Screamfest, considered one of the world's foremost horror and fantasy film festivals, has awarded "Incident on Highway 73" the much coveted, Stan Winston designed "Skully" for best overall short film in this year's festival. The Skully was accepted by the film's director Brian Thompson at Saturday's closing night ceremony.

http://screamfestla.com/showfilm2012.php?movie=Incident

Thompson partnered with Former Ghost House Pictures executive Michael Kirk (co-producer "The Grudge" & "The Grudge 2") to create the award-winning sci-fi thriller short. The film recounts the harrowing final hours of a newly engaged couple who mysteriously disappear while driving through the desert on Christmas Eve. Kirk and Thompson shared producing duties with Kirk writing and Thompson directing the tension filled twenty-six minute short. The film stars Elizabeth Schmidt and Ian Alda (Alan Alda's nephew).

Kirk and Thompson first met while Thompson was fulfilling a college internship at Ghost House Pictures in 2005. "Brian showed me some of his college work and I was immediately impressed with his style and his natural aesthetic." says Kirk. The two kept in touch and after Kirk left Ghost House Pictures, he approached Thompson, who had since become a successful music video director, about developing a project together. While running ideas, Thompson recounted chilling story he and his wife lived through while on a road trip through the Grand Canyon, which served as the genesis for "Incident on Highway 73."

Kirk and Thompson have developed a feature length script based on the short which will be shopped in the upcoming weeks.

Thompson has been the recipient of numerous music video awards and acclaim, including the epic two part, multi-award winning video "The Sound of Truth" for the band As I Lay Dying and the cult classic "Holy Diver" cover by Killswitch Engage. Links to Thompson's work can be found at http://www.thevaultla.com/directors/brian-thompson/

Film was lensed by Jason Hafer and edited by Dave Gallegos. Robert Borer, Kathleen St. Peter and Jeff Beard served as executive producers.

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IMDB - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2460908/