The Unwilling

The Unwilling screened Saturday September 23rd was named best horoor film at the festival which took place Sept 21st – 24th 2017

"Six family members arrive for the reading of the will of a wealthy patriarch. All are shocked when an antique wooden box arrives instead. Events take a turn for the worse as they release a sinister evil no one may leave alive. by Jonathan Heap (Academy Award Nominated Director) David Stump ASC in Horror 01:24:00 (USA)"

THE WINNERS

Best of the Festival 

“Confessions of a Serial Killer” by John Dwyer in Horror

“Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom” by Sean Patrick O Reilly in Sci-Fi

“BUCKOUT ROAD” by Matthew Currie Holmes In Thriller

Best Feature Films

Best Horror Feature Film  “The Unwilling”  by Gianluca Bertone

Best Sci – Fi  Feature Film “Gnaw”  by Haylar Garcia

Best Thriller Feature Film “The Atoning”  by Michael Williams

Best Short Films

Best Horror Short Film “Alfred J Hemlock”  by Edward Lyons

Best Sci – Fi Short Film “The Servant”  by Farnoosh Abedi

Best Thriller Short Film “THE ALSACE AXE MASSACRE”  by Olivier HANSZ

Best First Time Filmmaker Feature Horror “Close Calls”  by Richard Stringham

Award of Excellence “Catching Up” by Deborah Voorhees

Honorary Rising Director “The Rake” by Bob Sheen

Congratulations to all selected and film festival winners

The Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute presents, The 6th annual Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival. Held every year at the historic Central Theater located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.

Our mission is to inspire & promote talented filmmakers & artists from around the world. Hot Springs Arts and Film Institute provides opportunities for networking, exhibition, education, and screenings. We provide a unique venue for the public to experience films on the “Big Screen” often with the filmmakers available to answer questions and share their insights with the audiences. (www.hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com)

HSHFF strives to support independent film and filmmakers. Many of the feature length films selected each year acquire distribution deals before the festival ends. The Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute sponsors festival winners and some runners up by offering independent screenings and tracking filmmakers to diverse distribution options.

HSHFF is noted for being one of the best festivals to attend and a great place for aspiring, student, new and independent filmmakers to rub shoulders with horror icons and Hollywood filmmakers.

Hot Springs is surrounded by 7 lakes and 43 hot springs, it hosts museums, bathhouses, art galleries, spas and many well known festivals. Rich in history it is a popular tourist destination for most of the year, but it will soon be host to insidious indie films, blood spattered scream queens, movie monsters, and amazing guests…

The festival's hostess and co director Tamara Glynn is an actress most known for playing Samantha Thomas in 1989's #1 movie Halloween 5: The Curse of Michael Myers. Her involvement with the festival brings in fans from all over the globe. The festival's director Bill Volland worked his way up through film departments, lighting, camera, set decorator, production designer and most recently as a producer. His credits include: movies, television series, documentaries and commercials.

Past special guests have included the likes of Actors; Tyler Mane, known for his roles as Michael Myers in Rob Zombieʼs “HALLOWEEN” films, Eileen Dietz "EXCORCIST" and Leslie Easterbrook. Directors like; Jeff Burr, CHAINSAW MASSACRE," "PUMPKINHEAD" and David Schmoeller "PUPPET MASTER,” Sound Design and Audio Effects Wizard Alan Howarth "STAR TREK", "ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK" plus industry professiona