Sunny Isles Beach, Florida – The Popcorn Frights Film Festival culminated its eleven-day celebration of horror cinema by honoring eight standout films from an extensive lineup that featured over 130 entries from more than 20 countries. With its partnership with FANGORIA, the festival has announced its award winners spanning seven categories.
Annapurna Sriram’s horror comedy, “Fucktoys,” earned the festival’s top honor — the jury award for Best Feature Film. Sriram expressed her appreciation, saying the project represented a significant journey for her and co-creator Tim, highlighting its roots in indie filmmaking and outsider art. She noted the joy of presenting the film to a passionate audience at the festival, calling the award a perfect conclusion to an unforgettable experience.
Audience members participated actively by voting for their favorite features, ultimately bestowing the top audience award for feature film to Tina Romero’s “Queens of the Dead.” Romero said the experience of watching her film with the supportive and vibrant South Florida horror community reaffirmed the importance of creating indie projects. Andrew Bowser’s “Frankenbabes From Beyond the Grave” claimed the audience award for best short film.
Additional awards were presented for various categories, including the Scariest Film, awarded to both features and shorts, along with the Popcorn Frights’ New Nightmare Prize, which recognizes the best debut film. This year’s winner of the New Nightmare Prize was Ben Leonberg’s “Good Boy,” a unique horror narrative told from a dog’s perspective. The festival also showcased titles such as “Bodycam” and “Mr. Melvin,” in addition to classic repertory screenings that featured beloved horror films like “Re-Animator,” “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” and “Phantom of the Paradise.”
Among the other notable award recipients were Hoku Uchiyama, whose short film “Whitch” received the jury prize for best short film, and Brandon Christensen’s “Night of the Reaper,” recognized as the scariest feature film. Rebecca Berrih’s “Slow” earned the title of scariest short film, while Colin Dean Treneff’s “It Loves Me So” was acknowledged as the best Florida short film.
The festival’s diverse program not only highlights emerging talent but also pays homage to the rich history of horror cinema, connecting filmmakers and audiences through their shared love for the genre.
This year’s awards demonstrate a commitment to elevating independent voices within the horror community, providing an exciting platform for artistic expression. As filmmakers and fans leave the festival, the enduring impact of their shared experiences and the stories told on screen linger on.
The complete list of award winners includes:
– Jury Prize for Best Feature Film: “Fucktoys,” directed by Annapurna Sriram
– Jury Prize for Best Short Film: “Whitch,” directed by Hoku Uchiyama
– Scariest Feature Film Prize: “Night of the Reaper,” directed by Brandon Christensen
– Scariest Short Film Prize: “Slow,” directed by Rebecca Berrih
– New Nightmare Prize for Best Debut Film: “Good Boy,” directed by Ben Leonberg
– Best Florida Short Film: “It Loves Me So,” directed by Colin Dean Treneff
– Audience Award for Feature Film: “Queens of the Dead,” directed by Tina Romero
– Audience Award for Short Film: “Frankenbabes From Beyond the Grave,” directed by Andrew Bowser
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