22nd Annual New York City Horror Film Festival to World Premiere documentary “Dinner with Leatherface” on Opening Night

“LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR!” The New York City Horror Film Festival (NYCHFF) is returning to Manhattan’s LOOK Dine-In Cinema (657 West 57th Street) from December 5th to 8th, 2024. The festival will feature a curated selection of over 50 horror films. This year’s festival will feature a record number of female and international directors, representing approximately 13 countries.

The gala 22nd edition of the New York City Horror Film Festival will kick off with Dinner with Leatherface, director Mike Kallio’s revealing documentary about Gunnar Hansen, the actor who portrayed

Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). In Dinner with Leatherface, friends, colleagues, filmmakers and fellow actors share personal stories and discuss the dichotomy between the maniacal chainsaw-wielding character Hansen played on-screen and the very intelligent, creative, soft-spoken man he actually was in real life. Interviewees include Bruce Campbell, Kane Hodder, Danielle Harris and Linnea Quigley, as well as Hansen’s Chainsaw co-stars Edwin Neal, Teri McMinn and Allen Danziger.

An Anchor Bay Entertainment release, Dinner with Leatherface will be making its World Premiere at the New York City Horror Film Festival. The timing couldn’t be better for the festival to play the years-in-the-making documentary: The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and Hansen played the film’s most iconic character.

The Woods, directed by Sarah Lyons, will also be showcased on opening night. The evening will also feature the bone-chilling shorts La Petite Mort, directed by Federica Avagliano; La Diablesse, directed by Grace Perez; and Dark Mommy, directed by Courtney Eck. Major guests from the opening night films are expected.

The horror-comedy Scared to Death, starring beloved scream stars Lin Shaye (Insidious) and Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects), will close the festival, attended by actor/musician Kurt Deimer, producer Eric Barrett and writer/director Paul Boyd. Most screenings will be accompanied by lively Q&As with the attending filmmakers, and the venue offers a bar and restaurant on the premises.

In other notable NYCHFF offerings, Bystanders, the directorial debut of Dread Central website editor Mary Beth McAndrews, will make its East Coast premiere. And writer/director Peter Filardi, creator of The Craft and Flatliners, will unveil his latest short film, Damn Handy. Filardi, who also co-created the recent Stephen King series Jerusalem’s Lot, will be attending the festival as well.

Other terrifying films playing the New York City Horror Film Festival include: Stewart Sparke’s The Dæmon; Eric Huskisson & P.J. Starks’ New Fears Eve (with Sleepaway Camp’s Felissa Rose); Michael Stasko’s Vampire Zombies…From Space! (with Troma chief Lloyd Kaufman and original Night of the Living Dead star Judith O’Dea); and Stuart Ortiz’ Strange Harvest: Occult Murder in the Inland Empire.

The NYC Horror Film Festival was established in 2001 by Michael J. Hein as a platform for emerging independent horror filmmakers. Since Michael’s passing in 2011, the festival has introduced the Michael J. Hein Achievement Award to honor the dedication and perseverance of creators in the genre. The festival also pays tribute to horror legends with its Lifetime Achievement Award, with past recipients including George Romero, Greg Nicotero, Roger Corman, Wes Craven, Stuart Gordon, Tom Savini, Tobe Hooper, and many other luminaries.

For more information about the festival and to purchase passes and tickets, please visit http://www.nychorrorfest.com. Or, send an email to ronnie@nychorrorfest.com Potential sponsors can email: amclean@nychorrorfest.com.