Iconic genre-film Writer, Producer and Director Roger Corman, also called the “Pope of Pop Cinema” will receive a special Master of Horror award at the Overlook Film Festival this month in Mount Hood, Oregon. This is the first year for the event which will be held at the famous — or infamous — Timberline Lodge, which doubled for the cursed Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic, THE SHINING.

If you don’t know Roger Corman, you should. He’s been a pioneer in independent genre-cinema since the fifties, leading American International Pictures and paving the way for the thousands of young writers, producers and directors to follow. Corman was one of the first in Hollywood to break out on his own, financing and creating projects that made a profit and he could control. He has personally directed 56 films and produced hundreds more, and not just Horror, but Western, Sci-fi and Comedy flicks too. If that’s not impressive, recognize him simply for the folks whose careers he’s developed and mentored, including James Cameron, Martin Scorcese, Ron Howard and Francis Ford Coppola. In fact, Corman gave a young Jack Nicholson his first acting break in low-budget Horror with the 50s/60s flicks, THE RAVEN, THE TERROR and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Other recognizable Corman pics include Masque of the Red Death, Tales of Terror, The Pit and the Pendulum, Death Race 2000, Slumber Party Massacre, Caged Heat, Galaxy of Terror and many more. 

In addition to Corman’s honor, the Overlook lineup includes screenings of indie Horror Mayhem (REVIEW), Lake Bodom (REVIEW), Two Pidgeons (REVIEW), and M.F.A. (REVIEW) as well as four other shockers making their world debut. There will even be a weekend-long immersive game from interactive company Bottleneck Immersive, featuring planted actors, hidden clues, puzzles, and twists that attendees can engage with at their own comfort, or peril.

For more on the Overlook Film Festival, or if all work and no play has you feeling dull, you can learn tons more here.