For the fifth year, FrightFest has teamed up with Screen International, the UK’s top film industry magazine, to present the Genre Rising Star Award. Established in 2016, the award celebrates the work of emerging UK genre talent.

This year’s short-list highlights the work of three emerging directors and two outstanding performers.

The nominated directors are:

Leroy Kincaide for his creepily assured feature debut, The Last Rite, which he wrote, directed and edited.

Writer/director Prano Bailey-Bond for her stunning breakout debut feature Censor.

Writer/director Eric Steele for Boy #5 – an ultra-low budgeted but emotionally spin on the vampire legend.

Actor April Pearson for Jamie Patterson’s The Kindred

Actor Najarra Townsend for her standout performance in Jill Gevargizian’s The Stylist, which she also produced and played at the online iteration of FrightFest last year.

Past winners include Prevenge director Alice Lowe, Double Date writer/actor Danny Morgan, Anna and the Apocalypse star Ella Hunt, and Abigail Blackmore, writer-director of the comedy horror film Tales from the Lodge.

The winner will be announced in a special ceremony at FrightFest’s annual 5-day event at the Cineworld Leicester Square, at 6.45pm on Monday, August 30th.

Entry is free and seats can be reserved here: https://www.frightfest.co.uk/