Tag Archives: Shirley Clemens Griffin

Thriller! Chiller! International Fantastic Film Festival announces special guests

By Shirley Clemens Griffin, Thriller! Chiller!


Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival announces special guests scheduled to appear at the 2019 festival taking place next week from Oct. 8-12 at the Wealthy Theatre. In addition to the special guests, over two dozen filmmakers are scheduled to be in attendance.


On Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:30pm, Shelley Irwin, 2013 recipient of The Storey Award, presents the 2019 Storey Award to Elizabeth Merriman, multi-talented media maven and skilled coordinator of chaos, who has over a decade of experience in the film industry in both producing and production management roles. Merriman currently serves as Manager of Recruiting & Career Advancement for Compass College of Cinematic Arts.

Irwin is the host and producer for The WGVU Morning Show, a news magazine talk-show format on the local NPR affiliate Monday through Friday. The show, broadcast from 9-11am features a wide variety of local and national newsmakers, plus special features.

The Storey Award is a community award created by Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival, and is presented in honor of journalist, friend, and community activist Drew Storey who passed away unexpectedly in 2009. The recipient is awarded based upon their body of work, their selfless contribution and its impact on building community relationships, which promote and connect Michigan’s artists to a larger audience around the world.

Bride of Frankenstein Drag Performer Veronica Scott puts on her neck bolts and performs a special number fit for the bride of the monster on Friday, Oct. 11 at 8pm.

Veronica Scott has been performing in the art form of female illusion for over 8 years. In that time she has had the opportunity to take the stage all over the state of Michigan, Illinois and New York.

Filmmaker Inchun Oh from South Korea will attend Thursday, Oct. 10 through Saturday, Oct. 12. His film, Friday the 13th: The Conspiracy Begins, screens Saturday, Oct. 12 at Noon. Link to his movie’s trailer: https://youtu.be/dVSfvLwam5A

Visiting Artist, SFX & Animation, The Evil Dead, Tom Sullivan, Saturday, Oct. 12.

Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival in partnership with ASIFA Central (asifa.org) presents film artist and Michigander Tom Sullivan who will give an artist presentation on Special FX history and the Evil Dead film series. Sullivan is the makeup, props and SFX artist for the Evil Dead franchise.

The Evil Dead event begins at 7pm

7pm – Tom Sullivan presentation
8pm – The Evil Dead screening.

This is the exclusive theatrical release of Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead by Grindhouse Releasing featuring the reimagined score by original composer, Mr. Joseph LoDuca and an all-new 5.1 surround-sound mix.

Go here to see Thriller! Chiller! 2019 Movie Trailers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYApZkmVy7UYEObFLi-tpkX6R5YkScNij


About Thriller! Chiller!

Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival, which takes place Oct. 8-12 at the Wealthy Theatre, is Michigan’s international film festival celebrating fantastic movies. The festival screens films from the U.S. and around the world in the categories of action, horror, sci-fi and suspense. 64 movies from 8 countries are represented at this year’s festival.

Ticket information

Entry is priced two ways for maximum access: All Access to the entire festival; or access by the day in the form of a Day Pass. There will be no tickets to individual screenings available except for the Evil Dead screening and lecture sold separately at $8.

  • All-Access Festival Pass, $50
  • Day Pass, $12 Tuesday – Friday
  • Day Pass, $20 Saturday
  • The Evil Dead, $8 for only this film + Tom Sullivan presentation

On sale now at www.wealthytheatre.org and https://squareup.com/store/thrillerchiller

For continuing coverage of
Thriller! Chiller! news:





Thriller! Chiller! & ASIFA Central to host visiting artist, Tom Sullivan of ‘Evil Dead’ film fame

Tom Sullivan

By Shirley Clemens Griffin


Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival in partnership with ASIFA Central (The Association Internationale du Film d’Animation), Central Midwest Chapter announce that Tom Sullivan will be a visiting artist offering a lecture on Special FX history and the Evil Dead film series on Oct. 12 beginning at 6:30pm at the Wealthy Theatre.


A screening of director Sam Raimi’s Michigan-filmmaker-made cult horror comedy The Evil Dead will immediately follow the lecture. The screening is scheduled for 7:30pm. Tickets to both the lecture and film screening are $8 and will go on sale on Friday the 13th of September at the Wealthy Theatre box office or online at wealthytheatre.org.


Tickets on sale NOW for series makeup, props, and SFX artist Tom Sullivan (with Evil Dead film screening), Saturday, Oct. 12.


Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival All Access Passholders and Saturday Day Passholders will be able to attend the event at no additional charge.


Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival will return to screen the best in indie Action, Sci-fi, Suspense, and Horror movies this Oct. 8-12 at the Wealthy Theatre.  

About ASIFA.org

The Association International du Film d’Animation, Central Midwest Chapter was founded in France by a group of professional animators and chartered by UNESCO in 1960. ASIFA’s goal is to encourage the art of animation and further promote international understanding and goodwill through the medium of the animated film. There are about 4500 members and 30 chapters worldwide, including seven in the USA. ASIFA Central sprouted in Chicago, Illinois, in 1975 and has expanded to include many professional and independent animators in the Midwest.

About Thriller! Chiller!

The action, sci-fi, suspense and horror-themed film festival will screen five cult classic movies, as well as 63 international independent film selections over five days in October. Specific screening details on independent films are available at thrillerchiller.com

  • The Event: Thriller! Chiller! International Film Festival — Independent & cult classic Action, Sci-fi, Suspense, and Horror movies
  • When: Oct. 8-12, 2019; Tuesday to Saturday
  • Where: Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI. *Festival Hub and screening venue in its 400-seat main theatre, and 60-seat micro-cinema
  • Pricing: Entry is priced two ways for maximum access: All Access to the entire festival; or all access by the day in the form of a Day Pass. There will be no tickets to individual screenings available except for the Evil Dead screening and lecture sold separately at $8.

All-Access Festival Pass, $50


All screening, events, and private passholder only party + select online screening access. On sale now at www.wealthytheatre.org.

Day Passes:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 8: $12 for all-evening access to all movies.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 9: Private party + screening for All Access Passholders only. Must purchase All Access to attend Wednesday events.
  • Thursday, Oct. 10: $12 for all-evening access to all movies.
  • Friday, Oct. 11: $12 for all-evening access to all movies.
  • Saturday, Oct. 12: $20 for all-day access to all movies

Overview of Thriller! Chiller! Festival events

  • 63 Movies from 8 countries: (Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden, U.S., UK)
  • Including 13 Features; 40 Short films; 10 Michigan Movies and 5 Cult Classics will screen at Thriller! Chiller! 2019.

Schedule by the day

Tuesday, Oct. 8 — Thriller! Chiller! Presents a zomcom Double Feature Night of the Living Dead + Shaun of the Dead as part of the Meanwhile Film Series 8 pm & 10pm. $12 general admission to both films. Or, Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass


Wednesday, Oct. 9 — All Access Passholders party + private screening


Thursday, Oct. 10 — Michigan Movie Night + Godzilla! Michigan Movies at 6pm. Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, 8pm. There will also be Thriller! Chiller! indie movies in the Micro-cinema at 6pm and 8pm. $12 Day Pass. Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass to all movies.


Friday, Oct. 11 — Friday-Night Freak-out + Bridezilla! The wildest, bloodiest, most offbeat movies screen on Thriller! Chiller! Friday nights for Thriller! Chiller! Friday Night Freak-out which starts at 6pm. Bride of Frankenstein, 8pm. Including a Best of Bride of Frankenstein cosplay & fashion show. There will also be Thriller! Chiller! indie movies in the Micro-cinema at 6pm and 8pm. $12 Day Pass. Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass to all movies!


Saturday, Oct. 12 — The best of indie filmmaking in the genres of Action, Sci-fi, Suspense and Horror all day Saturday, Noon-10pm. The Evil Dead event begins at 6:30pm. Makeup, props and SFX artist for The Evil Dead series, Tom Sullivan, visiting lecturer. 7:30pm — The Evil Dead screening. 
$20 Day Pass for all-day Saturday. Free with Thriller! Chiller! All Access Pass to all movies! Or, $8 to attend only the Evil Dead lecture and screening.