An independent Australian horror film has been selected to screen at the world’s best genre film festival in America’s most haunted city later this month. 

Director Nick Kozakis and producers Lauren Simpson and Tim Whiting will attend the world premiere of Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism at the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans March 30 to April 2.

Inspired by true events, this disturbing tale of misplaced faith and destructive zealotry stars Georgia Eyers (The Xrossing), Dan Ewing (Occupation), Tim Pocock (Red Billabong), Eliza Matengu, John Wood and Rosie Traynor. 

Faith and sanity are put to the test when a devote Christian begins to suspect his mentally ill wife is demonically possessed. 

Lara (Eyers) is having horrific visions and they are getting worse. Her psychiatrist (Matengu) believes that the key to her treatment is to find the source of her trauma, hidden somewhere in Lara’s past. 

Ron (Ewing) – Lara’s husband and devout Christian – has other plans. He believes that the problem is a spiritual one and an exorcism is the only way to save her soul. Spurred on by a ruthless exorcist (Pocock) and a congregation of zealots, they’ll put an innocent woman through hell whilst trying to send her to heaven.

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Convinced that his wife is possessed by dark forces, a desperate husband puts his faith in the power of a pitiless self-proclaimed exorcist, who is convinced that salvation can be found only through his hands. Based on a true story, this is a disturbing tale of misplaced faith and destructive zealotry. 

A celebrated television and music video director, Kozakis said Overlook is the ideal platform to launch the film to genre fans and cinephiles the world over, hoping to enjoy similar success after his film Plague was picked up for distribution after screening at the Marché du Film in 2015. 

“We are so excited that our inspired by horror flick shot over 28 days during the pandemic, will screen alongside major studio genre films Renfield and Evil Dead Rise,” Kozakis says. 

“I am thrilled that Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism has been chosen to screen at the world’s best genre festival, joining the ranks of some of my favourite filmmakers Ana Lily Amirpour, Scott Derrickson, Chris McKay, Robert Rodriguez and Len Wiseman.” 

Shot in regional Victoria after Melbourne’s longest lockdown in 2021, the film has been picked up by XYZ Films for release in North America on the 6th April, with producers Simpson, Whiting and Tony Coombs seeking a local distribution partner. 

“The residents of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs were so welcoming to the entire cast and crew during our four-week shoot so we cannot wait to repay their hospitality by showcasing the regions stunning scenery and locations to a global audience,” Simpson says. 

The Overlook Film Festival runs from March 30 to April 2.