FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
H. P. LOVECRAFT FILM FESTIVAL® ANNOUNCES
SAN PEDRO EVENT CLOSURE
PORTLAND, OR October 7, 2016
After seven festivals since 2010, the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival® (HPLFF®) will not be returning to the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, California. The epic final San Pedro event transpired from April 29 to May 1, 2016 over the auspicious Walpurgisnacht weekend, and featured author Joe Pulver, Sr. and a live cast accompaniment to the classic 1970 B-movie The Dunwich Horror.
“We wish to thank all our volunteers, vendors, filmmakers, authors, artists, game masters, and especially our devoted audience and Kickstarter donors of the past six years for their passion, devotion, support, and love,” said San Pedro event organizer Aaron Vanek.
Andrew Migliore, the founder and executive director of the HPLFF, stated “There were many reasons that led to making the difficult decision to not renew the San Pedro event. While the Warner Grand Theatre was a great venue, the event was never able to thrive over the course of its seven year run in that location. Other factors included Aaron Vanek stepping back as lead director and the difficulties of managing a consistent presentation across the HPLFF franchise with a remote committee. I personally want to thank the San Pedro organizers and staff for their efforts to bring the HPLFF to southern California.”
Brian Callahan, co-director of the HPLFF in Portland Oregon added, “We really enjoyed our yearly visits to San Pedro as vendors, and loved that it was fun in different ways than the event we organize here in Portland. It had its own style, and we’ll miss it and the wonderful Lovecraft fans of southern California, who made it special.”
The organizers of the annual San Pedro event regret the decision to close the festival, but are proud of its accomplishments over the years, including:
- The commission and creation of a Lovecraft-themed wall mural in San Pedro by noted underground artist Skinner.
- Screening a brand-new restored 35mm print of Berkeley Square (1933), presented by director Frank Lloyd’s grandson Christopher Gray. Famously reviewed by H. P. Lovecraft in a letter to R. H. Barlow, this film inspired Lovecraft’s classic tale The Shadow Out of Time.
- Presenting the Howie award (the HPLFF award for significant contributions to the genre of cosmic horror, weird tales, and Lovecraft cinema) to Michael Reaves, writer of The Real Ghostbusters cartoon episode “Collect Call of Cathulhu” and editor of the anthology Shadows Over Baker Street; and legendary filmmaker Roger Corman, who made the first cinematic adaptation of Lovecraft in The Haunted Palace starring Vincent Price (1963).
“Although the San Pedro chapter of the HPLFF is ending,” Andrew continued, “the organizers remain a part of the HPLFF family and you will almost certainly see them again at our other events.” Until then, the organizers won’t be sitting idle as they continue to pursue other projects:
- Cody Goodfellow can be experienced this October as he again writes, acts, and hosts the Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast at the HPLFF in Portland and promotes his newest book, Rapture Of The Deep & Other Lovecraftian Tales.
- James Knouse of Lovecraft Wines (lovecraftwines.com) will continue to press the spirits, and is slated to vend at the Portland festival, and wherever there is a need for his unique brand of bottled madness.
- Miguel Rodriguez directs the terrifyingly successful Horrible Imaginings Film Festival™ in San Diego, which is currently the #11 best-reviewed film festival on FilmFreeway (hifilmfest.com).
- Aaron Vanek will continue to write and design role-playing games, scenarios, and larps based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft, and is planning a DVD release of his Lovecraftian movies, including the rare and newly remastered Return to Innsmouth (1999).
- Frank Woodward is in pre-production on new documentaries as well as his first feature film, Exit. He will also be working for French television as screenwriter for the Elements of Disaster series. These TV movies begin production in 2017.
We encourage all of our San Pedro fans to attend the main H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival every October at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon—taking place this October 7-9—and every even-numbered year in Providence, R.I. For more information please visit hplff.com.
For questions or comments, please contact us.
“H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival” is a registered trademark of Lurker Films, Inc.
As usual, the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival® features the best in independent Cosmic Horror, Weird Tales, and the Uncanny. Most of the films featured at the festival can't yet be seen outside of a film festival, and many this year are World, US, or Regional Premieres!
We'll be featuring the US Premiere of Chilean thriller Downhill! Written and Directed by Patricio Valladares (Hidden in The Woods) and starring Natalie Burn (Expendables 3) and Bryce Draper (Bound), with Ignacia Allamand, Ariel Levy, and Matis Lopez from The Green Inferno, this horror film combines elements of H. P. Lovecraft with the world of BMX biking. Featuring backwoods cultists and strange rituals, monstrous creatures, and plenty of action, you'll definitely want to see this on the big screen. Also making their US Premieres that weekend is The Unkindness of Ravens and The Creature Below. Directed by first time filmmaker Stewart Sparke, The Creature Below follows Olive, marine biologist and Miskatonic alum, as she discovers a deep sea lifeform hidden from the world, but known by ancient cultures that knew it would one day rise to the surface. The Unkindness of Ravens from Lawrie Brewster (Lord of Tears) tackles the serious subject of PTSD, with homeless vet Andrew Alburn retreating to the Scottish Highlands to combat his fear of ravens, where he discovers a brutal supernatural menace.
You'll also enjoy the US Premiere of amazing Finnish short film "Hypnos," inspired by the H. P. Lovecraft story. This is the first time we've seen an adaptation of this story, and we think you'll love it.
Check out the World Premiere of shorts "Ink" and "Erebos", as well as the world-premiere of feature Dead Tongues, inspired by Lovecraft's "The Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family." Plus, at least two dozen films appearing for the first time in Portland! Tickets are available now at the Hollywood Theatre Web site and in person at their box office at 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. For more info on films and activities at the festival, or to peruse the schedule, visit the main festival page.
The Kickstarter for the 2016 H.P. lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, OR is live! Join us for a journey underground to the infamous Shanghai Tunnels! Get deluxe ticket packages, VIP Packages, exclusive shirts, lapel pins, and other artifacts by pledging now. Regular tickets will go on sale after the campaign ends, but most of these goodies are only available during the campaign!
We're pleased to announce that Howard Lovecraft and The Frozen Kingdom, the new animated feature film based on the Arcana comic, and featuring the voices of Ron Perlman, Doug Bradley, Christopher Plummer, and Jane Curtin, will make its premiere at the 1st H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Providence, RI. Don't miss this look at the first in the series!
We've confirmed the attendance of Laird Barron (X's for Eyes) and Philip Gelatt (Europa Report), who will discuss the upcoming film adaptation of Barron's -30-, and we also welcome the great John Langan (The Fisherman) to our cosmic fold!
More news soon! In the meantime, if you're coming from out of town, discounted rooms at the Omni hotel are only available until this Friday, July 29, so reserve your room now! Discounted Early bird festival tickets are also available now (until July 31st).
Come to the Best of the 2015 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival® DVD Release Party!
(IMPORTANT! This event has been rescheduled for July 10th due to some unforeseen repair work at the Lovecraft Bar.)
Our latest DVD is now available! Join us for Dread Hour at the Lovecraft Bar (421 SE Grand) to celebrate the release.
We will have copies for sale, but if you pledged for a copy (either separately, or as part of the 3-DVD box set) in our 2015 Kickstarter, we invite you to join us and pick up your copy.
Event details: Sunday, July 10th at the Lovecraft Bar, 421 SE Grand Ave, Portland, United States
Lovecraft Bar now features Cool Air, not of Dr. Munoz design.
This event is 21+
Didn't pledge for the DVD in our Kickstarter, and can't make it to our Portland release party? No problem! Order your DVD from our on-line shop Arkham Bazaar. Click here to get your DVD!
Predicted in ages gone by, the Lovecraft Arts and Science Council (organizers of the biennial NecronomiCon Providence) serve as host for the stricken minds of the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival® – Portland organizers. The blasphemous result is 3 days of Lovecraftian film and activities, including author readings, panels, and vendors. The stars align around HPL's birthday August 19-21st in his hometown of Providence RI. Join the Facebook event for ongoing news.
HPLFF San Pedro Store has swag available from the Fest.
men's women's T-shirts $20 Poster $5
Goblets and glasses for your elixir of eternal life $25
https://squareup.com/store/HPLFF/
The San Pedro Festival 2016 is over. Our "most accursed rites of human blasphemy... called him for a moment" and then was gone. Rites that included the base lamentations of writers awed and horrified at our cosmic insignificance, artists creating new works while merchants sold strange artifacts. Friday was the twin hammers to the head of Black Mountain Side and The Mist. Walpurgisnacht Saturday had panels and a NEW play adaptation of The Colour Out of Space, and the psycho freakout of The Dunwich Horror Picture Show. Films traditional and expermiental from around the world were a tour de force. Sunday's Brucnh in fun was the perfect hangover cure, with sermons, songs, Ask Lovecraft and games including demo of the 7th Edition Call of Cthulhu. ia ia!!
No password but you must RSVP. The LoveCraft Wines SpeakEasy Party kicks off your descent into madness. Kickstarter backers need to respond to the email sent. Others go to the Facebook event
Hosted by LoveCraft Wines at Off the Vine across the street from the Warner Grand Theatre. The SpeakEasy will open at 3:30 PM April 29th and will feature LoveCraft Wines, readings, art, music with Marionette H.P. Lovecraft himself reading poetry!
491 W 6th Street Suite 103