For 17 years, the Buried Alive Horror Film Festival has been a celebration of independent horror, sci-fi, and thriller killer cinema. Held annually in Atlanta, GA, this festival is a showcase for the most nightmarish and imaginative films from around the world. We welcome submissions of all kinds—features, short films, web series, animations, and music videos—for our four-day event in the fall. Every film is meticulously reviewed by our selection committee and panel of judges to ensure only the best entries are screened. This year’s festival will take place at the historic Plaza Theatre from November 7-10, 2024, providing a platform for both seasoned to student filmmakers and emerging voices in the genre.
Tickets on sale now for full day and weekend passes.
Individual events will go live in October.
2024 FESTIVAL FEATURES
Special Guests
Gabrielle Echols made her feature film debut opposite Hugh Jackman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ REMINISCENCE, directed by Lisa Joy and produced by Jonathan Nolan. She was then seen in a supporting role in the highly anticipated fifth installment of Sam Raimi’s cult classic EVIL DEAD franchise – EVIL DEAD RISE. Gabrielle is also an accomplished ballet dancer.
Jeremy Palko is an American actor known for his work in both film and television. Jeremy’s first speaking role came in the film Never Back Down (2008), and since then, he has appeared in numerous television shows including The Vampire Diaries, Are We There Yet?, Burn Notice, The Middle, and Sleepy Hollow. He is best known for his role as Nicholas Widmark on the Emmy-nominated series Bloodline and as Andy in The Walking Dead.
Johnath Davis was born and raised in the heart of Newark, NJ. Johnath scored a memorable story teller role in the film “The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man” (Netflix). In 2019, all paths would lead to an appearance on “This Is Us” (NBC). Since then, he has starred in numerous films and commercials. Most recently, Johnath can be seen in a recurring role on “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu), and “Power Book II: Ghost” (Starz), and on the feature horror film “Terrifier 2”.
SPEAKERS & TALKS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2024 AT 5:00 PM
‘Untapped Resources for Filmmakers in Georgia’, Speaker Lee Cutherbert
Lee Cuthbert Director of Operations for the Georgia Film Office, a division within the Georgia Department of Economic Development—the state’s sales and marketing arm. In her job Lee sends custom packages of photos for projects based on script requirements, scouts with clients, updates the locations database, assists shows with finding crew and stages, and acts as a liaison with tourism to assist with film tourism projects. She joined the office in 2009 and is a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis.
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award
Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at 6:00 PM, Honoring Gregg Bishop
Buried Alive Film Festival, Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual from the Film or Television industry who either hails from Georgia or has long-established roots in the state. This honor recognizes individuals whose exceptional talent has made a significant, lasting impact on the art of film and/or television. Recipients of this award have not only earned the respect of scholars, critics, and industry professionals, but have also garnered admiration from the general public. Their body of work exemplifies artistic excellence and enduring relevance, standing the test of time and contributing meaningfully to the legacy of cinematic and television arts.
Gregg Bishop started making movies with his father’s Super 8mm and 16mm film cameras when he was 7 years old and wrote & directed his first full-length feature, a spy thriller, at 17 years of age.
He attended the Production Program at USC film school where his student film Voodoo (1999) won over twenty film festivals world-wide including the Slamdance Film Festival. The short film is now screened for incoming USC film students, along with the short films Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB (1967) by George Lucas and The Lift (1972) by Robert Zemeckis.
After graduation, Bishop wrote & directed the $15,000 film festival smash The Other Side (2006) which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival where it was snapped up for a theatrical release. Variety called the movie “a lean, propulsively paced supernatural thriller, packed with pulse pounding excitement”. Bishop is currently developing the movie as a TV series.
THURSDAY, NOV. 7th, 2024
2024 SINEMA CHALLENGE PREMIERES
In the 13 Day Sinema Challenge, filmmakers create films in just 13 days using a subject card and a Card Against Humanity. Watch 24 teams premiere their unique films, like a serial killer abducted by Peter Pan, followed by an awards ceremony where winners advance to the Buried Alive Film Festival!
THURSDAY, NOV. 7th, 2024 at 9:30pm
OPENING NIGHT PARTY
Join us for the opening night party and Sinema Challenge winners celebration at the Pink Coffin Door at Mambo Zombi! Network with filmmakers and enjoy spooky tunes from Atlanta’s The Tomb Tones, blending Halloween punk rock with a fun, retro vibe inspired by The Cramps, Ramones, and B-52s. Don’t miss it!
FRIDAY, NOV. 8th, 2024 at 11:00 am – 12:50pm
Mr. Midnight
Where Angels Fear to Tread
It’s Better This Way
RABIES
Death of an Editor
The Brothers Grim
Forgive Me
Directors Q&A
FRIDAY, NOV. 8th, 2024 at 1:30 – 3:30pm
CHHAYA
Lorelei
Sincopat
Stay Quiet
Evil in Residence
Umami
The Ossan
Rabbit Season
Vile
The Red Stone
Directors Q&A
FRIDAY, NOV. 8th, 2024 at 1:30 – 3:30pm
Pocket (Short)
Strange Harvest: Occult Murder in the Inland Empire (Feature)
Directors Q&A
FRIDAY, NOV. 8th, 2024 at 6:30 – 7:40pm
HONK
Where the Angels Fear to Tread
I Could Just Die, and That would Be All Right
The Reclaimers
Where the Angels Fear to Tread
FRIDAY, NOV. 8th, 2024
BAFF PRESENTS EVIL DEAD RISE WITH GABRIELLE ECHOLS
Gabrielle Echols will be joining us throughout the weekend at the Buried Alive Film Festival, November 7th – 10th! Don’t miss a special screening of Evil Dead Rise, including a behind the scenes look and Q&A with Gabrielle! She’ll also be signing autographs at her table (additional cost) throughout the festival.
FILM BLOCKS
SUNDAY NOV. 10th, 2024 at 1-6 pm
The Plaza Theatre
1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE,
Atlanta, GA 30306
AWARDS
SUNDAY NOV. 10th, 2024 7:00 pm
The Plaza Theatre
1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE,
Atlanta, GA 30306
AFTER PARTY
SUNDAY NOV. 10th, 2024 8-11 PM
The Plaza Theatre
1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE,
Atlanta, GA 30306
With a terrifyingly large amount of content on the festival schedule, how does a horror fan make sense of Buried Alive’s madness? It doesn’t take a scientist like Dr. Frankenstein to dissect.
Fear Potion #9: Buried Alive Film Festival UnEarth’s World’s Best Horror to Atlanta. Nov 19th, 2014 “With a host of filmmakers in attendance, this year promises to be a glorious celebration of horror, further sealing Atlanta’s place as the horror capitol of the nation!”
The Fifth Annual Buried Alive Film Festival invaded Atlanta’s historic Plaza Theater, showcasing the best in international short and feature length independent horror films. Hosted by author and horror evangelist Phil Nutman, the festival boasted the southeastern premiere of Frank Hennenlotter’s “Herschell Gordon Lewis, The Godfather of Gore” documentary, as well as screenings of Terry Gilliam’s short, “The Legend of Hallowdega,” and Greg Nicotero’s “United Monster Talent Agency.”
Their mission is to promote true underground filmmaking in the Southeast and beyond, while providing the Atlanta area with the best independent horror has to offer.
A lot of film festivals though tend to show the same old thing despite their venue and location differences. However, in Atlanta, GA, there is a truly inspired festival called The Buried Alive Film Festival which is scheduled for November 12 & 13 at the historic Plaza Theater.
