Jenn Wexler
Ms. Wexler has an impressive list of horror films that she has produced and written for including ABC’s of Death 2, Darling, Like Me and Psychopaths. Her first feature-length film The Ranger premiered at SXSW in March of 2018, and Ms. Wexler was nominated for the SXSW Gamechanger Award. The Ranger is a slasher film that blends the style of an 80’s slasher with a punk rock look and a great cast.
Aislinn Clarke
Irish Director Aislinn Clarke wrote and directed her first feature-length movie “The Devils Doorway,” the film was nominated for the Jury Prize at the Molins De Rei Horror Film Festival for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Film. “The Devils Doorway” has received praise for the home movie look of the film and the setting of the events in a Magdalene Laundry.
Isa Mazzei
Ms. Mazzei not only wrote and produced the 2018 film Cam, but she also used her personal history as a Cam Girl as inspiration for the story. The film has won praise in some film festivals including awards for Best Actress Madeline Brewer at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, as well as Best Screenplay for Ms. Mazzei and Best First Feature for Director Daniel Goldhaber at the 2018 Fantasia Film Festival. Cam has also won praise for its accurate and positive look at the sex industry especially the world of Cam Girls.
Karyn Kusama
With a career going back to the early ’90s, Ms. Kusama has written, produced and directed several films including Girlfight, Aeon Flux Jennifer’s Body, The Invitation, a segment in the anthology XX, and Destroyer. Ms. Kusama’s films often feature strong female roles that are flawed and must struggle through challenges that they face. Her films Girlfight and The Invitation have won some awards at Film Festivals around the world. In recent years Ms. Kusama has also worked as a director for television shows such as Halt and Catch Fire, Casual and Billions.
Julia Ducournau
French film director and screenwriter Julia Ducournau’s film Raw tackled the subject of cannibalism but did so in a manner, unlike most other horror films. The film explored a young woman’s primal urges as she discovers a hunger for human flesh. The film was praised by film critics but also disturbed many viewers who were unsettled by the graphic imagery and gore of the film.
Coralie Fargeat
Films based on revenge tend to focus more on the violence and misguided sense of justice, yet Ms. Fargeat directed “Revenge” with a focus on the struggle faced by the discarded survivor played by Matilda Lutz. “Revenge” is her first feature-length movie and has been hailed for the feminist spin on the exploitation genre and especially rape-revenge films.
Jovanka Vuckovic
A Canadian Director who has worked as an Editor for Rue Morgue Magazine as well as writing and directing the short films The Captured Bird, Self Portrait, The Guest and a segment in the horror anthology XX.
Barbara Crampton
With a career going back to the 1980s, Ms. Crampton appeared in several popular horror films including Chopping Mall, Re-Animator, From Beyond and Castle Freak. After a hiatus, she returned to horror films in 2011 with the home invasion film You’re Next. Ms. Crampton has since appeared in over 15 movies and in 2018 announced she would appear in horror themed TV series Channel Zero as well as appearing as a columnist with Fangoria Magazine.
Gillian Flynn
A writer who has made an impact with her novels Sharp Objects, Dark Places, and Gone Girl. HBO produced Sharp Objects as a miniseries, and it became one of HBO’s most talked about series of 2018 with its dark storyline and troubled protagonist well played by Amy Adams.
Susanne Bier
A Danish film director, Ms. Bier has won a Golden Globe, an Emmy as well as an Academy Award for her film In a Better World. In late 2018 she directed the post-apocalyptic movie Bird Box starring Sandra Bullock and based on the novel by Josh Malerman. The film was released on Netflix and become one of the most streamed movies for the popular video service.
Toni Collette
Ms. Collette has a career that spans three decades, over seventy roles and has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Tony Award. She has made an impact in the horror genre with her role in The Sixth Sense as well Krampus. In 2018 Ms. Collette made a significant impact with her role in Hereditary and has received accolades from several film festivals.
Soska Sisters
Jen and Sylvia Soska are Canadian sisters who write, produce and direct films such as Dead Hooker in a Trunk, See No Evil 2 and the cult favorite American Mary. They are currently directing a remake of the David Cronenberg film Rabid with Laura Vandervoort in the starring role.
Roxanne Benjamin
Ms. Benjamin is a writer, producer, and director whose movies include segments in the horror anthologies Southbound and XX, as well as producing VHS, VHS 2, Faults and The Devils Candy. Ms. Benjamin is currently working on the film Body at Brighton Rock as the film's writer and director.
Issa Lopez
A Mexican Director whose film Tigers Are Not Afraid shows the aftermath of the violence of the drug cartels in Mexico on the children who are orphaned. The award-winning film drew praise from Stephen King and Guillermo Del Toro, with Del Toro offering to produce her next project.
Alice Lowe
English actress and comedy writer who has appeared in Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. In 2017 her black comedy slasher Prevenge was released with Ms. Lowe being pregnant with her daughter at the time of principal filming.
