With the changing colors, autumn approaches. As the weather gets colder, spooky season creeps into the Appalachian Mountains.
The ETSU James C. and Mary B. Martin Center for the Arts is preparing to host a staple of local film culture. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the fifth annual Highlands Horrorfest returns to Powell Recital Hall at 7 p.m. to showcase the darker side of regional cinema. Celebrating its fifth anniversary under the banner “5 Years of Fear,” the festival highlights independent horror filmmaking, regional creativity and storytelling within the genre.
Appalachian folklore has long included dark tales, local ghost stories and mysterious mountain legends passed down through generations. According to event organizers on the Martin Center for the Arts website, “whispers from the darkness hail the reemergence of a strange and ominous presence.” This tradition of storytelling provides creative ground for regional filmmakers, with Highlands Horrorfest offering a place for filmmakers to exhibit their work.
What started as a showcase for local creators has transformed into a “competitive film festival dedicated to showcasing short films from the Appalachian Highlands community and beyond,” according to the festival’s website. The festival aims to provide filmmakers, ETSU alumni, film students, artists and horror fans an opportunity to share their creativity.
Attendees arriving early can explore the festival’s Bizarre Bazaar in the lobby, which features oddities, artwork and crafts from local vendors. Once the screenings begin, audiences can expect a lineup of independent horror films competing for custom trophies and a $1,000 “Best of the Fest” grand prize.
Organizers describe the event as a gathering place for regional talent and fans.
“Whether you’re a longtime fan, a filmmaker with something to prove, or just looking for a scare, Highlands Horrorfest is where the region’s horror community comes together, five years strong and just getting started,” organizers said on the event website.
Community members, students and cinema enthusiasts can attend what organizers describe as “an evening of murder, mayhem, and madness at the ETSU Martin Center.”
General admission tickets are $8, with complimentary tickets available for ETSU students. For more information, contact the Martin Center for the Arts box office at 423-439-2787 or Tickets@ETSUMartinCenter.org.
