Horror Realm Celebrates Women in Horror Month with Events to Benefit PAAR

Film screening & roundtable discussion to commemorate WIHM

 Pittsburgh, PA – February 12, 2012 – Horror Realm, Pittsburgh’s modern horror convention, celebrates the third annual Women in Horror Month with two events in February.  Women in Horror Month (WiHM) is a service offered through Viscera, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. WiHM expands opportunities for filmmakers, artists, and fans by raising awareness about the changing roles for women through filmmaking, writing, events, and networking.

A portion of the proceeds of Horror Realm’s WIHM events will benefit Pittsburgh Action Against Rape. 

 In partnership with The Oaks Theater in Oakmont, Horror Realm presents a 35 mm film screening of Near Dark on February 24 at 10 PM, with admission of $8 at the door.  Near Dark is a 1987 vampire film written

and directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Bigelow went on to become the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director for her work on The Hurt Locker, which also won the Oscar for Best Picture of 2009.

All paid admissions will be entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets to Horror Realm's Spring Break Massacre & Zombie Gras on March 10 at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South. On February 25 at 1 PM, Horror Realm and Eljay’s Books in Dormont are teaming up to present a panel discussion about gender in the genre. This interactive event will touch on topics such as the evolution of women's roles in the horror genre (literature, film and art), strong female characters, the rise of female horror fans, etc.

Panelists include:

•Author Kimberly Bennett

•Actress/director Amy Lynn Best

•Editor/reviewer Kriscinda Meadows

•Actress/artist Kyra Schon

•Author Christine Soltis

 Participation is not limited to horror fans - Eljay's has very generously offered to donate 20% of all (not just horror) used book sales and 10% of new book sales from noon to 4 PM that day PAAR.  The event is free and open to the public, but donations will be accepted for PAAR. Light refreshments will be served including a complimentary glass of wine for patrons 21 and older.

 Pittsburgh Action Against Rape is a private non-profit organization founded in 1972 in response to a series of rapes and growing public concern.  PAAR's mission is to respond to survivors of sexual violence with crisis intervention and counseling, educate the community to prevent sexual violence, and advocate for systems to respond to and prevent sexual violence. PAAR's hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1(866) END-RAPE.  Visit www.paar.net for more information.

 The Oaks Theater is a gloriously refurbished, 430-seat single screen movie house located at 310 Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont, PA (15139).  For questions about the venue, please call (412) 828-6311 or visit the theater’s web site at http://www.theoakstheater.com/.

  Eljay’s Books is a used, new and rare bookshop located at 3233 West Liberty Avenue in Dormont. The store carries a little of everything from paperback sci-fi to 18th century medical treatises. Hours of business are Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Please visit http://eljaysusedbooks.com/  or call 412-344-7444 for more information.

 Horror Realm™ is Pittsburgh’s modern horror convention.  There will be two conventions in 2012 – Spring Break Massacre & Zombie Gras on March 10 and the fall convention on September 21-23.  Please visit http://www.horrorrealmcon.com/ or email info@horrorrealmcon.com for more information.