[Editorial] Horrible Imaginings Film Festival interview with Jay Kay

In anticipation of the Horrible Imaginings Film Festival (HIFF), I had the opportunity to chat with Jay Kay, filmmaker and member of the fest’s operations team. This year, the festival is September 2-5, in Santa Ana, California, and virtual tickets are available for those who can't attend in-person. With a virtual ticket, some of the content will be available for a few days, so you can watch when it’s convenient for you, and not necessarily at the scheduled times. 

From the HIFF website: “Established in San Diego, CA in 2009, the annual Horrible Imaginings Film Festival showcases the newest voices in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genre cinema over a multi-day event that consists of film screenings, diverse panels, parties, and networking sessions.

Our mission is to spotlight genre cinema, amplify artistic voices, and foster a community of acceptance. We sincerely believe in the sharing and exploring of our deepest fears, desires, and anxieties in a community setting. This festival allows audience members the opportunity to not only explore these complex emotions but also exorcise them.”

The inclusive and accepting mission statement made me excited to talk with Jay and learn more. Jay has been covering horror festivals for about seven years. He started as a fan of horror, which inspired him to begin his radio show Horror Happens. He began talking to festival directors, and one year had over 70 directors on his weekly show. That’s how he met Miguel Rodriguez, the director of HIFF, who invited him to work with the festival in 2018. That was an important year for HIFF, because the festival was moving from its original location in San Diego to its new home in Santa Ana. This year, Jay is director of press for the festival, and he will be screening a short film of his own, called Within the Frame (2020). 

Jay and I discussed the experience of screening films and programming the festival. He said this year, there were more submissions through FilmFreeway than ever before. HIFF has an extensive team, from different walks of life, to offer diverse perspectives on what’s chosen. Sometimes there will be disagreement across the panel, but everyone gets to make their argument and be heard. Each year has a theme, and the programming team needs to work within the boundaries of that theme, and that means even great films get rejected some years. The team works hard to make sure there is something for every attendee to enjoy. While programming this year was not Covid-based, there were many submissions that were impacted by Covid restrictions over the last couple of years. Some filmmakers had to get creative with technology to keep their crews safe, and that has led to some out-of-the-box thinking I am excited to see play out on screen. I am particularly looking forward to the blocks of short films that have been grouped together like playlists, with categories like “Truther,” “Social Anxiety,” and “Failed Trust.” 

This is the first year that HIFF will use a hybrid model, with both in-person screenings and the virtual attendance option. In 2020, the fest was completely virtual, which allowed the team a chance to learn how to make the technology work and have a successful fest. Early in 2021, when it became clear that Covid is not yet behind us, the team decided to try a hybrid model. Jay said it’s been working well so far and going smoothly! HIFF will continue to have a virtual component in the future, even when we’re past the era of Covid restrictions. The accessibility of online attendance allows more people to see more films, and for the fest to include more diverse panels and filmmakers, than ever before. 

As Jay is a filmmaker himself, preparing to screen Within the Frame at HIFF, I asked him about the process of submitting his film. He has an interesting perspective, as he has been press, a programmer, and a judge for many horror film festivals over the years. He has submitted to festivals that he’s not a part of, and he has experienced acceptances and rejections. He recognizes that his film being categorized as a “student film” often puts him lower on the list than some others. Working on several festivals has shown him that there may be many reasons your own film gets rejected or accepted, and it’s made him better prepared for his own submissions. 

Big thanks to Jay for taking the time to have this chat with me. My conversation with him made me even more excited for Horrible Imaginings. It sounds like a big, accepting family, with many perspectives to add to the genre. Jay said this year offers some of the best films they have ever had, and some of the most intense genre storytelling. Check it out if you get the chance! 

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