The Mile High Horror Film Festival was a film festival that took place in the Denver metro area of Colorado from 2010-2015. It had a brief return as an online festival in 2020 and 2021. The festival showcased horror, thriller, and sci-fi films from around the world, while hosting celebrities, artists, and filmmakers from thecite horror genre.[1]
Mile High Horror Film Festival
Location
Denver, Colorado, USA
Founded
2010
Language
International
Website
mhhff.com
Historyedit
The Mile High Horror Film Festival was founded in 2010 and was the oldest running genre film festival in Denver, Colorado.
It was recognized as one of the 'Top 5 Coolest Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festivals in the World' by MovieMaker Magazine.[2]
The festival was founded by Timothy Schultz and Theresa Likarish. Both avid genre film fans, they regularly attended film festivals across the US before deciding to create the Mile High Horror Film Festival. They wanted to create a festival that didn't exist in Colorado, which they themselves would like to attend. Schultz is a filmmaker himself and gained inspiration from having his own films played around the world in festivals prior to starting this festival.
In 2013, the festival launched a compilation of short horror films titled, the Mile High Horror Shorts package, which is available on demand and in select cable networks.[3]
The Mile High Horror Film Festival has multiple prizes for films, screenplays, and music videos. Prizes include custom built trophies along with publicity and prizes awarded by the festival's sponsors.[4]
In 2013, the Mile High Horror Film Festival hosted top-notch talent from the horror genre.
The festival presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to actor and legendary special effects makeup artist, Mr. Tom Savini for his outstanding contributions to horror film.
For the festival's opening night, film director Jim Mickle appeared for an advanced screening of his film, We Are What We Are (2013) before its theatrical release later that year.
Linda Blair was also in attendance on the opening night for a special 40th anniversary presentation of The Exorcist (1973).
Actor Doug Bradley, who stars as Pinhead from the Hellraiser series was in attendance for an interview before a rare exhibition of Hellraiser on the big screen.
For the closing night ceremony on Sunday, October 6, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Meg Foster participated in a Q&A discussion with the audience before a sold out 25th anniversary presentation of John Carpenter's film, They Live.
The festival's 2013 guest judges included the writer and creator of the Final Destination series, Mr. Jeffrey Reddick and the writer and director of The Blair Witch Project, Mr. Dan Myrick.
In 2012, the Mile High Horror Film Festival hosted a wide array of celebrities including actor Corey Feldman to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Lost Boys.
The festival's 2012 guest judges included the writer and creator of the Final Destination series, Mr. Jeffrey Reddick and the writer and director of The Blair Witch Project, Mr. Dan Myrick.
Actors Kane Hodder and Bill Moseley participated in the 2012 MHHFF Monster Panel discussion before being presented with Mile High Horror Film Festival Slasher Awards for outstanding achievement in the horror genre.
In 2011, the Mile High Horror Film Festival honored actor Michael Berryman with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Horror Genre after hosting a special presentation of the original The Hills Have Eyes (1977), directed by Wes Craven.
Festival guest judges included the writer and creator of the Final Destination series, Mr. Jeffrey Reddick and the writer and director of The Blair Witch Project, Mr. Dan Myrick.
Film directors Tim Sullivan and Adam Rifkin were present for the Colorado debut of their horror anthology film, Chillerama. Actor Zach Rand was also in person for his role in Lucky McKee'sThe Woman, which made its Colorado debut at the 2011 MHHFF.[9]
Festival Award-winning Filmsedit
Mile High Horror Film Festival awards can vary from year to year and have included the following categories:
^"Mile High Horror Film Festival". mhhff.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-04.
^"Mile High Horror Film Festival". www.mhhff.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10.
^"2012 Mile High Horror Film Festival…..third year's the charm". Denverdiscoveries.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
^"2011 MHHFF Award Winners". Mile High Horror Film Festival. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
^"Mile High Horror Film Festival Website Submissions Page". Mile High Horror Film Festival. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.