Begun back in 2012 as a dream, the Macabre Faire Film Festival has come a long way in five years. Founded by husband and wife, Adam & Elsie Ginsberg, the two have worked hard to build the Macabre events name and reputation as one of the more diverse film festivals in North America. With a multi-event annually, the film festival returned in January, on Friday the 13th, to host their tenth overall event. Launching a weekend that would extend through Sunday the 15th, on Saturday the 14th, as snow was falling outside, the excitement was just heating up on the red carpet premiere inside the doors of Ronkonkoma’s Clarion Hotel off Veterans Memorial Highway.
The highlight of a three day event showing ninety-two titles with twenty of them Features and seventy-two Shorts, there was a plausible buzz around the Red Carpet premiere. Dressed to the nines, many filmmakers, cast, crew, as well as some special guests were ecstatic for the evening ahead as they made their way into the ballroom for the award ceremony dinner. This evening was more than just about awards though, it was about inspiration, creativity, and the strength of the Indie film community. This was evident by the enthusiasm who came out, including eight involved in the Horror flick Easter Sunday. One of the many films to be shown at Macabre Film Festival, Producer Jason Delgado stated, “What we are really trying to build is a community of Indie filmmakers who work for each other to help one another out and relentlessly pursue that forward progress.”
Forward progress is a good term to define the films features and the festival in general. As stated, the Macabre Faire Film Festival has grown by leaps and bounds, garnering deserved attention. That said, what makes this festival stand out among the plethora of others popping up all over the world? Well, for one, it is held on Long Island, an area which is often overlooked for arts because of such close proximity to New York City. A bold move to bring a film festival to Long Island, many agree it has worked out well, including Impervia Director Patrick Devaney, who has been coming to Macabre since 2012, going on to say, “I love it here. There are a lot of people who say you can’t do this out of Manhattan. If you have determination you can do this. Adam and Elsie brought this to Long Island; we needed this.” As for Impervia, Devaney won Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short, while Costume Designer Gail Wisun-Gooch took home an award for Best Costume in a Short. The film also was granted awards for Best Cinematography in a Short, Best Sound in a Short, and the Audience Choice Award.
Kelly Rae LeGault – Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Impervia
Another aspect that stands out about Macabre Faire Film Festival is its ability to go beyond film projects made in the New York tri-state area. In fact, they even have a category for Best Foreign Short, which gets the international community involved. Astrid Director Luigi Abanto Varese had no regrets about making the trip all the way from Spain, saying, “This is my first time at the festival and I am enjoying it very much.”
As a result,Macabre Faire Film Festival has offered an outlet for aspiring creators abroad, even immigrants such as Rebekah Fieschi. Originally from France, Fieschi made the trip out to Long Island from New York City in support of her film Mauvaises Tetes (Bad Heads). Given the award for Best Screenplay Short, when asked what inspired her film, she said, “One thing was being an immigrant in New York City. Even though you are always surrounded by people, you can still feel lonely. The idea behind the film is that men like to have several different girlfriends, this is well know and socially accepted, whereas the idea of women feeling the same way is taboo and throughout history stories mainly say that women want to find one husband they stick with forever. This film is about a woman gone mad by these gender expectations in which she doesn’t fit.”
Inspiring to hear the stories of each filmmaker and actor/actress, all had something different to say, but all agreed they loved the atmosphere and fun Macabre Faire Film Festival provides. For many, it has become a new tradition to come to the festival, even if they are not being nominated or having a film shown for that matter. A Wheel Out of Kilter Director Ross Morin affectionately said, “I would keep coming back to Macabre Faire Film Festival, it is amazing.” In addition, Jennifer Valdes, who was on hand for the world premiere of her short Laid to Rest, stated, “I have been coming to the festival since 2013. I have done a few shorts since then. We love Macabre Faire Film Festival; we meet with so many minds that think alike here.”
Speaking of like minds, as mentioned by Valdes, regardless if one was there because of a short film, full-length feature, Horror, Sci-Fi, or Drama, they all respected one another’s work. This is further proof that a film festival does not need to be limited to one genre. For example, Cati Gonzalez was winner of Best Director for her Drama EKAJ. On hand to speak about the film was Actor Maximilian France, who said, “Our film is about drugs, prostitution, AIDS, love, and sabotage. The story is very interesting. As the film progresses, different characters arise.” Quite an intense feature, EKAJ was just one of the many different styled films showcased. There is even a place for music video directors at the Macabre Faire Film Festival with Caleb Allen earning the award for Best Music for River. Sometimes an overlooked craft in film, Allen stated, “You can put a lot into a music video. It doesn’t have to be so abstract all the time.”
In addition to providing a consistent outlet for regular filmmakers, Macabre Faire Film Festival also provides an open door to first timers as well. That open minded outlook has helped launch the careers of many aspiring creators, including Sudden Reality Director/Writer/Actor Matthan Harris, saying, “This is my second time here. My first feature, The Inflicted, played here in 2014. I am very excited to be back.” Harris has gone on to some major productions including forthcoming film Baphomet, which stars Cradle of Filth’s Dani Filth and Italian Horror icon Giovanni Lombardo Radice. How is that for inspiration?
Inspiration comes in all shapes and forms, though, as heard from Rorschach Actress Jamy Gillespie, who said, “I have done mostly theater, a couple of shorts, now I am moving into the film world. This is my first time at any festival and I am having a ball!” Who knows where Gillespie’s career will go from here after being nominated for Best Actress. Clearly, this interest in potential is recognized by others as well, including George A Romero’sLand of the Dead star Eugene Clark, who came out to support the festival. Clark said, “I am excited to meet all this young and fresh energy. They are making a beginning, it keeps them up at night and all through the day. Your hobby may end up being your livelihood one day. I am glad I was told about this festival, I had no idea it would be this big.” As far as a possible new Romero “Dead” film, Clark added, “George, let’s do it again baby!”
So what does all this say about Macabre Faire Film Festival? It says it is a legitimate entity that should not be ignored. Run with grace, professionalism, but most of all a friendly attitude, it is somewhere to keep coming back. Making their world premiere, Danger, Dames, & Dangerous Games Director Alex Salazar stated, “This is a very unique community, it has been fantastic.” Agreeing, She Rises nominated Cinematographer Larry Wade Carrell added, “It is unlike any other festival I have been to all over the world. The people who select the movies here don’t mess around, they have very high standards. It really means a lot to be invited here. ” On that note, the winter of 2017’s Macabre Faire Film Festival was yet another hit, with many more sure to come.
Nominees and winners at the Macabre Faire Film Festival:
(Winners are highlighted inRED)
SHORTS – Best Animation Short A Snot Adventure – Director: Ning Cheng Night Shadows – Director: Ivan Viaranchyk and Bat-Ami Rivlin Out of the Darkness – Director: Noella Borie
Best Student Film Short 3:14 – Director: Patricio Marin Avelar A Gift – Director: Yiqiong Li A Snot Adventure – Director: Ning Cheng Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir – Director: David E. Munz-Maire
Mother – Director: Kevin McGuiness
Reveler – Director: Mariano Falabretti
Best Foreign Short
3:14 – Director: Patricio Marin Avelar
Astrid – Director: Luigi Abanto Varese
Fils – Director: Cyrus Neshvad Kitchen – Director: Steve Duchesne
Madre de Dios (Mother of God) – Director: Gigi Saul Guerrero
Vardoger – Director: Ludovic De Gaillande
Best Comedy Horror Short Ay Que Susto (What a Fright!) – Director: Mauricio Zapata
The Last Taxi Driver – Director: Debra Markowitz
The Werewolf’s Greatest Hits – Director: Jim Zounis
Best Sci-Fi / Fantasy Short A Monster Called Charles – Director: Richard Paris Wilson
Anadir Contacto – Director: David Oeo Impervia – Director: Patrick Devaney
Portal to Hell – Director: Vivieno Caldinelli
Red Snare – Director: Jordan Barnes-Crouse
Best Thriller Short Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir – Director: David E. Munz-Maire Jet Set L.A. – Director: Colin Lawrence
Mayday – Director: Sebastien Vanicek
The Call of Charlie – Director: Nick Spooner
The Outage – Director: Tom Gliserman
Best Music Video
Mexican Flamenco – Director: Nur Rubio River – Director: Caleb Allen
The Ripper – Director: Daniel Hackmair
We Are Not Ourselves – Director: Dominic Mercurio
Best Super Short Deadfall – Director: Louise MacKintosh
Mother – Director: Kevin McGuiness
Quiet Man – Director: Hamilton Young Ward Time to Eat – Director: Luke Asa Guidici
Slingspeare – Director: Patrick Devaney
Best Costumes in a Short Impervia – Gail Wisun-Gooch
Kitchen – Director: Steve Duchesne
Madre de Dios (Mother of God) – Director: Gigi Saul Guerrero
Mauvaises Tetes (Bad Heads) – Director: Rebekah Fieschi
Midnight Walk – Director: Mathilde Nocquet
Best SPFX in a Short
Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir – Director: David E. Munz-Maire
In This Economy – Director: Ty Huffer Madre de Dios (Mother of God) – Director: Gigi Saul Guerrero
Red Snare – Director: Jordan Barnes-Crouse
The Call of Charlie – Director: Nick Spooner
Best Editing in a Short
Awakening – Director: Rolf Lindbolm
Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir – Director: David E. Munz-Maire
Ideal – Director: Kevan Tucker
Kitchen – Director: Steve Duchesne Mayday – Director: Sebastien Vanicek
Best Soundtrack in a Short “Impervia” – Bernadette McCallion
“In This Economy” – Director: Ty Huffer
“Kitchen” – Director: Steve Duchesne
“Midnight Walk” – Director: Mathilde Nocquet “Night Shadows” – Michael Markowski
“The Call of Charlie” – Director: Nick Spooner
Best Cinematography in a Short Awakening – Director: Rolf Lindbolm
Fils (Son)– Director: Cyrus Neshvad Impervia – Mark Boutros
Laid to Rest – Shawn Anthony
Mauvaises Tetes (Bad Heads) – Director: Rebekah Fieschi
The Outage – Director: Tom Gliserman
Best Sound in a Short Awakening – Director: Rolf Lindbolm
Devil’s Work – Engineer: Sean Carmichael Impervia – Director: Patrick Devaney
Kitchen – Director: Steve Duchesne
Midnight Walk – Director: Mathilde Nocquet
Best Screenplay in a Short 3:14 – Director: Patricio Marin Avelar
Impervia – Director: Patrick Devaney Mauvaises Tetes (Bad Heads) – Director: Rebekah Fieschi
Penitence – Director: Carol Conley
Suicide Hotline – Director: Philip Clyde-Smith
Vardoger – Director: Ludovic De Gaillande
Best Actor in a Short Andres Chulisi Rodriguez – “Ay Que Susto” (What a Fright!)
Drew Maniscalco – Addicted
Matthan Harris – “Sudden Reality”
Marc Abbott – “Impervia”
Randy Harrison – “Photo-Op”
Robert Clohessy – “The Last Taxi Driver” Xavi Siles – “Astrid”
Best Supporting Actor in a Short Diako Diakoff – “Mauvaises Tetes (Bad Heads)” Jacob McGregor – “Sudden Reality”
Kevin Reich – “Jet Set L.A.”
Robin Dunne – “Deadfall”
Best Actress in a Short Alice Dessuant – “Mauvaises Tetes (Bad Heads)”
Kate Hewlett – “Deadfall”
Katheryne Penny – “Hatten Bit (Dodal)”
Lauren A. Kennedy – “Hello” Mary Jane Hansen – “The Outage”
Nicole Fox – “Ideal”
Sally Hogarty – “A Gift”
Best Supporting Actress in a Short Cat Lacohie – “Devil’s Work”
Kelly Rae LeGault – “Impervia” Marlyn Mason – “Penitence”
Vanessa Romanelli – “2 Guys 1 Box”
Yecenia Jessie Cotto – “Ay Que Susto (What a Fright!)”
Best Director in a Short Carol Conley – “Penitence”
Cyrus Neshvad – “Fils (Son)”
David E. Munz-Maire – “Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir”
Gigi Saul Guerrero – “Madre de Dios (Mother of God)”
Kevan Tucker – “Ideal”
Patrick Devaney – “Impervia”
Steve Duchesne – “Kitchen”
Yiqiong Li – “A Gift”
Best Short A Gift – Director: Yiqiong Li
Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir – Director: David E. Munz-Maire
Ideal – Director: Kevan Tucker
Impervia – Director: Patrick Devaney
ACCEPTED TRAILER IL PRINCIPIO DEL MALE – Stefano Santoro
FEATURES – Best Cinematography in a Feature
A Wheel Out of Kilter – Cinematographers: Ross Morin & Matthew Herbertz
Bear With Us – Cinematographer: Alex Gallitano
My Little Sister – Director: Maurizio Del Piccolo & Roberto Del Piccolo
She Rises – Cinematographer: Steve Romano
The Dark Tapes – Director: Michael McQuown Virtual Revolution – Cinematographer: Cyril Bron
Best Costumes in a Feature EKAJ – Director: Cati Gonzalez
KILD TV – Director: William Collins Peelers – Director: Seve Schelenz
Virtual Revolution – Costumer: Mathilda Fontaine
Wild Men – Director: Bobby Sansivero
Best SPFX in a Feature My Little Sister – Directors: Maurizio Del Piccolo & Roberto Del Piccolo Peelers – Director: Seve Schelenz
The Dark Tapes – Director: Michael McQuown
Virtual Revolution – VFX: Matt Hoffman
Wild Men – Director: Bobby Sansivero
Best Soundtrack in a Feature EKAJ– Director: Cati Gonzalez
KILD TV – Director: William Collins
Patient 62 – Director: Bryce Schlamp and Rick Anthony
Peelers – Director: Seve Schelenz Theta-States – Ramon Inoa and David Catalano
Virtual Revolution – Director: Guy-Roger Duvert
Best Editing in a Feature A Wheel Out of Kilter – Director: Ross Morin
Bear With Us – Editor: Raymond Fraser KILD TV – Director: William Collins
The Dark Tapes – Director: Michael McQuown
Theta-States – Director: Manny Serrano
Wild Men – Director: Bobby Sansivero
Best Sound in a Feature A Wheel Out of Kilter – Director: Ross Morin
KILD TV – Director: William Collins
Peelers – Director: Seve Schelenz
The Dark Tapes – Director: Michael McQuown Theta-States – Christian Jude Grillo and Manny Serrano
Wild Men – Director: Bobby Sansivero
Best Screenplay in a Feature A Wheel Out of Kilter – Director: Ross Morin
Bear With Us – Writers: Russ Nickel & William J. Stribling Romeo’s Distress – Director: Jeff Frumess
She Rises – Writer: Angus Macfadyen
Theta-States – Director: Manny Serrano
Virtual Revolution – Director: Guy-Roger Duvert
Best Actor in a Feature Angus Macfadyen – “She Rises”
D.C. Douglas – “KILD TV”
Jake Mestre – “EKAJ”
Jeffrey Alan Solomon – “Romeo’s Distress”
Justin Marshall Elias – “Danger, Dames, & Dangerous Games”
Ross Morin – “A Wheel Out of Kilter”
Thomas Ryan – “Theta-States” Zack Abramowitz – “Wild Men”
Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Alexander Stine – “Wild Men”
Andrew Valdez – “Patient 62”
Badd Idea – “EKAJ”
Collin Smith – “Bear With Us”
David Banks – “The Dark Tapes”
Best Actress in a Feature Christy Carlson Romano – “Bear With Us” Daisy McCrackin – “She Rises”
Grace Johnston – “KILD TV”
Jamy Gillespie – “Rorschach”
Paula Figueroa – “Wekufe: Origin of Evil”
Wren Walker – “Peelers”
Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Alex McKenna – “Bear With Us”
Cortney Palm – “The Dark Tapes – To Catch A Demon”
Erin Anne MacDonald – “Wild Men”
Heather Drew – “Lunatic’ler
Jennifer Blanc-Biehn – “She Rises” Robin Lee Canode – “Danger, Dames, & Dangerous Games”
Best Foreign Feature My Little Sister – Director: Maurizio Del Piccolo & Roberto Del Piccolo
Patient 62 – Director: Bryce Schlamp and Rick Anthony
Peelers – Director: Seve Schelenz Wekufe: Origin of Evil – Director: Javier Attridge
Best Director in a Feature Alex Salazar – “Danger, Dames, & Dangerous Games”
Bobby Sansivero – “Wild Men” Cati Gonzalez – “EKAJ”
Guy-Roger Duvert – “Virtual Revolution”
Jeffrey Frumess – “Romeo’s Distress”
Ross Morin – “A Wheel Out of Kilter”
William Collins – “KILD TV”
Best Feature A Wheel Out of Kilter – Director: Ross Morin
Danger, Dames, & Dangerous Games – Director: Alex Salazar
KILD TV – Director: William Collins
Romeo’s Distress – Director: Jeff Frumess
Touch Gloves – Director: Felipe Jorge (Documentary)
Virtual Revolution – Director: Guy-Roger Duvert
Wild Men – Director: Bobby Sansivero
Screenplays
Appetence – Short Written by: Paul Cenzoprano
Escape – Feature Written by: Gabriel DeCoute
(Honorable Mention)
Walter’s Days – Short Written by: Nathan Ludwig & Charles Devin Hill
Begun back in 2012 as a dream, the Macabre Faire Film Festival has come a long way in five years. Founded by husband and wife, Adam & Elsie Ginsberg, the two have worked hard to build the Macabre events name and reputation as one of the more diverse film festivals in North America. With a multi-event annually, the film festival returned in January, on Friday the 13th, to host their tenth overall event. Launching a weekend that would extend through Sunday the 15th, on Saturday the 14th, as snow was falling outside, the excitement was just heating up on the red carpet premiere inside the doors of Ronkonkoma’s Clarion Hotel off Veterans Memorial Highway. 
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