Deepwells Mansion to host Halloween horror film festival

Fans of Spooky Season can celebrate its conclusion by spending Halloween watching scary movies at the Deepwells Mansion Macabre Film Festival in St. James. More than 25 independent films in the horror genre will be screened at the inaugural event.

"When I walked into the space, I said this 181-year-old mansion needs to be a venue for filmmakers in some capacity," creative director Jaret Martino, of Kings Park, recently told Newsday. "Because of all the ghost stories attached to the mansion, it made sense to do a thriller/horror film festival. We hope to make it an annual."

Various short films will screen from 5 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 31, each followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the filmmakers. This will lead up to the premiere of the feature showing of supernatural thriller "Mittens," starring Arina Bacigalupo ("Cursed Hearse"), Cassadee Pope (2012 "The Voice" champion) and Kellin Quinn ("Paradise City"). Executive producer, director of photography and editor Oliver Ricketts, of Lindenhurst, will be on hand to address the crowd. The film was partly shot in Plainview and Ronkonkoma.

"After young Alice befriends a stuffed cat named Mittens, a strange pattern of violence and disappearances surround her. She swears it was Mittens," Ricketts said. "Fast-forward to a 30-year-old Alice, who reconnects with her furry childhood friend right as a custody hearing for her stepdaughter begins."

The movie screen will be on the front lawn in a 35-foot heated tent. Refreshments will be sold, and VIP ticket holders can also peruse the Deepwells Haunted Mansion display.

Over 150 submissions were made to the festival, and there will be awards for best feature and best short film.

"Horror is something that typically you can shoot on a lower budget with one or two locations," Martino said. "If it’s a good script and you have talent that can pull it off, you could make something like ‘Obsession.’ That movie was made on the shoestring budget and garnered over $500 million."

Costumed attendees are encouraged  — a basket with local gift cards will go to the winner of the costume contest. But the spotlight is on the filmmakers, who are coming from London to Mexico City and beyond to attend.

"The big challenge for filmmakers is, who’s going to watch their films?" Martino said. "The festival focuses on building relationships and helping the filmmakers find the right audience for their work."

For tickets ($22, $33 VIP) and more information, visit: deepwellsmansionmacabre.com.