The Wes Craven Horror/Thriller Block at the Catalina Film Festival is a special kind of magic that’s not afraid to get a little sinister. This year, the Catalina Film Festival (CFF) upheld its reputation as the sole venue hosting the Official Wes Craven Award—a distinction hand-picked first by Wes Craven himself and then by the Craven family since his passing. It’s the only film festival Wes Craven himself endorsed, making it a must-attend for fans of horror, suspense, and all things thrilling.
The atmosphere at the festival was palpable, with an eerie mix of excitement and unease hovering over Avalon as the Wes Craven Horror/Thriller Block brought a lineup of chilling narratives. Audiences and judges were treated to a rollercoaster of suspense, fear, and masterfully twisted stories from filmmakers pushing the boundaries of the genre—films like Devotee, CARNÍVORA, Wake, LOAB, The Thaw, Sempre Avanti, and Sundowning.
The standout of the evening was Faith Liu’s Sundowning. It earned her the prestigious 2024 Wes Craven Best of Fest Award. The film’s horror-with-a-heart approach, highlighted by themes of aging, resilience, and community, proved a fresh direction in a genre often obsessed with youth and gore.
2024 Wes Cravin Merit Award Winner – Sean Temple (The Thaw)
Another highlight was Sarah Wisner and Sean Temple’s The Thaw, which took home the 2024 Wes Craven *Award of Merit*. Set in 19th-century Vermont, this film explored the chilling consequences of survival choices gone awry. An early thaw becomes a harbinger of the terror lurking beneath the surface—both in the frozen landscape and the dark depths of family secrets. Wisner and Temple displayed a deft hand at building dread slowly, masterfully capturing the brutal beauty of winter and the fragility of human morality.
The other contenders for the Wes Craven Award didn’t disappoint either, each bringing something uniquely disturbing to the screen. Devotee, directed by Richard J. Bosner, spun the tale of a young boy who stumbles upon the dark devotion of his mother, and the revelations that follow would make anyone reconsider what we mean by “family loyalty.” Meanwhile, Wake, directed by Sean Carter, offers a new take on the vampire genre as two nurses attempt to stow away a young girl’s body while a hurricane ravages the hospital. As you can imagine, the body didn’t quite stay put.
Clenét Verdi-Rose’s LOAB played with our fears of technology, giving us a modern horror story ripped from today’s headlines—a cautionary tale about AI and the horrors we might unknowingly unleash. Then there was Felipe Vargas’ CARNÍVORA, which blurred the lines between identity and possession as two sisters learned that their catatonic grandmother wasn’t quite who she seemed. And finally, Sempre Avanti, by Matthew Barber and Nathaniel Barber, took us back to the horrors of the Vietnam War, showing two soldiers stumbling into a tunnel system that brought them face to face with their deepest fears.
About Catalina Film Festival
Catalina Film Fest isn’t just another cog in the Hollywood machine—it’s an oasis for independent cinema, where artistry thrives and deals are made. Plus, with past guests like Nicolas Cage and Stan Lee, it’s clear that CFF has some serious street cred. Whether you’re in the industry or just a movie fanatic, this festival is where creative dreams come alive.
Get your tickets, pack your bags (or your laptop for the virtual fest), and experience the indie film event of the year. Full details at CatalinaFilm.org.