Here are the competition films for the 2025 International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival.
This line up is sure to thrill!
For the complete film schedule of both the Phoenix Film Festival AND International Horror and Sci-Fi Festival click below.
HORROR FEATURES
Black Theta
Run Time: 110 minutes
Screening Time(s):
Saturday, March 29 at 8:55pm
Friday, April 4 at 8:55pm
Saturday, April 5 at 9:10am
Directed by: Tim Connolly
Cast: Tim Connolly, William Hinson, Emma Nossal, Erik Arvizu, Kieler Avery
Synopsis: Andy is haunted years after his brush with death when a mysterious and murderous cult returns to target him, throwing him onto a rollercoaster of chaos and terror.
McCurdy Point
Run Time: 80 minutes
Screening Time(s):
Friday, March 28 at 10:15pm
Friday, April 4 at 11:20am
Sunday, April 6 at 1:20pm
Directed by: Jeremy Brothers, Nick Paonessa
Cast: Ryan Gaul, Kiel Kennedy, Christian Roberts, Joey Krulock, Laird Macintosh, Patty Guggenheim, Allison Dunbar
Synopsis: Follows a group of friends as they travel to a cabin on a lake, but things start going wrong very quickly once they arrive.
The Crucifix: Blood of the Exorcist
Run Time: 95 minutes
Screening Time(s):
Sunday, March 30 at 12:40pm
Friday, April 4 at 9:15am
Sunday, April 6 at 3:15pm
Directed by: Stephan Edward Roach
Cast: Hannaj Bang Bendz, Alex Walton, Nicholas Anscombe, Dean Kilbey, Julie Martis, Darren Le Fevre
Synopsis: A gruesome discovery in the grounds of their new home plunges a young couple into a maelstrom of spiritual possession, pagan rituals, vikings, and violent revenge.
SCI-FI FEATURES
Mesmerized
Run Time: 95 minutes
Screening Time(s):
Friday, March 28 at 8:30pm
Friday, April 4 at 11:10am
Sunday, April 6 at 11:10am
Directed by: October
Cast: Katie Leclerc, Ari Boyland, Elyse Levesque, Miracle Laurie
Synopsis: A young woman searches for her lost childhood sister that only she can remember. After their parents’ death, Kate Hawthorne returns with her brother Alan to the mountain where they spent their childhood summers seeking to unravel the mystery of her sister’s disappearance – and whether Alan is behind it.
The Silent Planet
Run Time: 95 minutes
Screening Time(s):
Saturday, March 29 at 11:15am
Friday, April 4 at 4:00pm
Saturday, April 5 at 5:10pm
Directed by: Jeffrey St Jules
Cast: Elias Koteas, Briana Middleton
Synopsis: An aging convict serving out a life sentence alone on a distant planet is forced to confront his past when a new prisoner shows up and pushes him to remember his life on earth.
The Strange Dark
Run Time: 85 minutes
Screening Time(s):
Friday, March 28 at 4:05pm
Sunday, March 30 at 9:05am
Friday, April 4 at 1:15pm
Saturday, April 5 at 11:25am
Sunday, April 6 at 4:05pm
Directed by: Chris Messineo
Cast: Nili Bassman, Caleb Scott, Carmen Borla, Bates Wilder, John Beckwith, Carson Jean Holley, Athan Sporek
Synopsis: Edgar believes he can see the future, but his wife thinks he's mad, his daughter thinks he's strange, and the agents from Double Star Accounting will stop at nothing to get their data back.
IHSFF SHORTS PROGRAMS
HORROR SHORTS A
Funny Bunny Directed by: Nic Stanich Synopsis: On her first babysitting night, a woman discovers a stuffed bunny’s sinister hunger as reality spirals into surreal horror.
Till Death Do Us Part Directed by: Jacob Hamblin Synopsis: Desperate to wed his true love, an undertaker’s apprentice robs a murdered bride’s grave for her wedding ring.
The Parcel Directed by: Jared Tipton Synopsis: Chad nervously starts a new job — and his day takes a gut-wrenching turn.
The Open Door Directed by: Dean Ronalds Synopsis: Framton Nuttle is sent to the countryside by physicians to recover his nerves and meets a girl who rattles them.
Curiosity Directed by: Michael Cooke Synopsis: Kevin’s curiosity gets the better of him as he ventures onto the dark web. How deep does the rabbit hole go?
Helen Directed by: Helio Mira Synopsis: Original stories inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror, with the Necronomicon spreading madness, death, and chaos across time.
The Worm Directed by: Cameron A. Tubbs, K. Bevin Ayers Synopsis: Two purveyors of the occult discuss a box that contains untold horrors for those who look inside.
SCI-FI SHORTS A
Yellowmeads Directed by: Christian Burnett Synopsis: On the London council estate of Yellowmeads, Vicky is stalked by an unsettling stranger.
CLAUD_IA Directed by: Gabriel Furman Synopsis: A cyber predator becomes the hunted when he preys on the wrong woman.
How Soon Is Now Directed by: Mia Holly Kim Synopsis: A grieving neural engineer develops a deep learning AI CEO, but heartbreak challenges his quest to reject emotions.
Distant Space Directed by: Rohan Jones Synopsis: Robbie Scott's descent into madness while working on Mars is interrupted by an apparition of his daughter.
Lab Rats Directed by: Stimson Snead Synopsis: The most recent abductee of an alien invasion and a day-one abductee must figure out how to escape.
The American Alien Directed by: Rodrigo Rodriguez Synopsis: The journey of a Grey Alien who gets caught at the Mexican border and is processed into the US immigration system.
HORROR SHORTS B
Escape Directed by: Lorenzo Manetti Synopsis: Awakening on the floor of a destroyed bedroom, we discover a global invasion has begun and we are not alone.
Tragedium Directed by: Gaston Haag Synopsis: Three bullies, one debt, and a close encounter of the fourth kind that no one expected.
Baby Blues - Going Dark Directed by: James P. Gleason Synopsis: Barney’s dentist is out, but Dr. Carroway and Penny will take care of him today. He should have rescheduled.
Porcelain Directed by: Tim Wildgoose Synopsis: Porcelain is the story of ‘Child’ -A street urchin who discovers mystery and wonder within the Porcelain makers mansion.
The Ghost Directed by: Allyson Morgan Synopsis: A woman is ghosted by the man she's dating. ...and then the haunting begins.
Lifeboat Directed by: Vanessa-Tatjana Beerli Synopsis: In an oppressive ocean, three accused witches defy their sailor, seize control of destiny, and awaken occult forces for justice.
What’s the Deal with Jerry? Directed by: Matthew Lungaro Synopsis: Jerry unravels reality as unseen laughter blurs lines between friendship and performance.
SCI-FI SHORTS B
B.L.I.N.D. Directed by: Jason Lee Synopsis: An office recluse receives vision-cancelling glasses. Can it finally enable him to have a peaceful day at work?
While Some Must Sleep Directed by: Craig Urquhart Synopsis: Elliot decides to erase his past, but changes his mind when it's going to cost him his best friend.
Dark Cloud Memories Directed by: JUNG Seung-hee Synopsis: In a future where memories are stored in the cloud, a young woman loses precious memories due to limited storage.
Factory Drop Directed by: Petja Pulkrabek Synopsis: The mysterious factory reigns, numbing all emotions until one day two workers risk it all for the freedom to dance.
KILLING R Directed by: Irene Lopez Synopsis: In a distant future Rebecka fantasizes about different ways of getting rid of her AI clone R.
Weasel Directed by: Hisham Hajir Synopsis: A mother uses her brand-new Weasel to sell items instantly, but she soon realizes this technology is beyond her understanding.
CHAD Directed by: Kerry Skinner Synopsis: When CHAD takes a homework assignment too far, Mum and Dad find themselves on a mission to save the planet.
