Film Legend Joe Dante To Be Honored With The (Vincent) Price Award At Hollywood Horrorfest!

Filmmaker Joe Dante needs no introduction to fans of the horror genre. He is the man responsible for directing such classic films as Piranha, The Howling, Gremlins, Matinee, and many more. Dante got his start cutting trailers for Roger Corman and he hasn’t looked back since. I can think of nobody else more deserving of The Price Award that will be bestowed upon him at the 2014 Hollywood Horrorfest. Find out more down below.

From The Press Release

For two days in March HOLLYWOOD will both celebrate the past and embrace the future of indie horror filmmaking with the first annualHOLLYWOOD HORRORFEST. Brainchild of the furtive mind of filmmaker and events organizer MILES FLANAGAN, this promises to be: “A fun and also uniquely Hollywood film festival. And with our “dream team” of industry panelists this is a unique symposium for anyone wanting to learn how to make a living in the horror film business.”

This year HHF is honoring CORMAN alumni JOE DANTE with the first annual PRICE AWARD. This Vincent

Price Estate authorised award “Honors an artist whose work has achieved iconic status in the horror/fantasy genres.”

“Not only did THE HOWLING break new ground narratively, but it also affected the way cinematic werewolves where presented – to this very day. The look created by both Dante and Bottin was and still remains iconic.This film was a real game-changer” says Festival Director FLANAGAN.

VIncent’s daughter and VINCENT PRICE ART MUSEUM director, VICTORIA PRICE will be personally presenting the beautiful “VINNIE” Award to JOE DANTE. She will also be talking about her father and bringing awareness to her father’s museum & art legacy.

Throughout the weekend the festival is fundraising for the VINCENT PRICE ART MUSEUM (located at East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park), with raffles and prize draws (with amazing prizes donated by Vinegar Syndrome Releasing, Shout! Factory, Distinctive Dummies, Abrams Books and many more).

Legendary actor DICK MILLER (GREMLINS, TERMINATOR, BUCKET OF BLOOD) will also receive the first IMPACT AWARD for his unparalleled contribution and impact on the horror/fantasy genres.

The festival kicks off with an impressive red carpet, cast and crew reunion screening of Dante’s classicTHE HOWLING followed by a Q&A. Presented in Digital Hi-Def, this will be the best this film has looked since its original release in 1981.

For the Closing Night Awards evening the festival celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the filming of the classic, funny (and very influential) RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, with a gala, red carpet cast & crew reunion and beautiful 35mm screening.

Saturday, during the day, features screenings and premieres of shorts and features in competition plus “an impressive series of panels on everything you’ve always wanted to know about the current indie horror film business, but were afraid to ask,” says FLANAGAN. “Well be afraid no more,” he continues.

The 3-part “How to Successfully Finance, Produce & Sell Your Indie Horror Film” Panel features film industry lawyers, distributors, producers, sales agents and filmmakers with real business experience. This promises to be a series of unmissable panels. “We aimed to create a “dream team” panel of helpful industry insiders, and I feel we have done just that. If you want to know how best to finance, produce, sell and get your film successfully distributed then miss this at your peril!”

As well as giving filmmakers a platform to screen and showcase their work, HHF offers a great networking experience, Hollywood-style red carpet photo ops, some pretty cool awards and a grand prize of $500 worth of production services from LA GRIP.

“We look forward to years of bringing the indie horror film community closer together. Honoring classic artists, educating each other, networking and successfully fundraising is our goal. And making people aware of the amazing legacy that is the VINCENT PRICE ART MUSEUM is the icing on the cake.”