After making over a dozen short films, the Vegan Cannibals are gearing up for a full feature film, ‘Go To Hell’. Fans of their work know their style as outrageous, visually striking, sometimes gory but always entertaining and thought-provoking.

Their short ‘ The Diary of Anne Frank of the Dead’ was a hit on the horror film festival circuit, taking Best Short Short Film at the DragonCon International Film Festival 2008 and was chosen by Dread Central (www.DreadCentral.com) as one of 8 Short Films to Die For in 2009.

‘Rationed’, a suspenseful, thriller won Best Picture at the Inland Empire 48 Hour Film Project 2009 and went on to place 3rd overall in the International competition. It was selected to play at Cannes International Film Festival in 2010. And is currently being featured on www.ScariestMoviesOnline.com.

‘Go To Hell’ is written by Emerson Bixby (writer of ‘Disturbed’) and directed Scott Baker. It follows groups of individuals as their story lines converge in a demonically possessed old movie theater. Featuring non-stop horror-comedy action, it is sure to please any horror hound and fan of outrageous cinema.

The Vegan Cannibals are independently producing the film so as not to be constrained by the oversight of studios or investors, enabling them to make the film true to their vision. They are reaching out to the horror community and lovers of independent cinema to help them fund their project. Through Kickstarter they are looking to raise the initial funds necessary to build the FX and start the production. They are offering incentives to those willing to donate and are appreciative of any help.

Further information about the Vegan Cannibals can be found on their site www.VeganCannibals.com and you can follow director Scott Baker on Twitter @MrScottyBaker.

Check out the Kickstarter page for “Go To Hell” below and support independent film!

August 1, 2011 – Austin, TX – The SXSW Film Conference & Festival opens for business today, as we begin accepting submissions and registrations for the 2012 event. Filmmakers are invited to submit their new features, short films, music videos and title sequences to the annual event, a renowned destination for discovery. Last year the Festival featured over 300 features and shorts, with 66 world premiere features, including Bridesmaids, Source Code, Attack the Block, Weekend, The Beaver,Dragonslayer, Turkey Bowl, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop and Natural Selection among others. The 2012 SXSW Film Conference and Festival will take place March 9 – 17, 2012 in Austin, Texas.

“As we come off another exciting, electric year of great films and talent at SXSW 2011, our programming team is eagerly anticipating new submissions for SXSW 2012,” said Janet Pierson, SXSW Film Conference & Festival Producer. “We remain passionately dedicated to discovering and presenting fresh, dynamic films from new and veteran filmmakers alike, and can’t wait to see how our 2012 program shapes up.”

Submissions may only be entered via the official SXSW website, at http://sxsw.com/film. Complete rules and regulations, as well as additional information on the submission process can be found in the Submission FAQ, at http://sxsw.com/film/screenings/submission_faq.

Please note: SXSW Film Festival has changed our submission deadlines. Due to the increase in submissions and the extremely tight turnaround, we’ve moved up our Last Minute (and final) submission deadline to Tuesday, November 15, 2011. This will allow us to continue to give every submission the careful consideration it deserves. Don’t forget – filmmakers can submit their films earlier and save! Submission fees are at their lowest if you get your film in by the Early deadline of Tuesday, October 4, and are still discounted if you submit by the next deadline of Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

Also new for 2012: Please keep in mind; these deadlines are now on a RECEIVED BY basis, (NOT based on a postmark date). In other words, all 2012 film submissions must arrive at the SXSW offices in Austin no later than November 15, 2011.

SXSW Film accepts submissions in the following categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Animated Short, Texas High School Short, Music Video, and Opening Title Sequence.

SXSW is proud to be an official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards Short Film competition. TheBest Narrative Short and Best Animated Short winners become eligible for the Academy Awards.

Submission deadlines and fees are as follows:

Early Submission Period: Monday, August 1 – Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Features – $40
Shorts – $25
Music Videos – $25
Title Sequence Design – $10
Texas High School – $10

Late Submission Period: Wednesday, October 5 – Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Features – $60
Shorts – $40
Music Videos – $40
Title Sequence Design – $10
Texas High School – $10

Last Minute Deadline Period: Wednesday, November 2 – Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Features – $100
Shorts – $50
Music Videos – $50
Title Sequence Design – $15
Texas High School – $10

Alongside our Film Festival, the SXSW Film Conference features over 100 informative and entertaining panels, workshops, mini-meetings and mentor sessions. The program presents topics that cover the film spectrum, with an emphasis on the intersection of the Film and Interactive worlds. 2011 participants included creative leaders and industry experts, as well as talent like Paul Reubens, Todd Phillips, Catherine Hardwicke, Duncan Jones, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rainn Wilson, James Wan and Bill Plympton.

Once again, the community can help shape the conference programming, by voting and commenting on panels they’d like to see via the PanelPicker™ interface. Voting begins Monday, August 15, and will run through Friday, September 2. To find out more about the SXSW PanelPicker™, visithttp://panelpicker.sxsw.com.

Register for a Film, Gold or Platinum Badge today at www.sxsw.com/attend, and join us March 9-17, 2012 for exceptional films, energetic panels, exciting parties, the SXSW Trade Show and, of course, the inspirational experience that only SXSW can deliver.

SXSW Film Conference and Festival is sponsored by Chevrolet, IFC, Brisk, Pepsi Max and and The Austin Chronicle.

About SXSW Film
The SXSW® Film Conference and Festival is a uniquely creative environment featuring the dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry heavyweights. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of the rapidly evolving world of independent film.

The Film Conference buzzes as world-class speakers, creative minds, and notable mentors tackle the latest filmmaking trends amidst the unmatched social atmosphere of the SXSW experience. Simultaneously, the internationally acclaimed, nine-day Festival celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring a truly diverse program that includes provocative documentaries, subversive comedies, DIY narratives, genre standouts and more. For more information, visithttp://www.sxsw.com/film.

Check out the great trailer for this must-see, ten-year production, about the aftermath of September 11th. REBIRTH is a story of hope and growth in a time of tragedy. Watch the trailer and then read more about this historical film.

REBIRTH is a riveting journey into the indomitable human spirit that drives people to transcend the unthinkable, and rise from the ashes to find renewal and hope. A living history, it is an act of personal witness to one of the most profoundly consequential events in American history – and the unseen healing that has come in its wake. Directed by Jim Whitaker and the result of a decade-long sojourn by a team of renowned filmmakers, REBIRTH follows the transformation of five people whose lives were forever altered on September 11, 2001 – and simultaneously tracks via unprecedented, multi-camera, time-lapse photography the minute-by-minute evolution of the space where the Twin Towers once rose. What emerges from the mix is a singular cinematic experience, at once emotionally intimate and spiritually exhilarating – providing a direct portrait of how grief, anger and chaos metamorphose into connection, purpose and new dreams as the human spirit rebuilds and rediscovers its sustaining powers.

The film as well as other original programming created by the REBIRTH team will eventually be housed at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum located at Ground Zero. All proceeds from REBIRTH will go to the Project Rebirth Center to develop and provide new multi-media tools to aid the therapists, academics, first responders and others working with people dealing with grief.

Forged through the generous support of hundreds who helped shepherd the epic, ten-year production, REBIRTH was produced by David Solomon and Jim Whitaker, with Danielle Beverly serving as field producer. The director of photography is Tom Lappin and the editors are Kevin Filippini and Brad Fuller. The film’s original score is composed by Academy Award winner Philip Glass.

REBIRTH is being released theatrically by Oscilloscope Laboratories in late August (opening in Los Angeles on August 26 and in New York on August 31). In addition, Showtime will broadcast REBIRTH on the 10th anniversary of the events of September 11th.

Some very nice people sent us three clips and a ton of stills from Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming “Don’t Be Afraid of The Dark.

Del Toro’s productions tend to be as good or better than their trailers, which makes us doubly excited for this chiller.

The Stills:

The Clips:

And I’ll be danged if I’m not interested.

The story looks genuinely interesting, and the filmmakers have a National Geographic pedigree.

Here’s the trailer:

See the release below:

PALADIN HAS ‘WHALE’ OF A TIME

Ryan Reynolds narrates and executive produces documentary about friendly orca

THE WHALE deal caps a particularly busy season for Paladin, following the highly successful release of Tom Shadyac’s “I Am,” which has grossed over $1.5 million, making it the highest grossing non-studio, non-3D documentary release of the year. The company launches the award-winning “Love Etc.” on July 1st and recently announced the fall release of Tiffany Shlain’s Sundance favorite, “Connected.” Also opening this summer for the company is Marcus Dean Fuller’s “One Fall,” and coming in autumn is Margaret Whitton’s romantic comedy, “A Bird of the Air.”