Horror Highlights: DARKLIT SAILS, HARD:LINE 2024, ARROW

DARKLIT PRESS SETS SAIL ON KICKSTARTER WITH DARKLIT SAILS: A GROUNDBREAKING PIRATE HORROR ADVENTURE SERIES BY MARGINALIZED AUTHORS: “DarkLit Press proudly announces the launch of their Kickstarter campaign for DarkLit Sails, an exhilarating series of pirate horror adventures written by underrepresented and marginalized authors. This daring voyage into the world of dark literature promises to captivate readers with spine-tingling tales of high-seas terror, all while championing diverse voices in the literary landscape. 

Underrepresented and marginalized authors have long struggled to find their place in mainstream publishing, but DarkLit Sails aims to change that narrative. By providing a platform for these talented storytellers, DarkLit Press is committed to amplifying voices that have been historically overlooked in the industry. 

“We believe that everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read,” says Andrew Robert, Founder and CEO of DarkLit Press. “With DarkLit Sails, we’re not only offering thrilling adventures but also fostering inclusivity and representation in literature.” 

Each installment of DarkLit Sails will transport readers to the treacherous waters of pirate-infested seas, where danger lurks at every turn. From ancient curses to supernatural horrors, these tales promise to keep readers on the edge of their seats. 

Adding to the allure of the campaign, DarkLit Sails will feature stunning cover illustrations by the acclaimed artist Val Halvorson, whose captivating artwork brings the chilling atmosphere of each story to life. 

But the excitement doesn’t end there! Backers of the Kickstarter campaign will enjoy a bounty of rewards, including discounted books from DarkLit Press’s back catalogue and a treasure trove of free books. With rewards tailored to suit every budget, supporters will have the opportunity to dive into a sea of captivating stories while helping to bring DarkLit Sails to fruition. 

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support of our backers,” says Andrew Robert. “Their contributions will not only help us publish DarkLit Sails but also pave the way for more diverse voices to be heard in the literary world.” 

The Kickstarter campaign for DarkLit Sails sets sail on March 26th, 2024, and supporters are encouraged to join the adventure by visiting the link below. With your help, DarkLit Press can chart a course toward a more inclusive and vibrant literary landscape.”

For more info, visit:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darklitpress/darklit-sails-a-swashbuckling-horror-adventure series

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HARD:LINE 2024 Festival Announcement: “For the past eleven years, the HARD:LINE Film Festival has taken place at the northernmost point of the Danube, where dark films from all over the world are celebrated in a stunning medieval setting. In 2024, the event will once again attract thousands of visitors to the cathedral city of Regensburg and, from April 11th to 14th, dozens of horror, thriller, and sci-fi films will be screened there, mostly as German Premieres.

For eleven years, the HARD:LINE Festival has welcomed extreme cinema – often against all odds – and has passionately emphasized quality over quantity since its inception. A finely-selected assortment of short and feature-length films make up the festival’s program, and will once more fill the seats of the city’s legendary Ostentor Cinema. The central focus of the festival is to dispel prejudice, make art understandable, and to make contributions to artistic freedom. The festival’s 2024 program includes thirteen features and sixteen shorts from thirteen countries, 21 of which are proudly celebrating premieres at HARD:LINE 2024.

Nearly half of the festival’s screenings will be accompanied by guests, including Fabio D’Orta from Italy, who will be presenting his critically-acclaimed mindfuck masterpiece THE COMPLEX FORMS for the first time in Germany. Alix Austin and Keir Stewart will travel from England to present their joint directorial debut, KILL YOUR LOVER. And THE LAST ASHES, Luxembourg’s Oscar entry, is a superbly-staged female empowerment western from acclaimed director Loïc Tanson. 

One of HARD:LINE’s unique selling points is its annual showcase of a modern genre directors’ oeuvre. The fest’s “Directors Spotlight” annually features three films which summarize the career of a specific filmmaker and, traditionally, the films are programmed anti-chronologically to offer the audience the unique opportunity to travel backwards through a filmmaker’s works. This year, the festival is dedicating its retrospective to U.S. filmmaker Ted Geoghegan, who will be traveling to Regensburg from New York City to screen and discuss his directorial efforts BROOKLYN 45, MOHAWK, and WE ARE STILL HERE. Geoghegan will also hold a masterclass for select guests and be available for conversations with attendees in the festival’s cinema pub, The Kinokneipe.

Being a hands-on film festival remains HARD:LINE’s top priority, which means there are no red carpets in Regensburg. Instead, the fest offers a space expressly dedicated to passion and art, a place that welcomes discourse and fosters opportunities. 

In addition to film screenings, HARD:LINE also features DJ nights in The Kinokneipe on Friday and Saturday nights of the festival, featuring incredible local talent. Ending the festival with monumentally good vibes is also a tradition at HARD:LINE, and this year is no different. Its closing night party on Sunday evening will feature Regensburg post-punk supergroup Zustand taking center stage at the Ostentor Cinema, with matching visuals on-screen behind them. Following their show will be the festival’s award ceremony, The Razor Blades, which will include the festival’s Audience Awards and the presentation of the Méliès D’Argent Award. And because HARD:LINE is a film festival that passionately adores cinema, it needs a phenomenal closing film… which, this year, is the German Premiere of Cooper Roberts’s highly ironic and genre-reflective ALL YOU NEED IS BLOOD.

The full line-up of feature films screening at HARD:LINE 2024 are ALL YOU NEED IS BLOOD (German Premiere), BROOKLYN 45 (German Premiere), THE COMPLEX FORMS (German Premiere), DEMIGOD: THE LEGEND BEGINS, THE EMU WAR, IN A VIOLENT NATURE (German Premiere), KILL YOUR LOVER (German Premiere),THE LAST ASHES, MOHAWK, PROPRIEDADE, STOPMOTION (German Premiere), WE ARE STILL HERE, and YOU’LL NEVER FIND ME (German Premiere).”

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ARROW Astounds with April Additions to Streaming Service April 2024 Lineup Announced: “London, UK – Arrow Video is excited to announce the April 2024 lineup of their subscription-based ARROW platform, available to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. Enjoy a selection of new titles, from carefully cultivated curations to shorts by new talent to deep dives into the tastes of filmmakers that changed the way we see the genre.

The Seasons launch April 5 with Regional Horror (UK/ IRE/ US/CA): A fascinating and fun thing happens when regular people decide to make a horror film outside of the Hollywood studio system. Utilizing purely the talents of themselves, family, friends and pretty much anyone who lives nearby and fits the bill, these ‘regional horror’ films fuse outsider art, a rebellious nature and a lack of any oversight to create some truly unique and terrifying films that never go where you would expect!

Titles Include: Regional Bloodshed, Dark August, The Driller Killer.

Also on April 5 you can also listen to the first of six more episodes of the Arrow Video Podcast with Sam and Dan to join ARROW, where they discuss the delights of David Lynch’s oft-maligned sci-fi epic Dune (1984), and the kaiju carnage of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.

On April 12, ARROW casts a spell with Bad Magic (UK/IRE/US/CA).

In Bad Magic, illusion and wizardry brings forth terror, bloodshed and even some brutal beatdowns. So, hit play on one of these bewitching bangers and let’s all say the magic word together: “Abracadabr-ARGH!”.

Titles Include: Wizard of Gore, The End of Man, The Boxer’s Omen.

Also on April 12, ARROW continues its commitment to showcasing short films from acclaimed talent, with a new quartet of appetizer sized horror.

Arm (UK/IRE/US/CAN): After the break-up of her relationship, Katharine finds herself alone and miserable in the middle of the pandemic. With isolation madness taking hold, she buys herself a companion – a boyfriend pillow. It’s an impulse purchase she may come to regret.

Meat Friend (UK/IRE/US/CAN): Nominated for a 2023 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Short Film. An ex-con, sentient pile of hamburger meat (voiced by Steve Johanson) teaches after-school lessons to a child (Marnie McKendry) in this absurdist comedic short film directed by festival favorite Izzy Lee.

BLEEP! (UK/IRE/US/CAN): Jason and Clara are stuck in a rut. They have the same argument every single night, their relationship is on the brick of dying. One particular night they awake to a strange bleep. Determined to find the mysterious sound they search the house.

Bad Acid (UK/IRE/US/CAN): A wild exploration of the realm where ego, fitness and vanity collide.

On April 15, peek into the tastes of the man behind Phantasm and The Beastmaster with Don Coscarelli Selects (UK/IRE/US/CA).

Independent filmmaker Don Coscarelli is best known for the Phantasm films. Phantasm and its successful sequels spawned a rabid cult of fans around the world, alongside his other enduring works, The Beastmaster, Bubba Ho-Tep and John Dies at the End.

Titles Include: Basket Case, The Woman, The Crazies.

On April 19, Sister Filth returns once more to shepherd you away from the deviant delights that drip from the very pores of this sick and sinful streaming service.

Sick Filth Never Dies (UK/ IRE/ US/CA): Worry not, my children, for I have taken it upon myself to cloister all of the worst offenders that could corrupt you the most within this collection, safe from perverted prying eyes. Now, you wouldn’t dare disobey me and watch any of these corrupt and disgusting films, would you?

Titles Include: Behind Convent Walls, The Awakening of the Beast, A Serbian Film.

Also on April 19, Sam, Dan and Shea return with more episodes of the ARROW Podcast (UK/IRE/US/CAN) to discuss horror favorites Phantasm, Hellraiser, and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and the off-the-scale martial arts horror of The Boxer’s Omen.

On April 20, what else can subscribers do except Blaze It (UK/IRE/US/CA)!

Full of far-out 420 fun and hazy horror, kick back and Blaze It with this carefully rolled collection.

Titles Include: Reefer Madness, Bad Acid, The Hooked Generation.

The Kids Aren’t Alright (UK/ IRE/ US/CA) on April 26.

The youth is revolting in this collection of tearaway teens, chilling children and killer kids.

Titles Include: Hell High, The Child, The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch.

The lineup wraps up, rather appropriately, on April 30 with Basket Case – 4K (UK/IRE/US/CAN).

The feature debut of director Frank Henenlotter (Frankenhooker, Brain Damage), 1982’s Basket Case is a riotous and blood-spattered “midnight movie” experience, now presented for the first time ever in glorious 4K.

ARROW is available in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland on the following Apps/devices: Roku (all Roku sticks, boxes, devices, etc), Apple TV & iOS devices, Samsung TVs, Android TV and mobile devices, Fire TV (all Amazon Fire TV Sticks, boxes, etc), and on all web browsers at https://www.arrow-player.com.

With a slickly designed and user-friendly interface, and an unparalleled roster of quality content from westerns to giallo to Asian cinema, trailers, Midnight Movies, filmmaker picks and much, much more, ARROW is the place to go for the very best in on-demand entertainment.”