UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — Independent filmmaking, psychological horror, and the creative talent behind Channel Awesome will take center stage on Friday, October 30, as Fright Night Film Fest arrives at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois.
Presented by the Chicago Southland International Film Festival, the event will bring together filmmakers Walter Banasiak, James Jarosz, and Harry Locke IV for an evening featuring original productions, filmmaker discussions, and a special appearance by Doug Walker, best known as Channel Awesome’s Nostalgia Critic.
The event begins with a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m., followed by film screenings starting at 7 p.m. Walker will be available for photographs with attendees before the screenings and is scheduled to moderate discussions with the filmmakers afterward.
Channel Awesome Brings Original Projects to the Big Screen
Among the evening’s featured productions is Space Trash, a science-fiction action-comedy series produced and directed by James Jarosz.
The series follows Flynn, a blue-collar garbage collector working in a distant future where humanity has abandoned Earth and spread across the galaxy. Alongside his robotic companion, Flynn navigates dangerous assignments involving space debris, marauders, and unexpected discoveries.
Festival attendees will have an opportunity to watch the first three episodes on the big screen, providing an early look at Jarosz’s ambitious independent production.
Also featured is Ad/Break, a horror short produced and directed by Walter Banasiak. Inspired by the unconventional style of Adult Swim, the film follows a mysterious woman appearing in advertisements across different eras, with increasingly disturbing consequences.
Banasiak, a Governors State University alumnus, has developed a substantial following through his work with Channel Awesome, including Twilight-Tober Zone and Fanscription.
Kaishaku Headlines the Festival
The evening’s featured presentation will be the Southland premiere of Kaishaku, a psychological horror feature directed by Harry Locke IV.
The film follows a financially struggling mother who receives an extraordinary and disturbing proposition involving a terminally ill friend. The story explores desperation, morality, and the difficult choices people confront under extreme circumstances.
Locke and Banasiak share longstanding ties to the Chicago Southland, having attended Thornton Fractional North High School together. Their reunion at the festival reflects the event’s emphasis on regional filmmakers whose careers have expanded into larger creative projects.
An Evening Celebrating Independent Filmmaking
Beyond the screenings, Fright Night Film Fest offers audiences an opportunity to interact directly with the people responsible for bringing these productions to life.
The combination of Channel Awesome personalities, independent filmmakers, and original projects makes the October 30 gathering a celebration of creative collaboration and storytelling.
Fright Night Film Fest takes place at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, located at 1 University Parkway in University Park, Illinois.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with screenings beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 plus applicable fees.
For tickets and additional information, visit **https://www.govst.edu/FrightNightFest**
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