Our Programming Team: The Curators Behind the Fright Night Theatre Film Festival
Historically, the Fright Night Theatre Film Festival (FNTFF) began in 2009 as a small gathering of genre-film devotees in Hamilton, Ontario. What started as a basement screening series has evolved into a competitive festival that now draws submissions from independent horror and genre filmmakers worldwide. As we look back on our journey, our programming team remains the heart of that transformation — a group of passionate curators who balance artistic instinct with the legal and logistical realities of running a modern film festival in 2026. Today, we not only champion bold cinema but also help filmmakers navigate the current landscape of copyright, safety, and distribution rights.
From Grassroots Horror to Competitive Festival: The Allen Legacy
Our director and lead programmer, Aaron Allen, joined the original Fright Night Theatre team in 2009 and took over operations in 2012. Under his guidance, the festival became a juried competition, attracting entries from emerging voices in monster movies, horror-comedies, and psychological thrillers. Aaron’s curatorial eye — influenced by George A. Romero, Astron-6, and Alexandre Aja — ensures that each year’s lineup balances nostalgia with fresh, boundary-pushing storytelling. He also founded The Zed Word zombie blog and led four Hamilton Zombie Walks, bringing community engagement to undead cinema. Tina Allen, our programmer and box office operations lead, brings her love for ghost stories and hammer kills (and a veterinarian’s discipline) to the screening room. Kalen Artinian, a jack-of-all-trades filmmaker himself, advises on both features and shorts, ensuring that technical craft and narrative drive meet our standards.
“We don’t just program movies; we build a safe, legal, and artistically rigorous platform for genre film. Every submission is reviewed not only for creative merit but for potential rights conflicts — because a great film shouldn’t end up in litigation.”
— FNTFF Programming Team
Learn more about our mission: www.frightnighttheatre.com | Archive reference: legacy team page
Navigating the Current Landscape of Copyright, Safety & Legal Protections for Filmmakers
In today’s festival ecosystem, independent filmmakers face a minefield of legal pitfalls. Over the past three years, we have observed an increase in disputes over derivative works — including a case where a plaintiff threatened litigation against a director for alleged similarities to a pre-existing short film. Such claims can derail distribution deals. We now advise all submitters to conduct a thorough copyright clearance before entering. Additionally, the FDA regulates any food or health claims made in film content (e.g., products used in docu-horror), and we ensure our concession stands and set safety protocols meet federal guidelines. For production injuries — considered an adverse event under workplace safety law — filmmakers must document everything to secure potential compensation or settlement from insurance or third parties.
The legal environment has also seen the rise of class action lawsuits against streaming platforms for unfair revenue sharing, and multi-district litigation (MDL) consolidating claims of copyright infringement across multiple defendants. While FNTFF itself is not a party to these actions, we want our filmmakers to understand the statute of limitations for filing a mass tort or individual claim — typically three to six years from the date of discovery. If you believe your work has been misused or you have suffered financial harm due to a distributor’s misconduct, you may be a potential plaintiff in a broader legal action. Our partner network offers guidance on how to participate in ongoing litigation and pursue a fair settlement.
Your Rights as a Filmmaker: Why a Free Case Review Matters
Whether you are a first-time short filmmaker or a seasoned genre director, protecting your intellectual property and personal safety is paramount. Below is a summary of the key roles our programming team plays, alongside the legal resources we recommend.
| Team Member | Role | Specialty & Legal Awareness |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Allen | Director & Lead Programmer | Curates monster/horror-comedy; reviews submission rights and non-disclosure agreements |
| Tina Allen | Programmer & Box Office Ops | Veterinarian by day; ensures safety protocols for live events and animal handling on screen |
| Kalen Artinian | Programmer (Feature & Short Advisory) | Filmmaker himself; advises on copyright clearance and proper credit documentation |
- Step 1: Review your film for any unlicensed music, images, or trademarked props. Clear all rights before submitting.
- Step 2: Document any on-set injuries (adverse events) with photographs and medical reports — this may become relevant for a workers' compensation claim or third-party settlement.
- Step 3: Be aware of the statute of limitations in your jurisdiction. In the U.S., claims for copyright infringement must be filed within three years of the discovery of infringement.
- Step 4: If you believe your work has been stolen or you have been underpaid by a distributor, consult with an attorney experienced in class action and MDL proceedings.
We believe that artistic freedom and legal protection go hand in hand. That’s why we encourage every filmmaker — whether selected for our program or not — to take advantage of our network’s offer for a free case review. A quick evaluation of your rights can uncover hidden liabilities or opportunities for compensation in ongoing mass tort or class action claims against large distributors. Don’t let a missed deadline or a silent grievance cost you your work. Contact our partners today and secure the future of your film.