Goth news and new Halloween, gothic and horror links. Bringing you into the darkness since 1993!
May 22, 2012
World Goth Day Links
The official World Goth Day site. Find out about the history of World Goth Day, and visit the forum to see what's going on around the world today.
World Goth Day Official Twitter page
A very important part of World Goth Day is promotion of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.
http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/
The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, on Facebook
In Memory of Sophie, on MySpace
I recommend reading this excellent blog post, The Goths-Eye View.
And I'm chuckling over some of my similar early-goth memories, while reading I Recall My Own Gothy Past on World Goth Day.
CNN posted this article called The Dark Side of World Goth Day.
You'll like the photos and sentiment expressed here on Why My Heart Wears Black.
Check out the gorgeous photographs that Visceral Industry took at a World Goth Day celebration in Brisbane.
It's World Goth Day in Finland, too, with a lovely photograph Mothmouth offered up of herself.
--Carrie Carolin
May 20, 2012
Horror Film Festivals in 2012
Horror film festivals specialize in showing films, not just gathering horror film fans for autograph sessions, panels and vendors rooms.
Here's a list of horror film festivals taking place in 2012. Several on this list have already occurred - they're listed here so we can anticipate their return in 2013. As you can imagine, an overwhelming percentage of these festivals take place in the month of October.
This is not meant to be a complete, inclusive list of every horror film festival in the world. Following is a list of festivals I personally find interesting or intriguing.
Abertoir
November 6-11, 2012
"The national horror festival of Wales." They play shorts as well as films, plus stage panels and parties. (Last year there was a "Mask of the Red Death" party that sounded intriguing!)
http://www.facebook.com/abertoir
http://twitter.com/AbertoirFest
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
September 28 - 30, 2012
This festival showcases independent horror, sci-fi, gore, and thriller films from all over the world.
http://atlantahorrorfilmfest.com/
http://www.facebook.com/atlantahorrorfilmfest
Bonebat Film Fest
April 21, 2012
This comedy horror film fest took place very close to my own neighborhood, at my favorite movie theater: The Big Picture. Sadly, I was too busy to attend, and I missed out on seeing "Dead Heads" and "Monster Brawl." Shucks.
http://bonehand.com/bonebatff.html
Boston Underground Film Fest
March 29-April 1, 2012
This festival featured shorts and music videos in addition to underground films.
http://www.facebook.com/bostonunderground
http://twitter.com/BOSunderground
Bram Stoker Film Festival
October 25-28, 2012
Held in Whitby, this year's festival marks the 100th anniversary of Bram Stoker's death. Besides the films, the festival features a fashion show, a Vampires Ball, and an "1880s night."
http://www.bramstokerfilmfestival.com/
http://twitter.com/BramStokerFest
Buried Alive Film Fest
November 9-11, 2012
Held in Atlanta at the Plaza Theatre.
http://buriedalivefilmfest.com/
Buried Alive Horror Film Festival on Facebook
http://twitter.com/buriedaliveff
Celluloid Screams
October 26-28, 2012
Held in Sheffield in the UK every autumn.
http://www.celluloidscreams.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/celluloidscreamshorrorfestival
http://twitter.com/sheffhorrorfest
Chicago Horror Fest
September 28-30, 2012
"Babes, blood, booze." Chicago is a fantastic city to live in if you like horror, goth, steampunk, zombies and the like. There's always something cool going on, like this upcoming horror film festival. They'll announce this year's guest host shortly.
http://www.facebook.com/ChicagoHorrorFestival
http://twitter.com/ChicagoHorror
Dark Carnival Film Fest
October 19-21, 2012
Held in Bloomington, Indiana. This is the festival's sixth year. In addition to horror films, they show dark fantasy and sci-fi films.
http://www.darkcarnivalfilmfest.com/
http://www.facebook.com/dcfest
https://twitter.com/dcfilmfest
Eerie Horror Film Festival
October 11-14, 2012
Erie, Pennsylvania is the location of this horror film fest.
http://eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com/
http://www.facebook.com/EerieHorrorFest
Everybody Dies Film Fest
October 12-13, 2012
Held in Brea, California.
http://www.everybodydiesfilmfest.com/
http://www.facebook.com/everybodydiesfilmfest
http://twitter.com/everybodydiesff
Fear Fete
October 5-7, 2012
Baton Rouge, Louisiana's horror film festival. It's held at the Mall of Louisiana.
http://www.facebook.com/fearfete
Festival of Terror
October 25-31, 2012
Held in Montezuma, Costa Rica. Besides horror, they showcase sci-fi, suspense, thriller and animation shorts and features.
Freakshow Film Fest
October 26-28, 2012
Held in Orlando, Florida. Last year they presented Clive Barker with a Lifetime Achievement award during their gala.
http://www.freakshowfilmfest.com/
http://www.facebook.com/freakshowhorrorfest
http://twitter.com/freakshowhorror
Frightfest
August 23-27, 2012
London's horror and fantasy film festival is in its twelfth year.
http://www.facebook.com/film4frightfest
https://twitter.com/Film4FrightFest
Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival
April 6-8, 2012
This was held back in April in Nashville. True Blood's Kristin Bauer was the guest of honor, and Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead made an appearance too.
http://www.fullmoontattooandhorrorfestival.com/
Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival, on Facebook
Horror Sci Fi
March 29-April 5, 2012
Phoenix, Arizona-based horror and sci fi film festival.
H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival
May 11-13, 2012
A really cool film festival that's part of CthulhuCon.
http://www.hplfilmfestival.com/
Hudson Horror Show
May 19, 2012
Held in Poughkeepsie, New York. They screened classics such as Day of the Dead, Phantasm and Friday the 13th along with cheesy fare like The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires.
Indie Horror Fest
March 23-25, 2012
Another production by Spookshow Entertainment. Held in Chicago.
http://www.facebook.com/IndieHorrorFilmFest
Killer Film Fest
November 1-3, 2012
Held in Somerville, Massachusetts. They specialize in indie horror.
http://www.killerfilmfest.com/
https://www.facebook.com/killerfilmfest
http://twitter.com/killerfilmfest
Killer Valley Horror Film Festival
March 10, 2012
A conveniently aptly named valley near Ashland, Oregon hosts this film fest.
http://killervalleyhorrorfilmfestival.com/
Midnight Black
October 24-November 3, 2012
"International festival of darkness." It takes place in Los Angeles, though you wouldn't be able to find that out on their poorly designed website.
http://midnightblackinternational.com/
http://www.facebook.com/midnightblackfest
Mile High Horror Festival
October 5-7, 2012
Held, of course, in Denver.
http://milehighhorrorfestival.com/
http://www.facebook.com/milehighhorrorfilmfestival
http://twitter.com/milehighhorror
Nevermore
February 17-19, 2012
Nevermore has been running for 13 years.
http://festivals.carolinatheatre.org/nevermore/
http://www.facebook.com/retrofantasma
A Night of Horror
March 23-April 1, 2012
Another weeklong film festival. This one's held in Sydney, Australia.
http://www.anightofhorror.com/
http://www.facebook.com/anightofhorror
http://twitter.com/anightofhorror
NYC Horror Fest
November 8-11, 2012
The festival screens over 50 films per year.
NYC Horror Film Festival, on Facebook
New Orleans Horror Film Festival
October 25-28, 2012
Created by horror filmmakers for other horror filmmakers. (Ie, not a "fan" convention).
http://www.neworleanshorrorfilmfestival.com/
Phoenix Fear Festival
October 13, 2012
Held in Tempe.
http://phxfearfilmfestival.com/
Sacramento Horror Film Fest
Several events in May-August, 2012
The historic Colonial Theater hosts an event every month from May through August.
http://www.sachorrorfilmfest.com/
Sacramento Horror Film Festival, on Facebook
http://twitter.com/SacHorrorFest
Screamfest LA
October 12-21, 2012
This festival is proud of the fact they discovered and showcased the film Paranormal Activity.
http://www.facebook.com/Screamfest
Telluride Horror Show
October 12-14, 2012
Colorado's main horror film festival.
http://www.telluridehorrorshow.com/
Toronto After Dark
October 18-26, 2012
Quite possibly the longest horror film festival on the planet, at over a week long!
http://www.facebook.com/torontoafterdark
http://twitter.com/TADFILMFEST
Tucson Terror Fest
October 18-20, 2012
Tucson, Arizona's horror film fest.
Tucson Terrorfest Horror Film Festival, on Facebook
http://twitter.com/tucsonterrorff
Viscera Film Festival
July 27, 2012
Celebrating women filmmakers in the horror genre. The Bloody Red Carpet event is held at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles.
http://www.viscerafilmfestival.com/
http://www.facebook.com/VisceraFilmFestival
--Copyright 2012 Carrie Carolin
May 1, 2012
New Goth Links for May Day 2012
CEMETERIES, FUNERALS AND DEATH:
Morbid Anatomy
Joanna, a photographer and graphic designer, runs the Morbid Anatomy Library in Brooklyn. It's a private collection available to public researchers interested in the topic. The blog offers info on upcoming related events and exhibitions, plus info on upcoming conferences.
http://morbidanatomy.blogspot.com/
DARK ART:
Hollywood is Dead
Matt Busch's movie poster parodies. He re-imagines classic movie posters with a dark, horrific or tongue-in-cheek twist. For example, Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast Is Tiffany," "Horde of Dead Things," "Deadward Scissorhands," "Cadavatar" and "Bleak to the Future." Giggle. There's a gallery, a shop, and Matt's mostly abandoned blog here. I've always had a soft spot for parodies, and I so enjoy browsing this site!
http://www.hollywood-is-dead.com/
DARK SHOPS:
Carried Away Coffins
"Sooner or later, you'll need one." This shop specializes in coffin-shaped cabinets for tattoo shops, as well as coffin-shaped mirrors, display cases and coffin bookshelves. So cool!
http://www.carriedawaycoffins.com/
Plasticland
An extremely cool store, selling retro clothes, home decor, skull accessories, arts & crafts supplies, jewelry, books, shoes, beauty products, kitsch and curiosities. There's even a whole section for "Mod Octopods."
http://www.shopplasticland.com/
Virgin Blak
An alternative fashion clothing store selling punk, indie and alternative clothing and accessories. Not the gothiest store ever, but it's not meant to be. I'm including it here because you can find some cool basics and interesting pieces here to add to your wardrobe.
Winona Cookie
This steampunk artist makes custom illustrations, collages, and cool artworks. She's done a Steampunk calendar for Zazzle, and has a book of steampunk paper dolls coming out soon. Check out her amazing Moribund Manor Haunted House artwork, as well as "Gothic Coffin Cruisers." Her writeups under each artwork are humorously written, I think she could have a second career as a witty dark author!
DARK MUSIC:
The Good Natured
A UK-based band with a female vocalist. They describe themselves as "pop noir." Their recent EP release is called "Skeleton."
GOTHIC LOLITA:
Carousel of Crowns
A lovely Gothic & Lolita fashion blog. Currently there's interesting commentary on the evolution of Gothic Lolita fashion in the last 19 years; some Items We Love shopping finds; and even some Gothic & Lolita home decor tips. Wish this blog were updated a teensy more often.
http://www.carouselofcrowns.com/
Hawaii Lolitas
A networking resource for Gothic Lolitas in Hawaii. Not updated often, but I can't find a Facebook replacement for this. Hopefully a nice way to find out about upcoming Lolita events in the Aloha state.
http://hi-loli.livejournal.com/
--Copyright 2012 Carrie Carolin