The Oculto Horror Film Fest celebrates its fifth anniversary and El Paso debut on October 13-14 in the Philanthropy Theatre by celebrating one of the leading creature actors in horror — Doug Jones.
Jones will take part in a Q&A at 6 pm Friday, October 13 before a screening of Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth at 7 pm in the Philanthropy Theatre, inside the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Centre. He also will appear at a meet-and-greet at 9 pm Friday at the Mesa Street Grill, 3800 N. Mesa. The versatile Jones will receive Oculto’s Lifetime Achievement Award at 9 pm Saturday, October 14 on the Alcantar Sky Garden, part of the Plaza Theatre complex. A ticket is required for all events with Jones.
The Indianapolis-born Jones, 63, has played various creatures, monsters, and ghouls in more than 50 films and television series, including del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and Mimic. Other notable credits include movies Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2, Mystery Men, Batman Returns, and Adaptation, and TV series Star Trek: Discovery and What We Do in the Shadows.
The festival continues at 5:30 pm Saturday, October 14 with a screening of the 1986 horror cult classic Chopping Mall, which will be narrated Mystery Science Theater 3000-style by Juarez comedy podcasters Leyendas Legendarias.
The Oculto 2023 Official Film Selections program at 7 pm features 18 shorts by filmmakers from around the region and world. Both events are in the Philanthropy Theatre. Tickets are required for admission.
Tickets are $30 for one day, $50 for both days, on sale at the Plaza Theatre Box Office and Ticketmaster.com.
This is the fifth year for the Juarez-based Oculto, but its first in El Paso. The international festival, which is an affiliate of the El Paso Community Foundation, was started by a group of filmmakers and creatives, led by filmmaker Carlos “Cabe” Tejeda. Their mission is to promote horror cinema and the Borderland region.
The Juarez edition will be Oct. 20-22, with coverage on Mexican TV channels 44 and 66 from Oct. 26-28.
Donations may be made at epcf.org/oculto.
