9:30PM

As Above so below 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Found Footage Horror

(2014, USA, DIR. John Erick Dowdle) - 1H33M

One of the last major theatrical releases of the found footage / in-world camera era of the 2010s, AS ABOVE SO BELOW makes sure that you feel every bit of its handheld claustrophobia. A team of explorers descend into the catacombs of Paris and accidentally awaken the city of the dead. Boy, do we hate when that happens.

DCP courtesy of Universal Pictures.

7PM

Outwaters: Detective Audio version*

found footage horror

(2024, USA, DIR. Robbie banfinch)

BADGE HOLDER ONLY SPECIAL EVENT! A sneak peek at a brand-new version of The Outwaters! — Often in found footage horror, the images we view are presented as evidence in a case, but the greater narrative stops there. UFF is bringing Banfitch’s cosmic horror masterpiece back to the festival for a badge holder only sneak peek of a new iteration of The Outwaters that transforms it into an entirely different viewing experience. Now the visuals are paired with the observations of two investigators, Detective Stacey and Detective Nolan, reviewing the footage, trying to uncover what really happened and how the existence of this footage is even possible.

Robbie Banfitch in attendance for a Q&A 

THIS IS A BADGEHOLDER EXCLUSIVE EVENT

7PM

Hunting for the hag*

Hybrid

(2023, USA, DIR. Paul A. Brooks) - 1H25M

Tara (Jasmine Williams), a young filmmaker, sets out with two friends Beth (Alexa Maris) and Candy (Co-writer and producer Sierra Renfro) to film a documentary in the woods of central Illinois about a mysterious legend known as The Hawthorne Hag. Tara plans to capture The Hag on camera for the first time in known history —  but within this forest, things may not be as they seem. Hunting For The Hag manages to be a found footage thriller, a cryptid flick, a psychological horror film, and fun as hell all at the same time. As bombastic as it is unsettling, there’s no better way to kick off a nonstop weekend of found footage horror than going Hunting for the Hag with UFF.

Q&A with writer/director Paul A. Brooks, writer/producer/star Sierra Renfro, and producer Seth Chromick

w/ Spiral to the center

(2023, UK, DIR. Alisa Stern, Scott Ampleford) -29M

Rick reviews records and talks about music online. After his reaction to a strange record goes viral, a documentary filmmaker follows Rick down the rabbit hole where he uncovers twelve albums, a record label that disappeared in the 70s, and a dark secret.

Spiral to the Center is a sci-fi mystery told in the style of a documentary. All of the music is original to the film and created by Scott Ampleford who also stars as Rick.

12pM

Nias

POV (inanimate object)

(2024, France, DIR. Baptiste Rambaud) - 1H02M

| US Premiere |

Noémie is a professional cat sitter in France whose days are spent visiting with the cutest kitty clients while their humans are away. After the loss of a cat leaves her traumatized and paranoid, she can’t bring herself to say goodbye to a cat named Nias. After catnapping Nias while his owners are out of town, she finds herself in an intense chase through the city streets of Normandy. Shot entirely from the perspective of a cat carrier, Nias cleverly explores the rarely seen POV of an inanimate object, a style utilized in films like Nightlight (2015) and UFF2 selection The Moose Head Over the Mantel (2017). When the perspective is a cat carrier, that eliminates the question of “why are they still filming?” Enjoy the scenery and get lost in the cat heist!

w/ Whacked

(2023, france, DIR. Rafael Cherkaski, Adapei Papillons Blancs D'Alsace) - 17M

How do disabled or deficient workers perceive global warming? In the North-East of France, a succession of interviews in an ESAT, a kind of factory in a protected environment, leads these atypical people to wonder about climate change and its consequences.

1:30pM - Puzzle Box

Found Footage Horror

(2023, Australia, DIR. Jack Dignan) - 1h14M

| north american theatrical premiere |

Running from a violent incident in their past, sisters Kait and Olivia flee to a remote house in the woods where Kait can detox, Olivia can document the process, and maybe the two sisters can repair their strained relationship. Their trip turns into a nightmare when the house reveals itself to be an inescapable maze of ever-shifting rooms, staircases, and hallways. As they attempt to find a way out, they discover there are far worse things in this house to be afraid of. Newcomer Jack Dignan’s direction and extremely clever editing take an otherwise unspectacular location and turn it into a labyrinthine hell, which is further elevated by Kaitlyn Boyé’s amazing performance, creating a piece of liminal horror that’s destined to be a found footage classic.

w/ Format

(2023, US, DIR. Ryan Bode, Reagan E. Sanchez) - 5M

While cleaning out his parent's house, James clashes with his partner Dylan over the preservation of family history, before they find themselves unable to escape it.

3PM

TAHOE JOE 2: THE NEVADA BIGFOOT CONSPIRACY*

found footage horror

(2024, US, DIR. Dillon Brown, Michael Rock) - 1h15m

| world premiere |

If you’re not keeping an eye on HorrorDadz productions, you’re missing out on some of the most driven, passionate, and talented new players in the in-world camera space. Tahoe Joe 2: The Nevada Bigfoot Conspiracy follows the film that Dread Central called “One of 2022’s Best Bigfoot Movies.” This time, Michael Rock and Dillon Brown return to the Tahoe wilderness, trekking through snowy mountain trails to find a young woman who went missing while seeking the elusive Tahoe Joe, Lake Tahoe’s very own version of bigfoot. Tahoe Joe 2 takes everything that made the first film a success and adds new layers of action, intrigue, and a sprawling conspiracy that’s almost sure to be continued in Brown and Rock’s future Cryptid-verse of films

Q&A with director Dillon Brown, and stars Becca Annes and Sherry Davis

5pM

Frogman*

found footage horror

(2023, us, DIR. Anthony Cousins) - 1H26M

On a family vacation, a young boy named Dallas captures footage of a cryptid known as the Loveland Frogman with his video camera. Mocked and accused of faking the sighting, he is haunted by the footage he captured. Years later, Dallas (Nathan Tymoshuk) has grown up to be a filmmaker, and he is determined to film the Frogman once again. 

Frogman isn’t your dad’s faux doc. Frogman is YouTube era Patterson/Gimlin footage shot on Toad Road. Frogman vibrates like The Blair Witch Project if Heather and the boys were after the X-Files’ Flukeman. Frogman’smerch reads FROGMAN FUCKS. And you know what? He does. Catch Frogman on the big screen at UFF followed by a Q&A

Q&A with filmmaker Anthony Cousins

w/ Turtle?

(2022, China, DIR. Yangqi Deng) - 5M

A pseudo-reporting montage based on a true story about an unidentified object. All footages were taken from the Internet.

7pM

IT DOESN”T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS*

found footage horror

(2023, us, DIR. Rachel Kempf, Nick Toti) - 1H23M

| west coast premiere |

When a married couple (filmmakers Rachel Kempf, Nick Toti as themselves) purchase a rundown duplex in rural Missouri to be the set of their next horror film, they are delighted by the layers of graffiti and debris. Nick’s production of a documentary about their project and the entertaining dynamic between himself, Rachel, and her longtime bestie Christian begins to get sidetracked when strangers begin standing completely still outside their new home, silently staring at the house. 

An energetic mix of archival DIY horror, first-person faux documentary, and found footage, It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This maxes out the potential of its deceptively straightforward setting. It’s paradoxically a slow burn and a joyous romp, a warning and a love letter, a memory and a mystery. Nick’s observation in the film, “The more you look the more you see,” captures the heart of found footage horror, and dang if that doesn't say it all.”

Q&A with filmmakers Rachel Kempf & Nick Toti

w/ Airbnb

(2023, US, DIR. Ian faria, andrew deyoung) - 8M

When Simple Town discovers their Air BnB is bugged with surveillance cameras, a dark secret threatens to tear the group apart.

Created by Simple town & Andrew DeYoung

9pM

Flesh Games*

found footage horror

(2023, us, DIR. David M. Dawson) - 1H10M

| west coast premiere |

“FLESH GAMES was a group of virtually unknown "stuntmen" and "comedians" hailing from the mighty cornfields of Northern Illinois. They achieved little to no success. This is their tape…” 

Flesh Games explores a rarely-visited realm of found footage that many dismiss: Reality Stunt Comedy. Flesh Games follows a group of no-name “stuntmen” in their ill-begotten attempt to create a stunt comedy ála 2002’s Jackass: The Movie. While the Jackass crew birthed massive success, Flesh Games’ titular stuntmen fail spectacularly. Watching Flesh Games is like finding an unlabeled VHS tape at a thrift store, hitting play, and feeling a building sense of dread as this group of scarred and tattooed rural backyard skateboarders keep upping the ante and their stunts become increasingly dangerous and bizarre.

10:30pM

Trash Humpers in 35mm

found footage horror

(2009, us, DIR. Harmony Korine) - 1H18M

15TH ANNIVERSARY 35MM SCREENING – Late at night in the city and suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, a gang of elderly ne'er-do-wells walk the streets behaving bizarrely and committing crimes. MAKE IT! MAKE IT! DON'T FAKE IT! What's their goal? Where did they come from? Why are they doing these things? This is their footage. Shot on VHS, edited on VCRs, and inspired by sights he saw as a kid growing up in Tennessee, transgressive artist Harmony Korine’s 2009's depraved found footage film Trash Humpers is a look at the dark side of americana and about exactly what it says on the package: humping trash. Celebrate the 15th anniversary of this sociopathic classic with a 35mm repertory screening of the film.

W/ red leather yellow leather

(2023, US, DIR. Harry McDonough) - 12M

Detective Roach follows up with a report filed by Jake on an incident that occurred the night of the 26th.

12pM

looky-loo*

pov

(2024, US, DIR. Jason Zink) - 1H23M

| world premiere |

An aspiring filmmaker obsessively captures footage everywhere he goes, but his hobby takes a dark turn. As he hones his craft and his crimes begin to escalate, the viewer is trapped watching everything he sees and does through his camera lens. Exploring themes of voyeurism, obsession, and the power of images, Looky-loo is reminiscent of Angst (1983) and Peeping Tom (1960) with a chilling atmosphere and gritty, disturbing imagery. Juxtaposing a horror audience's enthusiasm for the black glove killer imagery of Giallo film with the cold reality of recorded home invasions, Looky-loo distorts that black glove into a grimy rubber kitchen glove. It is a true meditation on the paralysis and helplessness incited by watching awful acts.

Q&A with filmmaker Jason Zink

w/ Homebody

(2021, US, DIR. Andrew J. Paulsen) - 9M

A traumatized young woman is convinced her terrorizer has returned, but this time she's determined to catch them in the act.

2pM

Selections from “Mallwalk”

(Live performance)

(2023, us, DIR. Nick nordlinger) - 1H

On November 11th 2004, 14-year-old Conrad Cliff jackhammered into the water main at The Royal Galleria near Belmont, California. Twenty-three people drowned. Three people were electrocuted in the arcade. Two people were fatally bitten by a hammerhead shark that escaped from the mall's aquarium. And the teenager responsible was never found. Blair Van Auken was with Contad at the mall that day but refused to speak about the incident for 18 years. Until now. 

MallWalk is an investigative journalism podcast that can be heard on all major podcast platforms. UFF is proud to present a live, multimedia performance of selections from MallWalk. Hear parts of the story told by Blair Van Auken himself, along with other readers and performers, set to music, visuals, and have your questions about this incident answered in person. This one-time only experience is not to be missed.

3:30pM

DREAD CENTRAL PRESENTS: “ANALOG IS THE FUTURE”*

(Mary Beth Mcandrew, kris straub) - 60m

Join us for an introduction to the world of analog horror, a format born in the depths of YouTube that also mimics the VHS aesthetics of the 80s and 90s. This isn't your mom's found footage, this is your little Gen Z cousin's found footage. While both exclusively digital and mimetically vintage, analog horror can be deeply unsettling, crafting an uncanny and grainy vision of reality narrated by mechanical voices and broadcast alarms. Perhaps you've already had a taste of analog horror, discovering series like “The Mandela Catalogue” chopped up on TikTok or Instagram. Also playfully called PowerPoint horror, analog horror is the way of the future for in-world camera media, and we're excited to take you through the wild and glitchy with a shorts block including titles like "Mystery Flesh Pit National Park", "The Williams Tapes", "Vita Carnis", and several of the works from popular analog horror channel Local 58.

Local 58 creator Kris Straub will be in attendance for a Q&A following the block, moderated by Dread Central's editor-in-chief Mary Beth McAndrews.

5pM

#BLUE_WHALE

Screenlife

(2022, russian federation, DIR. Anna Zaytseva) - 1H31M

Rebellious schoolgirl Dana grieves for her younger sister, a once-happy kid who suddenly stepped in front of a train. Desperate to learn what happened, she explores her sister's online history, discovering a sinister social-media game known as #BLUE_WHALE. This screenlife story from Russian filmmaker Anna Zaytseva delves into global truths about loneliness and insecurity, how young people experience these feelings and seek community online – and what happens when bad actors enter these communities to prey on them. Fans of death games and MTV teen dramas will love this psychological thriller, paced like a rapid doom scroll into insanity. #BLUE_WHALE is a wild ride, often funny, and sometimes a little bit sweet.

w/ what i remember

(2023, us, DIR. Alex Hera) - 6M

Two strangers, Sam and Ryan, meet each other in a stroke of fate. Ryan documents everything in his life with a camera, and Sam, a lonely troublemaker, welcomes him into her life.

What I Remember was shot in the San Francisco Bay Area.

7pM

Do Not watch

found footage horror

(2023, us, DIR. Justin Janowitz) - 1H23M

Do Not Watch is a cautionary tale of madness that is told through the lens of an unseen Editor who has constructed a film depicting the events surrounding the disappearance of a post-production crew and the growing darkness that drove them insane. A decades-spanning mystery is interwoven across three timelines: a present day documentary; several missing person cases; and scientific research footage from old VHS tapes. At UFF, we always say found footage horror is truly made in the editing room, and Do Not Watch highlights and twists that idea into a supernatural psyop of darkness – this footage worms into your psyche. Mixing media, perspectives, and timelines into a mind-melting smorgasbord of techniques unique to the found footage horror genre – Do Not Watch is as entertaining as it is impressive.

w/ A place to be

(2023, us, DIR. Christopher La Vigna) - 5M

A Video Distress Signal From An American Maggot

9pM

Cuddly Toys*

Mondo film

(2023, us, DIR. Kansas Bowling) - 1H42M

Recent graduate of teen-life university, Professor Kansas Bowling presents a shocking exposé about the lives of teenage girls, presented as a series of fictional vignettes and real documentary interviews.

Shot on 16mm, Cuddly Toys offers a satirical take on teenage life, using a faux-academic presentation style reminiscent of vintage mondo films or 1960s educational PSAs. Filmmaker Kansas Bowling (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Verotika), appearing as "Professor Kansas Bowling," blends real-life interviews with exaggerated recreations to highlight the challenges faced by teenage girls — and while the film's content may be provocative, it serves a deeper purpose in critiquing societal issues such as sexual assault and misogyny within teenage subcultures. Through its unique approach, Cuddly Toys prompts viewers to reflect on the authenticity of its portrayal and the complexities of young women’s experiences.

Q&A with filmmaker Kansas Bowling

11pM

project eerie

found footage horror anthology

(2023, us, DIR. Ricky Umberger) - 1H16M

| west coast premiere |

Jesse and Jacob Warner livestream their escalating teenage antics on Halloween night of the year 2020 as they disobey lockdown, destroy jack o'lanterns, and break into a government facility to steal a DVD. The contents of this disc contain everything from Bigfoot hunters to a lost astronaut — and Jesse & Jacob have been missing ever since.This is their final broadcast. The newest found footage horror film from Ricky Umberger, who mastered choreographing in-world camera scares in his nightmare inducing Fear Footage series, Project Eerie marks his return to the anthology format. The Unnamed Footage Festival is proud to present the West Coast theatrical premiere of the director's cut of Project Eerie for what might be its final public screening ever!

12pM

haunted ulster live

faux-live broadcast

(2023, Uk, DIR. Dominic O'Neill) - 1H18M

| us theatrical premiere |

On Halloween night 1998, TV veteran Gerry Burns, teams up with popular children's presenter Michelle Kelly to investigate poltergeist activity in a haunted house in Belfast. A seance causes the broadcast to descend into chaos and the two presenters must face their greatest fears on live TV. Haunted Ulster Live continues in the great tradition of WNUF Halloween Special (UFF1) and Ghostwatch’s live TV broadcast gone wrong aesthetic – but this time we’re in Northern Ireland and we promise you will not be able to predict the wild places this gripping story goes.

1:30pM

The coldness*

found footage horror

(2023, us, DIR. Gustavo Sampaio) - 1H15M

| world premiere |

A retired detective from New Jersey (Paul Parducci) lands in Los Angeles. It’s no vacation for this grizzled dick: a woman’s bizarre death parallels the cold case that has obsessed him for a quarter century. Filming his investigation, the detective’s journey evolves from simple forensics into something darker, occult-ier, and more personal than could be anticipated. Anchored by an instantly iconic lead performance by co-writer Paul Parducci, The Coldness is a chilling tale of one man’s search for all the answers.

Q&A with filmmaker Gustavo Sampaio and star Paul Parducci

w/ extreme gravity

(2023, spain, DIR. Lorenzo Ayuso) - 7M

What would be the worst thing that could happen to you when trying to kill yourself? It is said that dying is not the worst, but the way you die, and Camilo is about to find out how much of that is true.

That’s the premise for 'Extreme Gravity', a darkly funny horror film for when life seems quite the asshole.

3:15pM

jeffrey’s hell*

faux-doc

(2023, us, DIR. aaron irons) - 1H20M

| world premiere |

Filmmaker Aaron Irons has been missing for almost a year now and all that was left behind was his camera. His prior film, Chest (2022, UFF5 Virtual), explored the rich folklore, myths, and history of an area in the Appalachian region of Tennessee called “Jeffrey's Hell” through the lens of a found footage horror narrative. The forest is a large region, spanning multiple states and containing over sixty thousand square miles of wilderness — plenty of space for someone to disappear. 

Jeffrey's Hell explores the way unrealized aspirations and memories of the past can haunt us via a dark descent into a mysterious cave where he sees the fabric of his reality begin to come apart at the seams. Filmed over the course of a year while solo caving and hiking, Irons plays himself, giving this story a claustrophobic personal edge that exposes both his fears and regrets.

Q&A with filmmaker Aaron Irons, star Ashley Adkins Irons, and producer/star Josh Croft

5pM

In Memorium

found footage horror

(2005, US, DIR. Amanda Gusack) - 1H13M

Before Paranormal Activity popularized the use of static cameras in found footage, there was Amanda Gusack's In Memorium, a terrifying exploration of grief and family inheritance. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Dennis decides to capture the final months of his life via cameras mounted throughout a rental he moves into with his girlfriend Lily. But the cameras begin to capture strange goings on around the house, which leads to the uncovering of a dark secret.

In Memorium has been almost lost to time, a forgotten yet crucial piece of found footage directed by a woman (a rarity even today). Encapsulating the creativity of filmmaking in the early 2000s, and the early iterations of what would become common found footage techniques, Gusack deserves recognition for her work within the genre space and we're excited to acknowledge that with this screening.In Memorium is a prescient exploration of generational trauma in the horror genre and an essential Analog Horror artifact — now newly preserved by Bleeding Skull.

6:30pM

Mind body spirit*

screenlife

(2023, us, DIR. alex henes & matthew merenda) - 1H20M

Following the death of her mysterious estranged grandmother, aspiring yoga influencer Anya begins to research her family history for the first time. But delving into her past is bringing something to life in the present… Now, Anya’s yoga videos are starting to take on a new tone and her already fractured relationships are straining, sending Anya into a terrifying downward (dog) spiral that may have permanent consequences. Mind Body Spirit employs frightening camera movement and incredibly strong performances that when paired with a sharp, smart script elevate the film into a piece that can stand alongside the most authentic, polished, and downright scary films the format has to offer.

Q&A with filmmakers Alex Henes and Matthew Merenda

w/ kelly

(2024, Brazil, DIR. Luiz Lapin) - 9M

A found-footage tale about a troubled man who builds himself a new companion.

8:15pM

livescreamers

screenlife

(2023, US, DIR. Michelle Iannantuono) - 1H30M

In this video game live stream-inspired screenlife film, Michael Smallwood (Halloween Kills, Righteous Gemstones) leads a group of popular streamers and one contest winner who unknowingly enter a haunted video game. Now they must work together to survive its trap riddled corridors and weapon wielding enemies. Tensions as well as dormant resentments begin to rise once they realize: when you die in the game… you die in real life.  

Livescreamers is an evolution of its predecessor, 2020’s Livescream, but this sequel features a larger cast of clashing and complementary personalities, original videogame content that pays homage to popular game trends, and several twists you won’t see coming. Whether you’re a fan of watching twitch streams and playthroughs or a newcomer to the scene, Livescreamers offers a gameplay walkthrough to horror for all of those adventurous enough to attend.

w/ Bad Moon Rising | Cyberpunk 2077 fan film

(2024, germany, DIR. Kira Cesnik) - 8M

In Night City there is chaos in every corner. So when V get's a gig from an unknown caller regarding some deadly cyberware, it's up to him to save the day.

10pM

Horror in the high desert 3: firewatch*

found footage horror

(2024, US, DIR. Dutch Marich) - ?H?M

| world PREMIERE |

As a wildfire bares down on the opposite side of the state, a man named Oscar Mendoza, armed with a secret, takes advantage of the distraction and journeys to Northeastern Nevada in search of missing outdoorsman Gary Hinge's last known whereabouts.

Followed by a Q&A w/ filmmaker Dutch Marich.

w/ b e h o l d e r

(2023, canada, DIR. Evan Churchill, Thomas Pardo) - 14M

| world premiere |

Something's made it's home in Thom's camera. It wants a show, and Thom's the star. Evoking intrusive thoughts and violent impulses, this creature projects its madness direct-to-tape.

Viewers should be advised, this film includes scenes of graphic violence and self-harm. Photosensitive viewers should be aware, the film contains scenes of flashing lights and static.