. Past official selections have included films from directors Axelle Carolyn (“Soulmate”), Rose McGowan (“Dawn”), Anna Biller (“The Love Witch”), Chloe Okuno (“Slut”), Amber Benson (“SheVenge”), Jill Gevargizian (“The Stylist”), and Bridget Savage Cole (“SWELL”).

As released exclusively on Dread Central on May 8, 2018, Rachel Talalay says, “Everything I know about filmmaking, I learned from either “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or from John Waters.  Genre films are the bastion of creativity and imagination. Etheria is a prime cut:  laugh ‘til you scream, scream ‘til you laugh.” Talalay has been making films since the 1980s when she worked as an assistant on the set of John Waters’ “Polyester” and as a producer on his subsequent films in the 1980s. Her feature horror and science fiction films include the “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare”, “Ghost in the Machine”, and “Tank Girl”. More recently, she’s been directing episodes of the TV series “Dr. Who”, “Sherlock”, “Riverdale” and “The Flash” in between teaching film at the University of British Columbia.

“This year story is what mattered most,” says Etheria programmer Heidi Honeycutt of the shorts lineup. “All of our 2018 filmmakers have great vision and are genuine artists.”

Joining Etheria as Director of Marketing and Communications is a journalist and editor Jessie Lilley (Mondo Cult Magazine and Mondo Cult Online). Lilley says, “It's been one of the joys of my life to judge the films in this festival, from the start. Accepting the position of Marketing and Communications Director was, for me, a no-brainer. I'm delighted to be a part of the team that continues to bring these talented women to the forefront of the film industry.”

Festival directors Stacy Pippi Hammon says, “Five is a very special number to me and for us to reach our 5th anniversary brings me great joy tinged with nostalgia over where we started, pride in what we have accomplished, and excitement for where we are going next. The celebration of this year’s filmmakers, the launch of the Stephanie Rothman Fellowship, welcoming Jessie Lilley to the fold, and being able to honor Rachel Talalay with the Inspiration Award all in one year touches me in knowing that so many have also been touched and believe in the message we are sending with this event.”

Etheria Film Night 2018 is co-presented by the American Cinematheque and will take place at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on June 16, 2018. The evening will include a courtyard cocktail reception and red carpet ceremony. 2018 Etheria awards the International Screenwriters Association. 2018 community partners include Horrible Imaginings, Slaughter Movie House, Midsummer Scream, and Days of the Dead, among many others. The start times, screening schedule, and detailed information can be found on the official Etheria website at www.etheriafilmnight.com.

The 2018 Etheria Jury includes John Skipp (“Book of the Dead”), Peter Block (A Bigger Boat Productions), Phillip Kobylanski (“The Walking Dead”), Rachel Talalay (“Dr. Who”), Travis Stevens (Snowfort Pictures), Kailey Marsh (The Blood List), Paul Feig (“Bridemaids”), Stephanie Rothman (“The Student Nurses”), James McCarthy (International Screenwriter’s Association), Scott Markus (International Screenwriters Association), Sean Keller (“Rage”), Sean Decker (Dread-Central.com), Jessie Lilley (Mondo Cult Magazine), Jay Kay (Horror Happens Radio), Chris Alexander (Delirium Magazine), Bill Kopp (“Eek! the Cat”), Charlie Fink (“The Lion King”), Martin Olson (Encyclopedia of Hell), Amanda Reyes (Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium: 1964-1999), April Wolfe (Film Journalist), Darin Scott (“Deep Blue Sea 2”), Rebekah McKendry (Shock Waves Podcast), and more to be announced.

Etheria Film Night 2018 Official Short Film Selections:
Laboratory Conditions
Directed by Jocelyn Stamat (16:30) (Science Fiction/Horror) (USA)
A physician investigating a missing body disrupts an unlawful experiment.
Lady M
Directed by Tammy Riley Smith (11:45) (Fantasy) (UK)
Aging actress Margot Collins played Lady Macbeth to great acclaiming her youth. Now in her fifties, she is offered the role of one of the witches. But one should never underestimate the spirit of the play to conjure black magic, to summon mishaps and mischief, nor the power of a formidable older woman to get what she wants.
Bride of Frankie
Directed by Devi Snively (18:48) (Horror/Comedy) (USA)
In this feminist nod to Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, a not-so-mad scientist builds a mate for her mentor's lonely creature with electrifying, and deadly, results
Creswick
Directed by Natalie James (09:30) (Horror) (Australia)
Sam's fear of her childhood home is brought to light when her aging father claims there is another presence in the house.
Skin Deep
Elizabeth Serra (07:09) (Dark Comedy) (USA)
Sisters Karen and Vivian are 1960s housewives. Under their sophisticated veneer lurks seething hatred. Both women strive for dominance in an epic battle for sibling supremacy.
Instinct
Directed by Maria Arida (18:00) (Horror) (USA)
A psycho-sexual thriller about Isabelle, a lonely gallery owner who meets a dangerously seductive performance artist and discovers they have more in common than expected. Will Isabelle allow herself to let Camila in without giving in to her true nature?
Ovum
Directed by Cidney Hue (07:45) (Science Fiction) (USA)
A woman must make a hard choice after a mind-bending procedure.
The Drop In
Directed by Naledi Jackson (13:19) (Action/Thriller) (USA/Canada)
A hairdresser has a challenging day when a mysterious visitor from her past arrives for a drop in an appointment.
The Agency
Directed by Macarena Montero (10:09) (Science Fiction) (UK)
The Agency is the best place to purchase a husband, and Mrs. Hold thought it would be fun to head down and get a new one today. C U Later Tuesday
Directed by Anca Vlasan (4:44) (Dark Comedy) (USA)
This year's cutest romantic comedy is all about finding love in unexpected basements.

About Etheria Film Night
Etheria Film Night is an annual showcase screening of a progressive slate of genre films directed by women for an audience including producers, managers, showrunners, distributors, and genre fans.  Women want to make exciting, provocative, entertaining, fantastic, and terrifying films. Etheria puts the women directors who want to make genre films and TV in front of the people who want to hire them. For more information, please visit www.etheriafilmnight.com"

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Night of the Living Dead Bring the Noise Program: Press Release: "Film Independent at LACMA: Bring the Noise is our exciting program and one-of-a-kind live experience that unites cult classic films with new and original film scores performed by contemporary artists. For May, we will screen the horror classic Night of the Living Dead featuring new live music from the Punk band The Paranoyds!

Full details are listed below— Let me know if I should set aside a pair of tickets for you!

What: Film Independent at LACMA: Bring The Noise
Screening of: Night of the Living Dead
Who: Live music by punk band The Paranoyds
When: Thursday, May 24, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: LACMA Bing Theater
Poster: Attached below, Designed by Matt Owen

Bring The Noise has previously featured musicians such as Jack Antonoff of Bleachers and YACHT and recreated live scores to beloved films like Alien, The Breakfast Club and Welcome to the Dollhouse.

Additional Event and Ticketing Info: https://www.filmindependent.org/events/bring-noise-night-living-dead/"

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Distorted Trailer Revealed: Press Release: Directed by Rob King, Distorted will be released in theaters and on VOD platforms beginning June 22nd.

Synopsis: "Lauren (Christina Ricci) and Russel Curran (Brendan Fletcher) decide to move away from the bustle of the city and into the peaceful oasis of The Pinnacle, a coveted luxury condo boasting ultra-modern design, state-of-the-art features, and security systems. Lauren begins to suspect the building has a dark side and seeks the help of Vernon (John Cusack), an investigative journalist with an interest in a cyber conspiracy. Together, they come to believe that The Pinnacle may be brainwashing unsuspecting residents."

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Check Out Photos for Luz: "The first feature from German writer/director Tilman Singer LUZ is captivatingly shot on 16mm with immersive sound and visuals that call to mind the experimental images of Giallo and 70s Spanish horror atmosphere. Produced by Dario Méndez Acosta and Tilman Singer, with a brooding synth score composed by Simon Waskow, the film stars breakout actress Luana Velis as Luz, as well as Jan Bluthardt and Julia Riedler offering a strong supporting base.

LUZ World Premiered at the Berlinale and screened at Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema and will play at famed Brazilian genre fest Fantaspoa before having its North American Premiere at Montreal's Fantasia International Film Festival this summer."