SCADFILM and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) presents IN FOCUS: Horror on Friday, October 10, spotlighting the popularity of horror in television, film and streaming. All events to be held at SCADshow, the university’s state-of-the-art theater complex in Midtown Atlanta.
“Paired perfectly with the spooky season, SCADFILM presents an incredible line-up of sessions featuring top talent from the best in horror entertainment,” said Mollie Brock, director of SCADFILM. “Audiences will get to see an exclusive clip from the new HBO show It: Welcome to Derry, watch an advance screening of Black Phone 2 and help us welcome horror legend Patrick Wilson to SCADshow!”
For nearly a century, imaginative tales of terror and the supernatural have kept viewers on the edge of their theater seats, foisting their iconic villains on eager audiences and into pop culture legend. SCADFILM In Focus: Horror welcomes the spooky and scary to SCADshow for a thrilling one-day celebration of fear, suspense, and the art of horror storytelling.
As part of the dynamic SCADFILM In Focus series, the event will bring creators, industry experts, and fans together for a full day of curated panel discussions, exclusive screenings, and behind-the-scenes insights into this beloved medium. Whether you’re drawn to psychological thrillers, jump scares, or boundary-pushing horror cinema and gaming, SCADFILM In Focus: Horror promises a deep dive into the genre’s most chilling and innovative techniques.
Terror by Design: Crafting HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry
2:00 p.m. | Main Stage
In conversation with: Luis Sequeira, costume designer; Sean Sansom, prosthetic makeup effects designer and supervisor; Daryl Sawchuk, VFX supervisor
Step behind the red balloons and into the creative heart of HBO’s highly anticipated series It: Welcome to Derry, a chilling prequel to Stephen King’s It. Join key artisans from the costume, prosthetic design, and visual effects teams as they reveal how they brought the unsettling world of Derry, Maine, to life. From haunting set pieces to Pennywise-inspired details, discover how these masters of atmosphere build tension and terror long before the cameras roll.
Crafting Terror: A Conversation with Patrick Wilson & Nick Antosca
5:00 p.m. | Main Stage
Horror fans, don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from two masters of the genre. Patrick Wilson, star of The Conjuring and Insidious, and Nick Antosca, creator of The Act, Candy, and Brand New Cherry Flavor, join forces for the upcoming series Cape Fear. They’ll take you behind the scenes of modern horror, exploring how terrifying stories are crafted, characters are brought to life, and how tension is built to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. From chilling performances to inventive storytelling, this panel offers a deep dive into what makes horror so enduring—and why these two are at the forefront of the genre today.
Black Phone 2 Premiere with Special Guest Arianna Rivas
7:00 p.m. | Main Stage
Visit SCADshow for the premiere screening of Black Phone 2, the chilling sequel to Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill’s Saturn Award-winning The Black Phone. Co-written by Derrickson and Cargill and directed by Derrickson, the sequel follows siblings Finn and Gwen as they confront the vengeful spirit of the Grabber and uncover a dark family connection. Featuring Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Demián Bichir, Black Phone 2 deepens the eerie mythology of the 2022 horror phenomenon with new twists, relentless suspense, and a sense of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. Stick around after the film for a special conversation with actor Arianna Rivas.
Tickets for each session are free for SCAD students, faculty, alumni and staff, and $10 for the general public. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit SCADshow. Programming topics are subject to change.
