Feature-length films in this week's fifth annual Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival account for a majority of the screen time with stars such as Danny Glover, Penelope Mitchell and Mark Hamill, but 60 percent of the showings are short films.
A total of 33 short films ranging from 2 minutes in length to more than 35 minutes will be featured this week among 55 total films to be screened. All showings will be held in the Historic Central Theater at 1008 Central Ave. beginning today at 12:30 p.m.
The first day of the Film Festival will spotlight rising, first-time filmmakers and student films. A total of 14 short films are included in the lineup of 19 total films.
Another eight shorts will be featured on Friday. The 14-film lineup includes nine Arkansas premieres and three world premieres.
The doors will open at 11:30 a.m. Friday and showings will continue past midnight with the final showing of "The Wanderers," scheduled for 12:10 a.m. Among the premieres is "Vexed," by Marc Cartwright, which toys with the concepts and validity of horror film plots. The 13-minute film is scheduled for 2:45 p.m.
Actresses Tamara Glynn, known from "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers," and Deborah Voorhees, "Friday the 13th: A New Beginning," the fifth movie in the franchise, will participate in a question-and-answer session at 6:30 p.m. Glynn is one of two hosts of the film festival with Bill Volland.
Also scheduled for Friday at 10 p.m. is "Alfred J. Hemlock," a film from Australia in which the mysterious title character's depiction is reminiscent of Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow character in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. It will be followed at 10:15 p.m. by an 8-minute preview from "The Sound of Fear," which filmmak er Colin Campbell is still seeking to fully finance.
Two short films from 8-year-old Bob Sheen will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. His father, Charlie Sheen, is known for a bevy of high-profile roles in films such as "Wall Street," "Major League" and "Money Talks," as well as lead roles on television shows such as "Spin City" and "Two and a Half Men."
Bob Sheen wrote and directed his first short, "The Rake," at the age of 7. Independent producer Erik Fleming worked with Sheen on his newest film, "Time's Up."
Sheen, his mother, Brooke Mueller, and his fraternal twin, Max, will be present with Fleming for a special question-and-answer presentation in honor of the festival's newest youth film submission category for kids. Mueller was also featured in "Time's Up."
Forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan will be the special event guest speaker with a presentation at 7:45 p.m. Saturday about forensic perceptions and interpretations, as well as true life crime versus Hollywood's on-screen interpretation. The event is $10 without a festival pass and free to all pass holders.
The 9-minute short film "The Servant" is one of three international films scheduled for the last day of the festival on Sunday. The horror animated film from Iran is the only short film Sunday and is scheduled for 5:50 p.m.
Local on 09/21/2017