Variety is thrilled to present the first-ever Hollywood & Horror on October 15 in Los Angeles, an evening cocktail event celebrating excellence in horror entertainment and the unique fandom surrounding this ever-expanding film and TV genre.
The event will coincide with Variety’s inaugural Horror Impact Report publishing October 8, recognizing those who have had a major impact in the horror sector over the last calendar year. This special editorial feature will celebrate directors, producers, festival programmers, journalists and more that continue to elevate and uplift the horror genre.
Programming will begin with a Keynote Conversation with Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse, the powerhouse behind modern horror classics including “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “Get Out,” “The Purge,” “Paranormal Activity” and “M3GAN.” Blum will share insights into building some of the most successful and culturally resonant horror films of the past two decades.
Following the keynote, “Behind the Scenes With Shudder” will feature Sam Zimmerman, SVP Programming at Shudder, in conversation with William Earl, Executive Digital Editor, Variety. The discussion will dive into how Shudder curates and champions cutting-edge horror content for its devoted fanbase.
The evening will conclude with “Masters of Horror Music,” an exploration into how composers, musicians and their partners are crucial in creating the suspense, thrills and terror of horror film and TV storytelling. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Writer at Variety, the panel will feature Chris Bacon, composer of “M3GAN 2.0” and “Wednesday”; Chanda Dancy, composer of “I Know What You Did Last Summer”; Kris Le-Roy, Music Licensing Executive, Universal Production Music; Bobby Krlic, composer of “Him“; Amanda Krieg Thomas, music supervisor, “American Horror Story”; and Jeff Russo, composer of “Alien: Earth.”
“With horror continuing to captivate audiences and evolve as one of the most dynamic genres in film and television, we are excited to host this inaugural event and celebrate those who bring these stories to life,” said Dea Lawrence, Chief Operating and Marketing Officer, Variety. “In addition to the event, we are proud to spotlight the inaugural Horror Impact List honorees shaping the genre’s future.”
The event is hosted in partnership with Shudder as the official partner, with Universal Production Music and Lionsgate serving as supporting partners. Fangoria joins as the event’s media partner.