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Halloween’s B-grade horror film fest returns

And now’s the time to make that movie Mix ketchup with chunks of custard and what do you get? Awesome horror film make-up.

And now’s the time to make that movie

Mix ketchup with chunks of custard and what do you get? Awesome horror film make-up. Incorporate lots of blood-curdling screams, a monster, a vampire or even a shadow for effects and there you have it – your own B-Grade horror film.

Heavy Hitting Films, the organizers behind last Halloween’s first ever amateur horror film festival, are hoping that more local ghoulish groups will get together this year to make things go bump in the night once again.

The call for submissions has been announced and it’s time to think up a grizzly story-line, cast your crazy friends and grab as much monster make-up as you can for the Oct. 31 event.

Organizer Feet Banks said: "I want to see zombies pulling entrails out, vampires, space creatures, slasher flicks, whatever. Anything goes, just make it scary, gory, funny, short and just give'r. We're accepting trailers for movies too if people have a hard time getting a whole movie done. I mean it’s budget B-grade horror movies, not Hollywood academy award winners."

Submissions are subject to very few guidelines. "Just keep them under 15 minutes in length and other than that, go nuts," said Banks, who encourages teams to not leave their ideas to the last minute.

Prizes will be handed out on the night, to be held at the GLC, with a best in show trophy awarded to the top entry. Although there is currently a snag in the works. The trophy is has been kidnapped.

"It was taken several months ago from last year's Horror Queen, Lauren Graham of Treetop Films," said Banks.

"But the kidnappers have been sending us anonymous photos of it in various places throughout the Lower Mainland, along with cryptic clues. I'm pretty sure the kidnappers live in Whistler so if anyone sees a big chrome skull mounted on a ball, punch whoever has it in the throat and give me a call. I'll give something cool as a reward."

Banks smirked and added: "Obviously, you get bonus points if you capture it all on video."

Banks, a snow sports filmmaker himself, came up for the idea of the Horror Film Festival to give other creative types a different project to work on in the slow season.

"There are a lot of talented filmmakers in this area and it's a nice change to see what they can come up with outside of the ski or snowboard film genres. October is the best time for locals to let their hair down as it’s the slow season and Halloween has always been a great excuse to go crazy."

For information on how to form a team or be involved in someone else’s e-mail info@heavyhitting.com or call 604.902-2666. Submission deadline is Oct. 15.