In total Fearless Tales ran for 3 years as San Francisco’s first film festival devoted to Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy film where we introduced hundreds of devoted film fans to new independent cinema while celebrating the history of these rich film genres.
During that time we hosted legendary filmmakers like John Landis (American Werewolf in London) and Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and cult icons like Matt Cimber (Hundra) Jack Hill (Spider Baby) David Hess (Last House on the Left), with Premiers from established directors Jeff Burr (The Offspring) and Tobe Hooper and many new and independent artists.
Fearless Tales (FT), was a company created by filmmakers with a great passion for film. It was headed by myself and Angelica Fematt-Davidson. The FT crew was comprised of filmmakers, film reviewers, writers, event producers, and publicists. Our focus was on independent cinema with services that ranged from screening to film production, DVD extras production, marketing, and distribution.
Other key contributors were:
- Jeff Darby, Sound Designer, Sony Entertainment - Co-Founder, (IMDB )
- Calum Waddell, Film Historian and Writer, Curator for classic film line-up
- Carrey Murphy - Volunteer Coordinator
- John Stanley, Bay Area Film Critic, and Personality - Featured filmmaker on stage interviews
- Jacques Boyreau, Werepad Film Archivist - Film print provider, gala host
Original press release:
FEARLESS TALES GENRE FEST
horror – sci-fi – fantasy – noir film festival
March 29 – April 3, 2005
The distinctly horrifying Fearless Tales Genre Fest presents it’s 2nd annual film festival from March 29th through April 3, 2005. This year’s festival kicks off with a showing of the 1976 classic video nasty The Witch Who Came From the Sea (so controversial it’s still banned in the UK!). The film has been given a brand new digital transfer and will be accompanied by a Q & A with the director, Matt Cimber. In honor of Mr. Cimber’s appearance, his acclaimed 1983 fantasy epic HUNDRA will also be shown. The festival takes place at The Victoria Theatre from March 29th to April 3rd and the Castro Theatre from March 31st to April 2nd. Additional events and parties will be held at Medjool, The Werepad and other locations throughout San Francisco's Mission and Castro Districts.
Each year Fearless Tales honors one deserving filmmaker with the Fearless Vision Award, given to those who have worked to push the boundaries of cinema, celebrating filmmakers who have made bold and rewarding choices in their films – those who are fearless. The work of this year’s filmmaker has spanned not just horror, but all genres. Like no other filmmaker, he is able to both terrify us and make us laugh at the same time. This year’s recipient is John Landis. And in honor of Mr. Landis’ work and contribution to the world of cinema, a special celebration will be held Thursday, March 31st at Medjool, one of San Francisco’s hottest new nightspots. The celebration continues the following day at the Castro with a double bill of his films INNOCENT BLOOD and AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. Mr. Landis will be in attendance for a rare on-stage interview and Q & A.
For any true horror fan, the anticipation of a new film starring Robert Englund (FREDDY vs. JASON) is usually quite high - and when that film also happens to be 2001 MANIACS, a remake of Herschell Gordon Lewis’ 1964 splatter classic 2000 MANIACS, it is understandable why anticipation is at a fever pitch. Fearless Tales has Tim Sullivan, the charismatic director of 2001 MANIACS, in attendance for a night honoring the Godfather of Gore’s trendsetting film. Sullivan will present the original 2000 MANIACS - alongside co-stars of his new film, Dylan Edrington and the seductively busty Christa Campbell. All three will be on stage for a Q & A session with the audience to discuss the making of 2001 MANIACS. LEATHERFACE director Jeff Burr is also scheduled to attend with the Bay Area premiere of STRAIGHT INTO DARKNESS as well as a retrospective screening of his first feature film THE OFFSPRING (starring the late Vincent Price in one of his last films and with appearances from such great cult names as TOOLBOX MURDERS star Cameron Mitchell and RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD’s Clu Gulager). Burr will take to the stage for an in-depth Q & A – taking in his entire career and his newest production, THE DEMONS 5, also starring Robert Englund.
There’s also a local connection to the festival. Not only is Dylan Edrington (co-star of 2001 MANIACS) a Bay Area native (his family still lives here), but EMR (voted Best UK Feature at the Raindance Festival out of London) was filmed in San Francisco and both Sirens of the 23rd Century and Broken Low have a local cast and crew, including the director. The shorts program promises to be scary, sexy, and fun, with a bit of adult humor thrown in for good measure. Notable among these are multi-award winning Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher, made by local filmmaker and Lucas employee Alex Woo; Eternal Gaze about Alberto Giaccometti; Gorgonas, awarded Best Argentinean Short Film prize; the San Francisco premiere of multi-award-winning FILTHY; and the US premiere of ATOMIC SPITBALLS. Naturally, this little taster is designed to satisfy some of your initial curiosity...and keep you hungry for more.