NICE HOG! IN THE HEADLINES
SECRET MENU BEAUTY PAGEANT
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“Independent distributor Antenna Releasing has acquired North American rights to Nice Hog! Productions’ “Secret Menu Beauty Pageant” directed by Frankie Campisano and SG Egan. The company plans to package the comedy/horror short as part of an anthology feature.”
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“A carnival funhouse ride into madness. As a self-described homage to Adult Swim, filmmakers Frankie Campisano and SG Egan lull us into the nostalgia of mall food courts and diners before dragging us to hell through a beauty pageant. Why it works here is that their version of hell feels coherent, like it actually exists, versus being haphazardly weird for weird’s sake. Their narrators are perfect for grounding the lunacy.”
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“The entire movie feels like it unfolds in one of these backroom videos. The narrator reminds me of “Wear Sunscreen,” a spoken word piece by Baz Luhrmann, not about sunscreen in this specifically, but about burgers and secret menus. For those who find the backroom videos strange or scary, this film may also seem odd or unsettling. However, for me, it is a nostalgic reminder of the late 90s.”
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“A bit of a mind-f**k yet also strangely emotionally resonant throughout its 15-minute running time.
It won't take long for you to realize that these images mean something, a certain nostalgic commercialism constantly present both soothing and jarring.
I'm a fan of filmmakers who think outside the box. I'm also a fan of filmmakers who just toss that box aside and completely go for it.
This is clearly a team interested in really going for it.There's something special about Secret Menu Beauty Pageant. This film may not be to everyone's taste,
however, for those who embrace the more experimental side of cinema this is definitely a flick worth watching.”
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“We end the festival with my favorite from this block, “Secret Menu Beauty Pageant” by Frankie Campisano and SG Egan. The only one with a voiceover I didn’t dislike, a worker at a shoe factory tells about how he got sucked into a surreal world underneath his favorite burger chain when he tries to order off the secret menu. It’s got the vibe of an Adult Swim infomercial with a bizarrely shaggy dog story and imagery that cribs from 90’s McDonalds commercials and the kind of mixed media animation that classic Spongebob or Smiling Friends does. 4 out of 4 rating.”
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“A movie based mostly on vibes, this short film manages to effortlessly create a truly strange collage of late stage capitalism symbols. When mashed together, the mall, the fast food joint, the secret menu, the beauty pageant, etc. all form an unsettling vision of a derelict world
where consumption is not only compulsory but also inescapable.” - MOVIEJAWN
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“‘Oh my God, this is the weirdest, coolest stuff ever.’” Junktown’s out-of-town films fit that bill. “Secret Menu Beauty Pageant” was a nearly 15-minute drug trip into surrealist absurdity. Think of “Tim and Eric” if it were made by some millennials in Los Angeles.”
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“Viewers who watch “SECRET MENU BEAUTY PAGEANT” will find much to appreciate.”
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MY NAME IS JOHN
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“Now more than ever we’re getting smart, original, groundbreaking films in our beloved and historically underappreciated genre.
We’re thrilled to join in on the fun and help contribute to that talent pool with Fresh Meat.”The Dead Meat team were submitted more than 500 shorts, first whittling things down to 30.
From there, the top 13 submissions were selected for the one-night-only theatrical release of Fresh Meat.” -
“Director Roman creates a short film that feels like a true horror tale. He brings a horror atmosphere to My Name Is John. This is due to the lighting and use of darkness, the ominous soundtrack, and, of course, the horror-like physical performances of the creature played by both actors. Roman brilliantly weaves together a terrifying tale of a shape-shifting creature, perfect for your late-night horror film festival track.”
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“Dubbed the “Cannes of horror” (iHorror), Nightmares is part summer camp for horror lovers, part annual reunion for some of the world’s top genre creators. Taking over the world-renowned Gateway Film Center, the festival will bring fans, filmmakers, screenwriters, press and industry reps together for 16 features, 150 shorts, 26 screenplay finalists and one-of-a-kind experiences… The renowned shorts program returns with a vengeance, collecting 150 of the world’s best new midnight, horror, thriller and horror comedy stories.” - HORROR SOCIETY
BREAKFAST AT BERGHAIN
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“Breakfast at Berghain is Palen’s homage to New German Cinema. It dives headfirst into the genre’s deadpan absurdism, where characters pursue irrational goals with total conviction, as if Kafka had written a comedy. Palen plays it completely straight, and that’s exactly what makes it work…
absurd, infectious, and hard to shake — which, for a 14-minute short, is no small feat.
Breakfast at Berghain is the kind of film that is perfect for your Midnight film festival block.” -
“Reminds me of the works of David Lynch and nostalgic visuals from old yearbooks and music videos by M83. Breakfast at Berghain engages viewers with its dreamlike narrative. The film intertwines elements of fantasy and reality, creating a unique exploration of personal liberation, self-discovery, and girl power.”