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Coming on the heels of our last report<\/a><\/span>, which talked about a talented downstate Illinois<\/strong> woman who is making waves in independent cinema, we have a surprise announcement from another female film creator on the move! Every October for the past five years, the Art Theater<\/strong> in Champaign<\/strong> has been inundated with fright thanks to their popular \u201cShocktober<\/strong>\u201d screenings. While previous runs feasted heavily on well-known classics, their unorthodox 2017 selections<\/a><\/span> seemed to challenge fans to try out films not often seen in repertory. An experimental thriller called DEVOTION<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, directed and written by Art Theater special events coordinator Jessie Seitz<\/strong>, received its theatrical bow on a double bill with THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD<\/strong> (1985) during that sequence, complete with a personal appearance by the films\u2019 shared on-screen talent, Linnea Quigley<\/strong>. The success of this particular attraction must have inspired Seitz and her coworkers to take a stab at expanding the Shocktober concept by looking outside the well-worn crypt for exciting work from up-and-coming genre storytellers. Hence, promotion began in earnest on Wednesday, January 24<\/strong>, for the new Shocktober Film Festival<\/strong>, a shorts showcase that is positioned to kick off the 2018 itinerary on Wednesday, October 3<\/strong>, and we can think of no better hands for this to be placed in<\/a><\/span> than Seitz\u2019s. Creep along with their Facebook<\/strong><\/a><\/span> for updates and shamble over to their <\/span>FilmFreeway<\/span><\/strong><\/a> for entry stipulations; the final deadline to submit is Wednesday, August 1<\/strong>, for starters. Although the Art is casting their net wide for material to play this coming fall, we\u2019ll cross our fingers that producers across MICRO-FILM Country<\/strong> will represent in some fashion at the promised \u201cday-long event.\u201d Until details emerge, you should gaze longingly upon the charming \u201cbeauties and beasts\u201d poster from last year, rendered with love by Urbana<\/strong> artist Sophie McMahan<\/strong>. Her retro-styled portfolio and offbeat comics will delight you.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n ~ Jason Pankoke<\/p>\n p.s.<\/em> Like many working outside the system, Seitz focuses on self-distribution and unique cross-promotion for her films. DEVOTION<\/strong> arrives soon on DVD through her own Capricorn Rising Films<\/strong><\/a><\/span> banner, while Magnetic Magic Rentals<\/strong> of Kansas City, MO<\/strong>, is about to issue a licensed VHS collector\u2019s edition<\/a><\/span>. Nifty!<\/p>\n p.s.2<\/em> When we posted<\/a><\/span> about the projects of Jarrod Finn<\/strong>, we did not realize he was about to launch his own call for entries to the second ChamPain Indie Horror Fest<\/strong>, which is also set for October. Here\u2019s the FilmFreeway<\/strong> account<\/a><\/span> for ChamPain if you are so inclined. The more horror du C-U, we<\/em> say, the better!<\/p>\n