The Macabre Film Festival, known as “Sundance with Fangs,” will take place at the Capitol Theater (110 W Main St) in Lebanon, Tennessee from Thursday, September 28 through Sunday, October 1, 2023. This festival celebrates independent films that are strange, weird, horrific, sci-fi, fantastic and definitely macabre.
This four-day event offers a schedule packed with lots of film screenings, panel discussions, live entertainment, and, of course, the awards ceremony. In addition, there will be vendors offering an assortment of unique shopping experiences at the festival marketplace, and this year there will be a Macabre Fall Food Truck Festival, too.
Founded in 2012 on Long Island, New York, it has since moved to Tennessee. It was created with the mission of providing a celebratory and respectful environment where fans of the singular in film can enjoy the work of new makers, film makers can be honored for their work, the films can gain media attention, and there is a possible opportunity to obtain distribution.
The organizers of the film festival look to the dictionary definition of macabre, disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury, but they expand upon that definition. This is not just a horror film festival, but it involves other genres that delve into the dark and the twisted.
“We usually approach the Macabre Faire Film Festival with a lighter touch in the sense that not all of the films screened are horror, and instead many may simply be considered a bit on the darker side,” said the festival’s website. “Of course, we will add some horror to this festival but, when we hear the word ‘Macabre’ we remember those hauntingly fascinating films that starred legendary greats, such as Vincent Price and Peter Cushing, or those fantastic Gothic horrors like those experienced in “Hammer” films. These names in themselves represent what “macabre” means to us. What we are saying is that the word “Macabre” does not mean we only accept horror films, but instead that we welcome those films that can tap into our fears through what you don’t see or hear.”
All films go through an intense jury process. Submitted films are pre-screened by select judges, then the films are passed onto another set of judges consisting of filmmakers, film critics, genre film fans and/or seasoned actors. This group chooses the “Official Selections.” Once these selections have been identified, there is an additional judging process in collaboration with the original pre-screening judges to identify the different category nominees.
It has become a tradition for attendees to come in costume to the screenings, Red Carpet Awards Ceremony, and other activities. The Red Carpet Award Ceremony offers a unique and glamorous atmosphere filled with press, photos, and awards. It is not to be missed by macabre film enthusiasts.
The complete schedule of events can be seen here. Tickets run from $30 to $130, and can be purchased here. The festival is produced by Twitch Twitch Productions in association with Film Freeway.
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