Big Bear Horror Film Festival – Events at Big Bear Lake

Haunted houses are all in good fun, but how about a little haunted cinema to really rattle your bones. After a few years’ hiatus, the Big Bear Horror Film Festival is back at Big Bear Lake in Southern California for three-days of screenings and scares. Enjoy a weekend getaway to the mountains and indulge your sinister side.

Don’t shelter thoughts of Sundance or Cannes, the Big Bear Horror Film Festival is an intimate, for-the-fans affair. The attractive Big Bear Performing Arts Center hosts the one and only screen in an inviting 400-seat theatre. As you might imagine, the limited space means that sell-outs are a big deal, but tickets are still available if you act quickly.

The festival exists primarily to celebrate independent horror films and the people who risk life and financial limb to make them. For genre fans (and fanatics), expect a smorgasbord of celebrity sightings, from directors to stars to effects gurus and monster makeup artists.

Of course, it’s all about the films. So far your weekend will feature six indie presentations from genre maestros like Tim Sullivan, Mary Lambert and Jeff Rector. For sheer rediculosity (and terror), do your best to nab tickets to 2001 Maniacs, the 2005 remake of 1964’s 2000 Maniacs, about a group of hapless (aren’t they always) college students who stumble into a town of Civil War reenacters who takes things a little too seriously.

2009 just so happens to be the 30^th anniversary of the original release of classic franchise Phantasm, and this is the place to celebrate it. Writer/director Don Corscarelli and the Tall Man himself, Angus Scrimm, will be in attendance along with Reggie Banister (Reggie) special effects artist Gigi Fast Elk for a special VIP reception, screenings and discussions panels. On top of that, they’ll be showing all four Phantasms over the course of the weekend.

The Big Bear Horror Film Festival has four levels of ticket: one-day, two-day, all-access and VIP. Only the VIP pass will get you into the Friday night reception and Saturday night benefit dinner, though if you’re really just in town for the movies and panels, the All-Access level will do you just fine.

The festival will be held October 16-18 in Big Bear Lake, California at the Big Bear Performing Arts Center. Learn more.

This ain’t our first rodeo in Big Bear, so you long-time readers will know what we like. For hotels in Big Bear Lake, we always prefer the Northwoods Resort. It’s got homey style that makes you comfortable right away, and with a huge roster of packages and deals, you can always nab a good price.

Have fun!

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