Franchises, Fresh Blood and The Future of Horror

Event ID: PP1150843
Sun, Mar 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Venue: Pennybacker (Omni Downtown)
Summary

Image Nation’s Ben Ross and Spooky Pictures’ Steven Schneider and Roy Lee dive into how they’re shaping the next era of horror filmmaking. They’ll pull back the curtain on their collaboration and strategies behind crafting boundary-pushing, elevated genre films – while championing the next generation of storytellers. Drawing on their bold slate, from SXSW 2026 Midnighter selection Hokum to Late Night with the Devil, The Plague and The Vile, the trio will explore how to uplift emerging talent and why horror is one of the most exciting spaces for discovering fresh voices. The session will spotlight their reinvigoration of franchises such as V/H/S and Texas Chainsaw Massacre and how legacy IP can be a launchpad for creators. Expect insights into audience appetites, creative approaches and where these genre aficionados see horror heading next.
Format: Panel
Category: Panel
Event Type: panel
Presented By: n/a
Contributors

GiGi Leal
Steven Schneider
Ben Ross
Roy Lee
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