Lecture schedule
all subject to change
Thursday - June 18
5pm – Filmmaker Bingo / Pick up Badges – Restaurant
Filmmaker Bingo in connection with Women In Film & Television Ohio (WIFTOH), Pickup badges, play our special Bingo Game, win a tshirt!
Friday - June 19
6PM – Monologue Competition – Lecture Room
Join our moderator JoAnn Hess / Tina Hobbs and several nominated screenwriters for a process to learn about their script and what they expect for the actors.
- Exclusive Insight: Work closely with the screenwriters (), dive into their creative process, and fully capture the emotion behind the scenes. Each participant will have the weekend to practice or seek additional advice from our moderator and scriptwriters.
7pm – Fight Choreography with Keith Collins
Learns hands on in choreographing fight sequences in your film and making sure it is done safely.
8pm – Red Carpet Interview
Saturday - June 20
11am – 12pm – Producing Panel
Learn from filmmakers about how to properly produce a film and what obstacles may one encounter. Moderated by Johnny K. Wu. Panel members include: Christine Jansen, Nathan Ludwig, Crissy Kolarik, and Jacob Kitaeff.
==============================
With a diverse background leading creative projects in media production and marketing, producer and director Christine Jansen excels at steering dark and spooky independent films from concept to audience. As the founder of Beautiful Darkness Productions, she channels her unique experience in entrepreneurship, graphic design, and research into a powerful framework for independent filmmaking. Her producing slate over the past 4 years includes four award-winning short horror films and the feature film Legado, which is set to celebrate its world premiere at the International Horror Hotel Film Festival. She also has several projects that she is currently working on including a cosmic horror short film, haunting music video, two spooky-themed reality show pilots, and her next horror feature film. She offers valuable perspectives on creating indie films on a micro-budget, collaborating with artists from around the world, and the importance of knowing your distribution strategy during the pre-production phase.
Nathan is the producer of the anthology horror feature WORST LAID PLANS, now available on streaming. He is also the co-writer and producer of feature film DEAD FORMAT, now in post production. He’s made a handful of short films with his filmmaking partner Chad Farmer and is also a published author and award-winning screenwriter. He runs the acclaimed GenreBlast Film Festival in Winchester, VA. Upcoming feature film credits as writer/producer include TRUCKSQUATCH, DEVILUTION, and GRAVESTALKERS.
Crissy Kolarik has worked across independent short films and documentary storytelling. Her background in indie film production helped shape a collaborative, resourceful approach to bringing stories to life on limited budgets. She currently works as a producer in documentary content at Transition Studios. She is passionate about authentic storytelling, creative problem-solving, and supporting independent film.
Jake Kitaeff has worked on multiple Emmy Award-winning game & talk shows, as a producer and creative developer. His work can be seen on The Ellen Degeneres Show, The Bachelor franchise, as well as Let’s Make A Deal— where he received an Emmy nomination in 2022. Between shows, Jake also enjoys writing, directing and editing horror shorts, and is a proud member of both The Producers Guild of America and The Television Academy.
12pm – 1pm – Visual FX and Makeup Lecture
Join Ron Georgeand Alan Tuskesand learn about Visual FX and Makeup for your films.
1pm – 2pm – Casting and Auditions with Tina Hobbs
Learn from veteran Casting Director Ms. Hobbs about how to successful being cast for films.
2pm – 3pm – Screenwriting with Don O’Shannon
3pm – 4pm – Acting : What do Directors and Producers look for?
Listen to various filmmakers on what they are looking for from actors and how they work with them. Moderated by Tina Hobbs. Panel members including Janine Hogan, Nick Bankhead, Andrew Golucki, and
===========================
Janine Hogan is a comedian, writer, and actor based in Los Angeles, most known for her absurdist improvised live looping. She’s performed at UCB, Hollywood Improv, Second City Hollywood & Chicago, iO West, Dynasty Typewriter, a weird science museum, some sketchy bars in Europe, & many more. She was the Head Writer of Nickelodeon’s The Substitute for 2 seasons, wrote, produced, & starred in 2 of her own films (including Demonetize which is honored to be screening here at Horror Hotel International Film Festival !), and wrote for Netflix’s Resurrected Rides. She can also be spotted in a lot of dumb commercials. Janine has performed at festivals across the US including San Francisco Sketchfest opening for Paul F. Thompkins, Women in Comedy Fest (Boston), LA Indie Improv Fest, & more.
Nick Bankhead is the award-winning writer/director behind the backwoods psychological horror MURDER CABIN – screening at IHHFF this Sunday afternoon. His work spans horror-comedy to visceral psychological terror, proving he’s as comfortable making you laugh as he is making you lose sleep. A true horror obsessive at heart, Nick channels his love for the genre into every word and action, and he’s not slowing down. His next feature, WALLPAPER, is currently in pre-production and already has all the makings of what some are calling “a disturbing tale of love and devotion.”
Andrew Golucki is an actor originally from Chicago who started acting in Cleveland when he moved here 4 years ago. Recent roles as Nicky in “A Scarf For Joey” and a role in an upcoming horror movie starring Michael Madsen called Sara Sarita. In his free time he enjoys golf, snowboarding trips, and spending time with his dog Bogdan, and Fiancée, Claire.
4pm – 5pm – Screenwriters: Horror openings that hook an audience in the first 5 pages Panel.
This panel helps screenwriters learn how to craft horror openings that hook audiences fast, using the first five pages to build tension, establish tone, and draw readers in. Moderated by Erik Williams with: Ryan Jackson, Alexander Watson, Matthew Mark Hunter, Derek Stewart.
=================
Ryan Jackson is a filmmaker who’s been working as a screenwriter for hire for over a decade. After a period of time living in Los Angeles he’s now based out of Columbus Ohio. His scripts have landed on various industry best of lists such as The Hit List, The Young & Hungry List, and The Blood List. Ryan is currently developing his debut feature as a director.
Award Ceremony 5pm - 7pm Room A
7pm – 8pm – Screaming King / Queen Competition – Convention Room
Be the next Horror Hotel
Scream Queen or Scream King
and be networked to Horror films world wide!
Competition will be held on Saturday at 7PM at the Convention Room (vendors will participate).
If you have a weekend pass or day pass, there is no charge for the competition. You can order your pass by clicking here.
Only one winner per King/Queen.
The competition consists of contestants being asked a different question by each of our judges like:
How would you like to die in a horror movie?
and followed by your best scream.
Click here for Registration Form.
Contestants are judged on: Personality, Presentation, and Performance
11:00pm Networking party at Room B with Karaoke Singing hosted by Erik Williams
Sunday - June 21
10:30am – 2:30pm : FX Makeup Competition – Convention Room
Artists compete in both divisions and are scored separately for 1st place winners in each.
Winners to be announced during the festival award ceremony on Saturday evening.
1st-3rd place winners in each division
Medals (1st to 3rd) to winners.
1st place winner on both competes for overall to win $100
It is free to compete but registration is limited!
Please click here for Registration Form.
Contact us HERE for more information on registering.
10am – 11:30am – Cinematography / Photography – Guerrilla Styled
Join the Scotts (Scott T. Morrison and Dr. Scott Brosius) on understanding the importance of lighting for video and photo shoot.
1pm – Monologue Competition – Convention Room
12:30pm – 1:30pm – How to make a script festiva l- and producer- friendly
This panel is for screenwriters who want their scripts to feel festival-ready and producer-friendly, with a strong hook, clean formatting, a clear marketable concept, and practical production value. It will cover how to write a script that stands out to readers while also making producers see it as something they can actually package and make.. Moderated by Erik William. Panel members including Amy McCorkle, Joseph Vivens, Samuel Huan, and James Ferda.
===========================
Amy is award winning and Hall of Fame Inductee and loves storytelling in all its forms.
Joseph Vivens is a filmmaker, writer, producer, and publisher, and the creative force behind Vivens Media. Drawn to stories that explore psychological tension, morality, and the complexities of human nature, his work blends grounded emotion with thriller-driven storytelling. He wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning short film S.O.S. and produced the documentary The Solanges: Angels of the Sun. Across film and publishing, Joseph is committed to creating bold, independent stories that challenge perspectives and spark conversation.
Samuel Haun is an award-winning Texas-based filmmaker, director, cinematographer, and screenwriter with nearly two decades of experience in independent film production. He is best known for directing and producing the “Horror Noir” feature
James Ferda is a multiple internationally award winning screenwriter from Columbus OH. His script writing style is a mix of horror/comedy and his blunt, honest view of the world. He is best known for his short films, Pluck and Demon. His latest project Demon is showing at this years International Horror Hotel on Sunday in the shorts block in room B 2-5pm.
1:30pm – 2:30pm – Editing & Sound
Listen to panel of experts in conversing their editing and sound mixing style. Moderated by Scott E. Brosius. Panel members include: Joshua C. Love, Mike Caral, Peter John Ross, Lou Grazieni and
====================
Joshua C Love, founder of Butterfly Temples Studio, is a sound designer, composer, and post-production audio specialist working across independent film, podcasting, and multimedia storytelling. Through the studio, he has provided dialogue editing, sound design, surround mixing, restoration, and original score work for narrative and documentary projects, with a focus on immersive cinematic sound and emotionally driven storytelling. Joshua also teaches Sound Design at Cleveland State University, mentoring emerging filmmakers and audio artists in the craft and philosophy of sound for film. His work explores the psychological and atmospheric role of sound in cinema, emphasizing how audio shapes emotion, tension, realism, and audience perception.
Mike is a composer and sound designer who has contributed to many short films across many genres. He recently finished scoring his 3rd feature-length film contributing original music and sound FX elects using foley, post-production manipulation and other techniques. He also has done post-production video editing and audio mixing of music performances.
Peter John Ross is a Columbus, Ohio-based independent filmmaker, writer, producer, director, editor, and composer. He is best known for projects like Back Office and Horrors of War, and he is also associated with Sonnyboo Productions. He additionally runs the Indie Gathering Film Festival.
Lou Graziani is a Cleveland-based filmmaker, marketer, and visual storyteller who also runs Greenfire Strategy, where he focuses on video, photography, and branding work. He studied graphic design, illustration, drawing, and film studies at Miami University, and his local recognition includes being named Cleveland’s Best Director in 2025. His work combines creative direction, filmmaking, and business storytelling for clients and projects in Northeast Ohio.
2:30pm – 3:30pm – Marketing with Mike Berry
Mike Berry is an author, award-winning filmmaker, and motivational speaker whose message is, “Operate in your purpose, on purpose.” He is the Amazon bestselling author of The Dangerous Times, has two Billboard Top 100 albums, and holds 10 feature-length film credits, with projects featured on Peacock, Tubi TV, Amazon Prime, Starz, Hulu, and Dish Network. He has directed actors including Clifton Powell, Omar Gooding, Mark Taylor, Erica Hubbard, and Paula Jai Parker, while also leading the nonprofit Releasing The Pressure to support people facing mental health challenges. Through his daily social media series, One Minute of Motivation, he inspires others to keep pushing forward through adversity.
3:30pm – 4:30pm – How to get help with your film using the film commission with Cleveland Film Commissioner Bill Garvey.
Bill Garvey is the President of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, where he helps attract film and television production to Northeast Ohio and supports local workforce development for the industry. Before taking the role in 2021, he spent more than a decade working as a location scout and location manager, with credits on major productions including The Fate of the Furious and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Born and raised in New York City, Garvey moved to Cleveland in 2008, later bringing both his industry experience and his regional ties into leading the commission’s efforts to grow Cleveland’s film economy.
3:00pm – Spooky Sunday Costume Competition – Convention Room
3:30pm – Room 237 Film Competition and Award : Room A
4:30pm – 530pm – Director’s Panel
Join the directors from the festival to talk about their experiences filming their project. Moderated by Scott E. Brosius. Panel members include Roger Conners, Roger Glen Hill, Nicole De Meneses, and Pauline Nowakowski
=============================
Roger Conners is an independent film actor and director recognized within the cult-horror film scene, earning him the moniker “The Scream Queer”. Raised near Cleveland, Ohio, he has appeared in numerous indie titles, including Teacher Shortage, Mother Krampus 2: Slay Ride, American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet, and Hollow Lake. His directorial efforts include the George A. Romero tribute film Rebirth and the award winning LGBTQ+ slasher MEAT: the Movie.
Roger Glenn Hill is a Cleveland based filmmaker. Hill began his film career making documentaries in the early 2000’s, most notably Hill directed STRUGGLE a documentary about election rigging and voter suppression in the 2004 presidential election in Ohio. He also directed the multi-award-winning documentary FLYING PAPER about Palestinian youth in the Gaza Strip on a quest to shatter the Guinness World Record for the most kites ever flown at once. Roger made the transition to narrative filmmaking with his debut film HUCKLEBERRY, winner of best narrative feature at the 2019 QFLIX film festival. Most recently Roger wrote and directed the horror film STALKER JANE which has been gaining notoriety and acclaim among horror fans and critics.
Nicole de Meneses is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and festival programmer specializing in horror and psychologically driven genre storytelling. Her work explores themes of desire, identity, and power through visually stylized, emotionally grounded stories centered on LGBTQ+ characters. She is the founder of Blood & Popcorn Film Festival, a micro festival dedicated to independent and emerging voices in horror. She also founded Dark Rainbow Films, an independent production company focused on LGBTQ+ horror and fantasy
Pauline Nowakowski is a Cleveland‑born filmmaker, producer, and actor with decades of experience in independent film and television. She is known for her work behind the camera on projects such as Morro and other festival‑circuit shorts, as well as on films like Vessel and Wind Chimes. Pauline is also active in the local women‑in‑film community, appearing in panels and spotlights that highlight Cleveland‑based women creators. She’s the Indie Filmmaker Hall of Fame Class of 2026!
