PollyGrind 2 Film Festival in Las Vegas Now Looking for Submissions

“This is PollyGrind2: Return of the Grind,” Freeman said. “Now if I could just nail down a tagline I like…”

“The saga continues”, “666 + 777 = 2”, “No mere mortal can resist the evil of Polly’s thrillers”, and “Bigger, badder and bi-winning” are among those listed on the PollyGrind website.

Tagline or no tagline, submissions are being accepted for PollyGrind 2 until July 13. Freeman hopes to announce the official lineup in early September.

PollyGrind 2 is scheduled to be held at threatre7 (1406 South 3rd Street, Las Vegas, NV 89104), Las Vegas’ only arthouse theater and art gallery, October 7-16. It will consist of programming in the tradition of grindhouse theaters with nights of double features, bookended by trailers and music videos. October 7 will be a kickoff party during First Friday, an ongoing arts, entertainment, and social block party held the first Friday of each month in the arts district. There will also be replays of some of the winning festival entries October 28-30.

“I love the vibe of the arts district,” Freeman said. “This is the perfect backdrop for PollyGrind, and there is no better place in the arts district than theatre7 to host this event.”

Submission categories include Blood-o-Rama (Horror/Gore Feature Competition), Frontiers Anew (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Adventure Feature Competition), Area-X (Exploitation/Underground Feature Competition), Weirdville (Arthouse/Cult Feature Competition), Crime Time (Thrillers/Action/Film Noir Feature Competition), Short Film Competition, Music Video Competition, and Trailer/Ad Spot Competition.

“The PollyGrind is all about the darker side of cinema,” Freeman said. “Edgy, sexy, bloody, cool – any and all genres are welcome as long as they’ll fit into the festival’s programming.”

Last year Greg Lamberson’s Slime City Massacre was crowned The Biggest Baddest Mother of the PollyGrind, while twin sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska’s Dead Hooker in a Trunk was voted the favorite feature by the audience.

Thirteen films and more than 30 trailers, music videos, and shorts played at the first year event. Five features world premiered, seven had their Las Vegas premieres, and one had a U.S. premiere. Highlights included a triple feature of world premieres from Creep Creepersin, the U.S. premiere of John (Arrow In The Head) Fallon’s short The Red Hours, the world premiere of The Dead Undead, a vampire zombie film starring Luke Goss (Hellboy II: The Golden Army) and Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior), the music video for Scum of the Earth’s Get Your Dead On, and a special showcase from Calvin Lee Reeder, a Sundance regular.

Just like the first PollyGrind, there will be a Q&As with all the filmmakers in attendance and meet and greets with the audience for photos, autographs, selling of wares, and casual chatting.

“Our aim, as has always been the case with Pollystaffle is to celebrate individuality, diversity, creativity, and empowerment,” Freeman said. “I want this to be a festival that is more than just a festival. I want it to be an experience. I want it to be fun, but also interactive, intimate, and educational for the audience and the filmmakers.”

In addition to looking for entries, Freeman is also looking for sponsors to present filmmaker prizes and audience giveaways.

Located near the “Downtown Las Vegas” sign in the arts district, theatre7 is an art lover’s and indie film fan’s paradise. Owned by filmmaker Derek Stonebarger (I.M. Caravaggio), theatre7 screens independent films, doubles as an art gallery, and hosts live theatre performances.