The second annual Make Believe SeattleFilm Festival has just announced its opening and closing night gala films! Sunday, March 24 marks the Pacific Northwest Premiere of Ariane Louis-Seize’s French feature Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person. After dominating worldwide festivals with nominations and wins, including the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the feature is coming to Seattle.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person centers on young, sensitive Sasha. Oh yeah, she's also a vampire, and she just so happens to hate the idea of killing people. Not great when your survival literally depends on feasting upon the blood of your victims! When her parents cut off her supply, she enlists the help of Paul, a suicidal boy who agrees to be Sasha’s victim as long as she spends a night helping him accomplish everything he wants to do before he dies. A vampire-assisted bucket list night. Nice.
The festival's two Centerpiece screenings will feature the World Premiere of A Most Atrocious Thing. The film is described as a "cinematic labor of love" from a group of Chapman University students who got creative during the pandemic on a shoestring budget of $5,000.
The atrocious thing in question? As a group of friends gather for a weekend getaway, they mistakenly consume some infected deer meat, which in turn turns them into crazed, bloodthirsty maniacs. The filmmakers will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.
The Make Believe Seattle Film Festival is the region’s first-ever dedicated genre film festival, shining a light on horror, science fiction, fantasy, animation, and more. Billy Ray Brewton, founder and creative director of Make Believe Seattle shared in the festival's press release:
"This year's lineup is probably the closest I've ever come to presenting ME on screen. It's a very personal program that we hope lifts up under-represented communities while delivering exactly what folks expect from a genre festival. Our coming-of-age selections cover all ages and experiences while touching on universal truths that resonate with anyone with an imagination."
The festival will screen exclusively in person at Northwest Film Forum, The Erickson Theatre, and The Grand Illusion Cinema from March 21-26, 2024. Festival passes are on sale now and are available at makebelieveseattle.com.
The full program of the 2024 Make Believe Seattle Film Festival will be revealed on February 13.
Make Believe Seattle is sponsored by MUBI, FANGORIA, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Hotel Sorrento, W Seattle, The Stranger, Letterboxd, Liquid Death, and C89.5: Seattle's Home for Dance.
