Finding the Next Scream: Rachel Belofsky
Screamfest founder and festival director Rachel Belofsky joins Timecode: DEAD AIR to talk about more than two decades championing independent horror filmmakers and building one of the genre’s longest-running film festivals. Rachel shares the story of launching Screamfest in 2001, growing it from a two-day event into an important showcase for emerging filmmakers, and discovering films such as Paranormal Activity before they became cultural phenomena. We talk about creating a filmmaker-friendly festival, recognizing new talent, navigating the industry as a producer and festival director, the evolution of independent horror, and her work producing Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film. Along the way, Rachel reflects on the community that has grown around Screamfest and what she continues to look for in the next generation of horror filmmakers.