“Where Nightmares Come Alive” is the theme for Universal Studios Hollywood’s first Halloween short film competition, a virtual film festival timed to coincide with the launch of the annual Halloween Horror Nights event that will invade the Entertainment Capital of L.A. for 13 nights this October.
Prospective filmmakers are invited to submit 90 seconds to three minute film shorts on DVD that support the theme, “Where Nightmares Come Alive.” Selected films will be judged by a panel of horror industry professionals including director Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) and actor Bill Moseley (Repo! The Genetic Opera, The Devil’s Rejects) as well as Universal Studios Hollywood executives. Criteria will be suspense, relevance to theme and overall “chill” factor. The top 10 shorts will be posted online from September 10 – 22 for public voting. Additional information on rules and regulations is available online at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Nightmares. All entries must be received by September 3, 2008.
The winning “Where Nightmares Come Alive” film will be announced on September 25th and the filmmaker(s) will enjoy a screening at Halloween Horror Nights “Eyegore Awards” ceremony in front of celebrities, studio executives and media, tickets to the event and a $1,000.00 cash prize. The “Eyegore Awards” salute actors, directors, writers and musicians for their significant contributions to the horror and sci-fi genre. Past recipients have included: Janet Leigh, Roger Corman, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Clive Barker, Patricia Arquette, Jennifer Tilly, Stephen Sommers, Joss Whedon, Karen Black, Corey Feldman and Shawnee Smith.
This year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” kicks off on Friday, October 3rd and will breath life into the horror classics "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "Friday the 13th" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” It will redefine the “Terror Tram” as guests navigate an interactive environment within the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and a haunted backlot amid the Psycho House, Bates Motel and “War of the Worlds” film set.
