Monsters - Taranto Horror Film Festival is an annual italian movie festival focused on horror, explored as a genre of cultural relevance and multiple expressive possibilities. Since its inception, the festival has scouted for new authors, deep themes, social commentaries, visual imagery who could stand the test of time. The festival has gained national recognition for its quality programs, in which interest for research and love for the great tradition of the genre are treated with equal respect and enjoyement. Restored classics, live performance, many screenings per days, homage to fondamental authors and special thematic programs have become the perfect formula for an event who wants to promote love for cinema and art, with thruly passion for creatures, stories and emotion that horror can offer.
During its first six years, Monsters has showed over 130 movies, focusing on Masters of the genre like Lucio Fulci, Joe D'Amato, George Romero, Rob Zombie, Larry Fessenden, Jeff Lieberman, Stephen King, Claudio Simonetti, William Friedkin, celebrating creatures and thematic subgenres like slasher, zombies, clowns, sirens and monsters from the sea, the Frankenstein Monster, black horror, the Wolf Man. The festival has screened, often in national premiere, movies of new talents like Mathieu Turi, Julia Ducorneau, Natalie Erika James, Erica Scoggins, Alberto Viavattene, Santiago Menghini, Issa Lopez, Simone Scafidi, Roberto De Feo, Daniele Misischia, Karim Ouelhaj, Devanny Pinn, Carolina Sandvik, Paolo Strippoli, Syeyoung Park, Oscar Boyson, with live performance from artists like musicians Valerio “Nekroz” Di Masi, Collettivo Zeugma and comic artists Enzo Rizzi (creator of the well known “horror rock” icon Heavy Bone) and Alessio Fortunato (Dampyr). The festival has also rediscovered lost masters and promises like Bill Gunn and Fabio Salerno.
The Festival is organized by the Cultural Association BRIGADOON ALTRE STORIE DEL CINEMA, with the support of the national fund for festivals of Ministry of Culture (MiC), Centro Studi Cinematografici and is part of Apulia Cinefestival Network from Apulia Fil Commission and Puglia Region.
The 7th edition of the Festival will take place from 26th to 31st October, 2024 in Taranto.
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
Entry to the International Feature Film Competition is open to feature-length films (longer than 60′), which were completed after September 1st, 2023. Preferential criteria for selection will be the National Premiere screening at the Festival.
A highly qualified Jury will award the following prizes:
- Monsters Award for Best Film
- Monsters Award for Best Direcor
- One Special Mention is allowed, for technical or artistic achievements.
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Entry to the International Short Film Competition is open to films under 20′ in length, which were completed after June 1st, 2023. The date of the film’s first public screening is determinant.
A highly qualified Jury will award the following prizes:
- Monsters Award for Best Short Film
- Monsters Award for Best Director
- One Special Mention is allowed for technical or artistic achievements.
