Lindsay Theater To Host Second Annual Thriller Picture Show
What Sleeps Beneath is excited to be a sponsor of the 2023 Thriller Picture Show and is honored to have our Director of Content, Ande Thomas, serving on the panel of judges. Taking place from October 7-9 at the Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, the festival provides a theatrical opportunity for independent filmmakers within a setting that reflects the history and prestige of cinematic short- and full-length features.
Launched by Image 987 in 2022 as part of The Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival, The Thriller Picture Show accepts horror, science fiction, thriller, and dark comedy dramas, providing “Best Narrative Feature” and “Best Short Film” awards in each category. Awards for Individual Acting Performances, Directing, Editing, Cinematography, and Score are also presented.
As part of its mission to celebrate the art of cinema and the rich motion picture exhibition tradition of Pittsburgh, The Thriller Picture Show also aims to honor the city’s history—hence its creators’ decision to host the event happenings at local independent theaters.
Be sure to like, follow, and watch for updates from The Thriller Picture Show and its sponsoring affiliates:
Image 987 Productions
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/IMAGE987
The Lindsay Theater
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelindsaytheater/
George A. Romero Foundation (GARF)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegarfofficial/
The Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PittsburghMovingPictureFest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pittsburghmovingpicturefest/
The Copper Still Theater
For its inaugural ceremonies, the festival was located at the Strand Theater. This facility was built in 1914 by Gioachino and Rosalia Sapienza, featuring an array of silent films and vaudeville shows during its early years. At its opening, it was estimated that 200 theaters had popped up around the Steel City, providing an accessible escape from the drudgery of mill life. In 2001, the building was purchased and restored by the Strand Theater Initiative as a place for featuring and appreciating film once more, while also serving as a cultural center for those in the Zelienople area.
Now in its second rendition, festival officials have landed on another world-renowned setting: The Lindsay Theater. Having opened in February 2017, the idea for the theater was put into motion six years prior when a group of civic leaders found that northwest Pittsburgh needed an independent theater. After years of fundraising by the nonprofit Village Theater Company, the theater opened its doors to hundreds of families in Sewickley with a gift from The Tull Family Foundation. At the time of its inauguration, the facility had been dubbed The Tull Family Theater. However, on January 1 of this year, the theater formed into a 501(c)(3) Pennsylvania nonprofit, using ticket sales to reinvest into the facility’s programming and operations, and changed its name to what locals currently know it as today.
Excited to be hosting a collection of submission screenings (Day One and Day Two), as well as Day of the Dead and The Crazies—where tickets can be bought individually or entry to all showings can be purchased via a festival pass—The Thriller Picture Show continues to build its reputation as a cinematic celebration of the macabre and mysterious, welcoming visionary independent filmmakers from around the world. According to an Instagram post, the festival received hundreds of submissions from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The window to submit cinematic works closed on August 28.
Building up to the days-long festival, judges have already begun watching submissions and are excited about this year’s creations.
Ande was brought on by the festival creator, Christian Bareford, for his extensive horror knowledge and appreciation of the genre. Having been the Director of Content of What Sleeps Beneath since 2022, Ande has been a major contributor to the blog’s content, its mission, and its overall success.
“I’m very excited for this lineup, particularly the short film slates. I think it’s easy for film fans to forget about the importance of short films—not just as foundations in a filmmaker’s career, but as film in its own right,” Ande shared. “The selections for this year’s festival really showcase the fun you can have with short-form and the creativity that can be so rare in feature-length films. I can’t wait for everyone to see them all.”
Article written by Destiny King
Destiny writes about true crime and thrillers. She likes movies and stories that make you question the world around you, more so than what makes you jump.
One of the things I like most about horror is its range. Horror can be represented across the full spectrum of media and found lurking within even apparently-conflicting genres. I look back over the past few years and think beyond the obvious horror-homes of film and TV to examples like Tom Wright’s harrowing stage adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, the haunting and hauntological sci-fi horror art books of Simon Stålenhag or even Cryo Chamber’s ever-expanding discography of sinister, abyssal dark ambient.