FrightFest, Horror Channel & Movie Mogul reveal their top six finalists for 666 Short Cuts To Hell

FrightFest and Movie Mogul, in association with Horror Channel, challenged aspiring filmmakers all over the country to make a short horror film, but 666 Short Cuts To Hell was no ordinary film competition. Entrants had to follow a series of 'killer' restraints such as a maximum of 6 lines of dialogue, a maximum of 6 cast and crew members and a maximum budget of £666.

A staggering 157 entries made the grade and the overall winner will be announced at FrightFest 2013 on Sunday Aug 25 after the screening of all six films. On hand to congratulate all six finalists will be the distinguished judging panel; Horror Channel presenter Emily Booth, FrightFest director Paul McEvoy, Movie Mogul’s John Shackleton, Filmmaker Paul Hyett and journalist Rosie Fletcher. Tom Six is planning to attend subject to his commitments on Human Centipede 3.

Apart from the honour of being showcased at the UK’s biggest genre festival, the six finalists will also have their films screened on Horror Channel, with the overall winner receiving £6,666 courtesy of Horror Channel and the opportunity to develop a feature film under mentorship from Movie Mogul.

Chris Sharp, Chief Programming Officer, Chello Zone, said today:: “The film industry has some incredible talent emerging as seen in our inaugural 666 Short Cuts To Hell competition. It’s been a huge but highly enjoyable task to watch all 157 entries and a very difficult decision process to select the final six. Many more of the short films deserve recognition and exposure so we pledge to broadcast as many as we can on the channel. I’m proud Horror Channel is a platform for rising stars in the industry and we will continue to do all we can to support young talent.”

John Shackleton, M.D of Movie Mogul added: ".This competition exceeded our expectations by a long way. So many terrific short films, but so little space in the top 6! I'm thrilled with the final selection and can't wait to see who wins!"

Here are the six films…

Six Degrees of (Limb) Separation.
Directed by Mikel Iriarte Cast: Leo Charlton, Madeleine Dunbar, Sam Atkind.

6 Seconds To Die.
Directed by Rick James. Cast: Emma Drysdale, Emily Petrolo & John Rackham

6 Shooter
Directed by David Wayman. Cast: Ed Judd, Aston Fisher, Tom Murton, Teya Simone, Kym Chapman, Dan Lord.

6th Sense
Directed by Alice Moet, CAST: Ellie Manson, Bethany Jackson, Oanne Mitchell, Angela Beadle, Dominic Brunt, Mark Newby.

6 Feet Under
Director: Weronika Tofilska. Cast: Harriet Neville. Jon Readwin, Ewan Stewart, Stephanie Blake & Agis Pitlis.

Six Feet Under
Directed by Joe & Lloyd Stas. Cast: Helen Booden, Tom Stas, Lloyd Stas, Ben Galler

Human Centipede helmer Tom Six joins the 666 Short Cuts To Hell judging panel

Tom Six, currently in the States shooting Human Centipede 3, will help select the winner of the 666 Short Cuts to Hell short film competition, fronted by FrightFest and Movie Mogul, in association with Horror Channel.

Six said today that he was 'delighted' and 'flattered' to be invited to join the panel and was looking forward to hopefully meeting the six finalists winner at this year's FrightFest event in August.

Rosie Fletcher, Total Film Magazine’s genre expert, will make up the ‘6 of the best’ panel, which also includes filmmaker/Special Make-up Effects expert Paul Hyett. Horror Channel presenter Emily Booth, FrightFest director Paul McEvoy and Movie Mogul’s John Shackleton.

The hottest short film competition around challenges aspiring filmmakers to make a short horror film - the best six of which will be shown on Horror Channel and at the 2013 Film4 FrightFest event. The overall winner will receive a prize fund of £6,666 and the opportunity to develop a horror short or feature idea under mentorship from Movie Mogul, for a possible 2014 production.

Entrants will have to follow a series of 'killer' restraints such as a maximum of 6 lines of dialogue, a maximum of 6 cast and crew members and a maximum budget of £666.



Entrants must submit their completed film by 6pm on the 6th June 2013.
Submission guidelines and terms and conditions can be found at www.shortcutstohell.com

The overall winner will be announced at FrightFest 2013 after the six films have been screened.

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138
www.horrorchannel.co.uk | twitter.com/horror_channel

Horror Channel, FrightFest & Movie Mogul team up to launch nationwide search for new filmmakers

Can you make a short film that can cut it in hell? Have you got some killer ideas?

FrightFest and Movie Mogul, in association with Horror Channel, are challenging aspiring filmmakers to make a short horror film - the best six of which will be shown on Horror Channel and at the 2013 Film4 FrightFest event. The overall winner will receive a prize fund of £6,666 and the opportunity to develop a horror short or feature idea under mentorship from Movie Mogul, for a possible 2014 production.

666 Short Cuts To Hell is no ordinary film competition though. Entrants will have to follow a series of 'killer' restraints such as a maximum of 6 lines of dialogue, a maximum of 6 cast of and crew members and a maximum budget of £666.



Chris Sharp, Chief Operating Officer for CBS Chello Zone Channels, commented: "Horror Channel has a rich history in supporting new film making talent through Directors' Nights, new talent seasons, its FrightFest Short Film Showcases and Horror Club. We're looking for the next talent which we will support with on air exposure and undoubtedly feedback from our loyal viewers. We know there are many keen filmmakers among our audience - this is their chance to get their work in the spotlight and get noticed by the UK film industry."

John Shackleton, M.D of Movie Mogul said: "In the current technological HD/digital climate, it really is possible to make just about anything, and new entrant filmmaking is a level playing field. Now is the perfect time and opportunity to uncover new talent with big ideas, who just need that little nudge to really get going. Horror is a fantastic genre in which to cut teeth and sharpen skills because it is historically more of an ideas-driven genre, that doesn't necessarily require big name stars to break through".

Paul McEvoy, co-director of FrightFest added: "We want filmmakers of all kinds to take up the gauntlet and entertain horror audiences with some bold, fun and original ideas. An army of inspired filmmakers all equipped with the same limitations of genre, budget and duration, should really make for a very exciting competition!"

Entrants must submit their completed film by 6pm on the 6th June 2013.
Submission guidelines and terms and conditions can be found at www.shortcutstohell.com

The overall winner will be announced at FrightFest 2013 after the six films have been screened. The full jury will be announced in due course, and will include: Horror Channel presenter Emily Booth, FrightFest director Paul McEvoy, Movie Mogul’s John Shackleton and filmmaker/Special Make-up Effects expert Paul Hyett.


TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138
www.horrorchannel.co.uk | twitter.com/horror_channel