This Kelowna film festival will get you in the spooky spirit

It’s alive!

With a little help from some talented filmmakers, organizers at the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking (OSIF) are able to host the 13th annual HorrorFest in front of a live audience for the first time in years.

“Holding the event in-person after COVID-19 is honestly indescribable,” OSIF President Chelsea McEvoy told Kelowna10. “Everyone can get together, collaborate, network, and just watch a bunch of amazing films that were made locally this year.”

McEvoy said OSIF is all about getting local filmmakers together under one roof to be able to collaborate and connect.

“Our community is honestly super unique and awesome,” she explained. “I think the Okanagan film industry is really bubbling up and being recognized worldwide.”

The festival was first started by long-time OSIF member Kelly Veltri, who had made a short horror film he wanted to showcase. With no festivals in town, he decided to fill that void and start his own.

The first horrorfest started out small with a lineup of only three films, but this year promises a full 11 film line up.

“Audiences are going to be able to expect a lot of really fun short films,” Veltri said. “Some are funny, some are scary, some are bloody. But in the end, they’re all made with passion and it’s generally just a very good time.”

The festival will take place Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre, tickets will be on sale on the OSIF website.