Sleepy Hollow Fest Returns: Disney Magic, Dark Shadows, and Maniacs

The Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival (SHIFF) is set to return to the historic towns of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, New York, from October 10 to 13, 2024. Nestled in the heart of America’s supernatural folklore, the festival promises an eclectic mix of premieres, tributes, and exclusive screenings, all designed to celebrate genre cinema in the birthplace of Washington Irving’s legendary tales.

This year’s SHIFF boasts a line-up that will appeal to both classic cinema enthusiasts and fans of the supernatural. Among the highlights is a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. To mark this occasion, D23—The Official Disney Fan Club—will guide festival-goers through an enchanting event filled with rare behind-the-scenes footage, special guests, and surprises that aim to bring Disney nostalgia to life.

Adding to the festivities is a tribute to iconic director Tim Burton, with a 30th-anniversary screening of Ed Wood – his quirky biopic that captured the imagination of audiences with its homage to Hollywood’s worst filmmaker. The screening will be accompanied by an exclusive look at a new four-part docuseries, giving a deeper insight into Burton’s extraordinary career. Burton fans can also look forward to a 25th-anniversary showing of his gothic favourite, Sleepy Hollow, presented by Paramount Scares, bringing the legend back to its spiritual home.

Genre devotees are also in for a treat with the US East Coast premiere of Hippo, directed by Mark H. Rapaport, and the new horror-comedy Get Away, starring Nick Frost, whose sharp wit is well-known to fans of the horror-comedy genre. The festival will also feature The Activated Man, directed by Nicholas Gyeney, and starring horror veteran Tony Todd, adding another unique sci-fi twist to this diverse line-up.

For those craving a darker experience, SHIFF will host a special late-night screening of the 1980s grindhouse classic Maniac. Directed by William Lustig, the screening will feature Lustig himself alongside Randy Jurgensen, sharing insights into the creation of this controversial piece of cinema history.

Celebrating the legendary supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows, the festival will also include a centennial tribute to Jonathan Frid, the beloved actor who immortalised the character of Barnabas Collins. Fans of Dark Shadows can anticipate appearances from original cast members, who will share stories and reminisce about the cult classic series.

A further highlight will be a special presentation of Disney’s 1983 adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, alongside a first look at an upcoming documentary chronicling the making of the film. As SHIFF honours these iconic classics, it continues to weave a web connecting the magical and the eerie across generations.

In addition to its feature films, the festival will present two blocks of inventive short films, focusing on local talent from New York and the Hudson Valley. These showcases promise to highlight the continuing creative influence of the region’s haunted history, while offering glimpses into the work of up-and-coming filmmakers.

This unique four-day celebration of cinema has always been about honouring legends, from Washington Irving’s eerie tales to the spine-tingling stories on screen today. The festival will be held at the majestic Tarrytown Music Hall, a fitting venue for such an event steeped in both history and mystery.

Cinema lovers can purchase passes and tickets now at www.tarrytownmusichall.org to ensure they do not miss out on this unforgettable celebration of film and folklore. SHIFF is set to offer a weekend of cinematic wonder, where classic tales and contemporary creations come together to conjure up a fitting tribute to both the past and future of genre storytelling.