Join us in the Film & Media Studies Soundstage (Summerfield Hall, Room 125) on October 27th at 7 pm for a screening of UNSAFE SPACES & THE STYLIST followed by a panel featuring local filmmakers Jill Gevargizian, Eric Havens, and Connor Sandheinrich moderated by Megan Williams. Please note that masks are required to attend.

During this season of horror flicks and Halloween, Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity proudly presents our fourth annual FEMINIST FRIGHT FEST!

―UNSAFE SPACES―
Director / Connor Sandheinrich
2021 / 3m, USA

When getting off the late shift, what looks like 50 feet, feels like 50 miles to a woman alone in a parking lot

―THE STYLIST―
Director / Jill Gevargizian
2020 / 1h 45m, USA

A lonely hair stylist becomes obsessed with the lives of her clients and descends into murderous madness.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/Rhsc4eLVFO8

―PANELISTS―
JILL GEVARGIZIAN (she/her)
Jill "Sixx" Gevargizian is a director, producer, writer, and hairstylist from Kansas City, Missouri. In 2012, she decided to bring independent genre films to her hometown by creating a monthly showcase called Slaughter Movie House. She founded Sixx Tape productions in 2014 with her directorial debut, CALL GIRL. Since then, she has written, produced and helmed numerous short films - most notably THE STYLIST in 2016. The film screened at genre festivals across the globe and won 20 awards. That short was also the inspiration for her debut feature of the same title released by Arrow Video this year.

ERIC HAVENS (they/them)
Eric Havens is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist whose work includes THE STYLIST, CALL GIRL, A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM THE TERMINALLY DEPRESSED, and THE DEVIL AND ME. They have won several “Best Screenplay” awards from an array of film festivals as well as placing in the quarterfinals of the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. Eric is also a longtime critic and journalist for several film sites such as Downright Creepy and Boom Howdy.

CONNOR SANDHEINRICH (she/her)
Connor Sandheinrich graduated with a BA in Film & Media Studies from KU in December 2020. She is the director of UNINVITED, a short film featured during last year's Feminist Fright Fest, as well as UNSAFE SPACES, which won Best Film and Best Editing awards in Arrow Films' THE STYLIST Short Cuts Competition. She has worked with filmmakers from Kansas City, Atlanta, The London Film School, and countless other places throughout the Midwest. At present, Connor works for a production company in Kansas City as a Production Coordinator and Copywriter.

MEGAN WILLIAMS (she/her)
Megan Williams is the Assistant Director of Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity at The University of Kansas. She earned her PhD in American Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from KU. A feminist scholar and former professor, Megan has published academic work and taught college courses exploring representations of gender, race, class, sexuality, and disability in Hollywood films.

―CO-SPONSOR―
Department of Film & Media Studies

―ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY―
People with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact the Emily Taylor Center at ETCWGE@ku.edu.