Louisville may not have passed the audition to host the Sundance Film Festival, but that’s not stopping Derby City from showing off its talented, homegrown filmmakers.
The first 502 Lumens film festival is coming to the Portland neighborhood this Sunday, Oct. 20. This year’s theme: Horror — ‘tis the season, after all. Three Louisville artists will bring a film — two shorts, one feature — each approaching the genre from a different angle.
Doors open at 4 p.m., and the first film will begin rolling at 4:45 p.m. Then, festival creator Aria Baci will host a panel discussion with all three featured directors starting at 7:15 p.m.
502 Lumens will also feature a food + drink menu, including an event-exclusive beverage offering from Awry Brewing, plus a local vendor marketplace.
Here’s a look at what’ll be on screen — think of this as the trailers before the main feature.
“The Legend of Gourdface”
This short comes from UofL film majors Alyssa Couri and Hunter Hoskins. It’s a love letter to their shared affection for autumn. It’s also an homage to childhood favorites like “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” and “Goosebumps.” It was shot on-location around Kentucky. It starts at 4:45 p.m.
“Anansi”
The trickster figure from folklore Anansi appears as a spider inside the protagonist’s mind in this short film by producer, director, and star Edward Hardin. Hardin created the film to explore “the way in which invasive thoughts creep into your life.” It was filmed right here in Louisville, both at Hardin’s house and at Bluegrass Brewing Company. It’ll begin at 5:20 p.m.
“Mind Body Spirit”
A found footage film about a yoga influencer, this is a “folkloric horror tale set in the livestream era.” Director Alex Henes, a duPont Manual graduate, filmed the movie with a crew of 15 in a haunted California mansion over 10 days. The last film of the evening, it’ll will begin at 5:50 p.m.
Tickets for 502 Lumens are $15.