Grimmfest’s Grim Tidings from Pierre Tsigaridis, Writer-Director of ‘Frankie, Maniac Woman’

Few filmmakers walk the line between horror, humour and total chaos quite like Pierre Tsigaridis. Best known for his cult-favourite Two Witches and the anarchic anthology Traumatika, the Paris-born, LA-based director returned to Grimmfest this October with his most provocative and personal film yet: Frankie, Maniac Woman.

Premiering at Grimmfest’s in-person edition in Manchester and screened again at Grimmfest 2 (the online encore), the film left jaws on the floor and audiences divided in the best possible way. A blood-drenched satire of misogyny, mental health, and the LA music industry, Frankie, Maniac Woman is a confrontational, audacious, and deeply unhinged character study – equal parts Maniac, Piggy and Female Trouble, with a swagger all its own.

We caught up with Pierre for our Grimm Tidings series to find out how Ghostface inspired a life in horror, why he still can’t trust sleep, and what makes Frankie unforgettable.

Grimmfest’s Grim Tidings from Pierre Tsigaridis, Writer-Director of ‘Frankie, Maniac Woman’

Tell us why you are at Grimmfest.

I’m at Grimmfest this year to present my new film Frankie, Maniac Woman. I want to thank Grimmfest for taking the bold choice of championing my film.

How did you get into horror?

I’ve been fascinated by horror for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I wasn’t watching the usual cartoons or children’s movies. Instead, I was hiding in dark closets pretending to hunt witches and vampires.
By the age of six, I was already captivated by films like Coppola’s Dracula and Halloween. But it was Scream that truly cemented my love for the genre. I was completely obsessed with the opening scene – it was the most terrifying and fascinating thing I had ever seen. Ghostface, in particular, left a huge impression on me. I even begged my mum to buy me the mask for Halloween.

Back then, I would borrow my parents’ camcorder and team up with my brother and stepbrother to make our own horror films. We’d recreate scenes from Scream, Halloween, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, fully immersing ourselves in the world of make-believe. It was the most fun, creative, and fulfilling thing I had ever done – and it was during those moments that I knew I wanted to become a film director.

What scares you the most?

Humans.

Who or what is your favourite horror character?

My favourite horror character would have to be Ghostface from the Scream franchise because he’s the villain that left the strongest visual impression on me as a kid.

What is the grimmest thing you have ever seen?

The demon that visits me at night when I have sleep paralysis!

Starring Rocío de la Grana, Jordan Kelly DeBarge, and Sarah Grace Lee, Frankie, Maniac Woman follows an aspiring LA singer-songwriter on a violent descent into madness as she confronts trauma, fat-shaming, and the toxic grind of the entertainment industry. Co-written and co-produced by Two Witches breakout Dina Silva, who also leads the film and provides the bulk of its blistering soundtrack, it’s a genre mash-up that refuses to play by any rules but its own.

Look out for more news on the distribution of Frankie, Maniac Woman in early 2026.