ScreamFest L.A. Kicks Off With A Bang (and lots of other violent metaphors)

A report on Opening Night under the stars (and with them).

By:stacilayne
Updated: 10-18-2009

'Tis the season for Hollywood and indie filmmakers to come out and play and slay amongst the stars and fanboys in Tinsel Town! Last night kicked off one of many -- and one of HDC's favorite -- fall film fests.

Screamfest is now in its ninth year, and as ever, it shows for a whole week on the grand grounds of the Hollywood and Highland cineplex, at The Chinese 6.

This year, founder Rachel Belofsky (joined in spirit by advisory board members including the likes of Clive Barker, Wes Craven, and Eli Roth), was on hand to introduce the kick-off feature, THE TOURNAMENT.

The Tournament isn't exactly a horror movie -- and as Rachel explains in our exclusive video report (coming soon!), Screamfest is really all about the "screams". Scary and edgy, yes. But always full-on horror, no. The launch feature stars Ving Rhames, Ian Sommerhalder, Robert Carlisle, and Kelly Hu, and is what's been described as "an American Battle Royale." (Look for my review of the film here at HDC in the coming days.)

There will also be a huge slate of features and shorts. Some of the most-anticipated films are House of the Devil, Human Centipede, and The Fourth Kind. Be sure and visit the official ScreamFestLA.com website on how you can get tickets for one, or all of the screenings. Today, for instance, there is an eagerly-awaited short film playing at 2:30 p.m., called 2:22 (aw, c'mon... can't it begin at 2:22 p.m.? That'd be awesome!), written and directed by Steven Shea.

Steven Shea, 2:22 producer T.W. Anderson, and Ashlynn Yennie & Ashley C. Williams from Human Centipede on the black carpet of last night's launch.