Attention Horror Filmmakers! Monster Fest 2014 Is Now Taking Submissions

Australia's fastest growing genre film festival, Monster Fest, is now open for business for 2014, and this year it will be accepting both short and feature length submissions from around the globe. The festival, which has expanded exponentially since debuting in 2011, runs from 20-30 November and will be adding a second venue this year, as well as a number of awards categories. 

Monster Fest is Australia's fastest growing genre film festival. What began in 2011 has doubled in size each subsequent year. In 2014, for the first time, we will open to short and feature film submissions from Australia and across the world. We are also expanding to two of Melbourne's most iconic entertainment venues.

Every November, Monster Fest partners with Melbourne's Cinema Nova to present the latest, greatest and rarest cult and horror cinema from Australia and around the globe. 

In 2014 the partnership continues - but Monster Fest is spreading its gargantuan wings! 

We have established 'The Monsters Lair', our Festival Club with extra screenings, master classes, marathons, trivia competitions, parties, bands, DJ's, special guests, booze, popcorn and much more at the newly refurbished bastion of late night rock n' roll, Yah Yah's Bar in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy.

Yah Yah's owner/manager James 'The Hound Dog' Young says of the partnership:

"For years Yah Yah's in Smith Street, Fitzroy has been the gathering place for Melbourne's late night rock monsters. Partnering with Monster Fest is a twisted connection that, like the Human Centipede, is destined to grow, to endure and to disturb!"

Cinema Nova's Kristian Connolly says of the latest development:

 "Lurking in the shadows since 2013's record attendance, Monster Fest will emerge bigger and better than ever before to terrorize Melbourne audiences, we tried to warn you, but you didn't listen: Monster Fest is back! and it's hungry for fresh victims...".

Opening the festival to worldwide submissions sees a competitive element introduced to the festival for the first time. Awards will include the 'Golden Monster', for the feature film judged Best-of-Fest. There will also be awards for:

Best Australian Feature

Best Australian Short

Best Director - Feature

Best Director - Short

Best International Feature

Best International Short

Best Female Lead in a Feature Film

Best Male Lead in Feature Film

Best Male lead in a Short Film

Best Female Lead in a Short Film

Best SFX in a Feature Film

Best Feature Screenplay

Best Short Screenplay

Monster Fest Innovation Award (Open to shorts and features)

There will also be the 'The Monsters Choice Audience Award' for the film voted most popular by festival patrons. 

A 'Golden Lomax', taking its name from British actor Laurence R. Harvey's character in THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3, will also be awarded to the sickest, most twisted short film at the 'Trasharama' sidebar event at the festival. 

Festival Director, Neil Foley says of this year's festival:

"Monster Fest, Nova and Yah Yah's - this union is no marriage. This is a sordid Ménage à Trois! We're hoping every genre fiend in the land will gather to watch and drool at the depraved shenanigans within. Lock up your kiddies, Monster Fest has truly arrived!"

Monster Fest will run from Thursday November 20 to Sunday November 30. Monster Fest is financed with assistance from Screen Australia. For full submission details go to www.monsterfest.com.au Monster Fest program launch is scheduled for mid October 2014.