U.K., Philippines Shorts Win Prizes in Horror Filmfest

Fifteen shorts and one full-length film from ASEF-affiliated countries participated in the 5th Annual Atlanta Horror Film Festival held September 15 - 17, 2011. Countries represented include Australia, Austria, France, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The festival, which began 2006, seeks to showcase the very best independent films from across the world celebrating the horror genre. The entries are featured in a wide array of sub-categories such as sci-fi, horror comedies, expERIEmentals, animation, thrillers, supernatural and the zombie film. Prizes are handed out in each of these categories at the end of the festival.

This edition, two entries from the ASEF-member nations won major prizes. The U.K.'s "The Ride" by Marion Pilowsky won the Best Foreign Short award. And from the Philippines, Joey Agbayani's "Lola" bagged the Best Animated Short prize.

"The Ride" focus on a young hitchhiker's terror at discovering his driver's psychotic nature. While Agbayani's 6-minute animated short tells the story of Lola, an 'aswang' -a combo made up of vampire, witch, and shape-shifter from Philippine lore- who is hired as an actress by an obsessive director out to exploit her supernatural abilities to save on production cost.

Read more about the winners.