Sixth Annual Shock-toberfest To Return to Foothills

ONEONTA— Six short films, including works by local filmmakers, will open the sixth annual Shock-toberfest on Saturday, October 17. Presented by Film Otsego and Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, the horror film festival is designed to celebrate Otsego County’s growing reputation as a place to make horror films.

“We’ve been telling people in the industry we are Horrorville,” said Greg Klein, the film commissioner for Otsego County via the 501c3 non-profit Film Otsego. “I know it is a genre a lot of our local filmmakers excel in, and our local film fans love.”

The 2026 Shock-toberfest feature film will be “Mother of Flies,” produced, directed and acted in by the Adams-Poser family of Roscoe and made by their production company, Wonder Wheel Productions.

“It is poetic: The Adams family makes horror films, and they are great at what they do,” Klein said. “Their films are well regarded, and as a family, they are being celebrated in their genre. We’re fortunate to have them representing our region to the film industry.”

Doors will open at 3:30 p.m., with the short film block beginning at 4 p.m. Among the six films are two by local filmmakers and two by Film Otsego alumni filmmakers.

Oneonta businessman Nate Roberts will debut his film, “She Deserved to Live,” and Noah Heyn, a 2022 Charlotte Valley Central School graduate, will show his film, “The Visitor.”

“This year’s shorts are amazing,” Klein said. “We have two great local guys in Noah and Nate. Plus, we have a second film from Rachel Kerry, who had a popular film at last year’s Shock-toberfest, and a second visit from Katherine Quinn, who charmed Oneonta during her first time visiting, in March, for The Made by New York Women Film Festival.”

There will be a question-and-answer session with the short-film filmmakers at about 5 p.m. “Mother of Flies” will begin about 5:45 p.m.

Foothills will also feature a live performance at 8 p.m. of “Night of the Living Dead,” presented by Bigger Dreams Productions.

“Saturday will be a great triple feature of horror,” Klein said. “Bigger Dreams always does excellent work, and although they are a different ticket, it is an inexpensive night overall. For horror fans, it is going to be a lot of frights and fun in one night.”

Shock-toberfest is free to all, with a recommended donation of $10.00, “to pay the Foothills staff and for the license to show ‘Mother of Flies.’”

Follow @filmotsego and @foothills.pac on Instagram and Facebook or go to foothillpac.org or filmotsego.org for more information. Go to biggerdreams.org for information about “Night of the Living Dead.”

Foothills PAC is at 24 Market Street in Oneonta, and there is plenty of parking on-site.

From Film Otsego.