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    SINKHOLE

    A salesman approaches a mysterious landowner with an offer to buy the man’s smoldering

    abandoned coal mines but finds something far more horrifying than a mine fire to contend with.

  • ABOUT

    The award-winning short SINKHOLE has been adapted into the feature film THE DEVIL BELOW, which will be released in select theaters and on demand and digital on March 5th, 2021. SINKHOLE was shot in Centralia, Pennsylvania, an area that was abandoned in the sixties after the coal mines underneath it caught fire. The fires have been burning ever since and are estimated to continue for another five hundred years. The crevasses in the film are real sinkholes that were created when underground tunnels collapsed after the fires hollowed them out.

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    CAST & CREW

    CAST

    The Broker: Jason Harris

    Mr. Schuttmann: Dan Leventritt

     

    CREW

    Writer/Director/Editor: Eric Scherbarth

    Producer: Sarna Lapine

    Director of Photography: Jaron Henrie-McCrea

    Assistant Director: Jamund Washington

    Associate Producer: Justin Begnaud

    Production Coordinator: Randi Horwitz

    Asst. Prod. Coordinator: Raven Burnett

    Script Supervisor: Eliza Subotowicz

    Assistant Camera: Gab Taraboulsy

    Makeup: Ania Kanigowski

    Sound Recordist: Tim Korn

    Key Grip: Ronnie Higgins

    Grips: Jeff Gaumer, Vadin Lum You, Jonathan Van Tulleken

    Special Effects and Makeup by: MONSTER IN MY CLOSET (Head Artist: Jeremy Selenfriend; Shop Assistant: Lacey LaBarbera)

  • REVIEWS

    " I used to drive through Centralia, Pennsylvania, the town with the underground mine fires that the government eventually bought out... Sinkhole, directed by Eric Scherbarth, captures the spookiness of that burning town on film. The production values were excellent.” - NC Flix (2.20.10)

     

    “...it was by far the best received short of the night. The story is straightforward and manages to draw you into its world quickly while scaring you in the process. After viewing this film I can't wait to see more from the creative team behind it.” - Awkward/Juxtaposition (12.15.09)

     

    “One of my favorites of the shorts... I would’ve liked to see more of this, as the ending leaves it open for the rest of a film that would have some potential.” - Icons of Fright (11.24.09)

     

    “Simultaneously tense and humorous, this is a great little sheep in wolf’s clothing tale.” - All Things Horror (11.27.09)

     

    “The set-up says it's a comedy, but the film moves imperceptibly into the realm of mystery and tension, and finally into sheer terror. Actors Jason Harris and Dan Leventritt make it work. BOO!” - dscriber daily (11.23.09)

     

    “Taut, suspenseful short with a shocker ending” - PopMatters (10.28.09)

     

    “A great atmosphere makes this short pretty creepy” - Professor Wagstaff (10.24.09)

     

    “Incredibly well acted and dripping with atmosphere. This film shows how a great location can make your movie.” - Drive-In Horror Show (10.13.09)

     

    “...this short talky won me over with its clever character pairing and intellectual approach to the “monster”... Both performances are nuanced and captivating enough to carry the piece, and, though not revealed until the final shots, the horror of the mine is more than enough to leave a lasting impression.” - Sound on Sight (10.06.09)

  • FILM FESTIVALS

    TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL (Telluride, CO, Sept. 4-7, 2009)

    SINKHOLE premieres in the FILMMAKERS OF TOMORROW program at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival. It was one of five prints curated by filmmaker Godfrey Reggio (QUATSI trilogy).

     

    COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FILM FESTIVAL (New York, NY, April 27 - May 7, 2009)

    SINKHOLE wins BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY BY A FILM STUDENT, STUDENT CHOICE BEST EDITING, and an AUDIENCE AWARD.

     

    FANTASTIC FEST (Austin, TX, Sept. 24 - Oct.1, 2009)

    SINKHOLE plays in Fantastic Fest’s Short Fuse Program.

     

    DARK CARNIVAL FILM FESTIVAL (Bloomington, IN, Sept. 28 - Oct. 4, 2009)

    SINKHOLE is nominated for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY and Dan Leventritt receives a nomination for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR.

     

    TERROR FILM FESTIVAL (Philadelphia, PN, Oct. 19 - 24, 2009)

    SINKHOLE is nominated for BEST HORROR SHORT, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST ACTOR (Jason Harris), and BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Dan Leventritt).

     

    HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (East Hampton, NY, Oct. 8-12, 2009)

    SINKHOLE is one of five films to receive H.I.F.F.’s GOLDEN STARFISH STUDENT AWARD.

     

    EERIE HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (Eerie, PN, Oct. 8 - 12, 2009)

    SINKHOLE wins Best Short at one of America’s premier horror film festivals!

     

    SCREAMFEST (Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 16 - Oct. 24, 2009)

    SINKHOLE screens in L.A.’s premier horror film festival at the world famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

     

    KNOXVILLE HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (Oct. 23, 2009)

    SINKHOLE is one of six short films selected for the very first Knoxville Horror Film Festival.

     

    WE THE PEOPLE 2009: SATURDAY FANTASY FILM FEST (Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 24, 2009)

    SINKHOLE is officially selected to participate in Trade & Row’s sci-fi, fantasy, and horror showcase and symposium.

     

    NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (New York, NY, Nov. 12-16, 2009)

    SINKHOLE is awarded BEST SHORT FILM at New York’s premier horror film festival!

     

    STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL (Denver, CO, Nov. 12-22, 2009)

    SINKHOLE is one of four films nominated for the SPIKE LEE STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD.

     

    PHOENIX FEAR FILM FESTIVAL (Phoenix, AZ, Jan. 23, 2010)

    SINKHOLE is awarded for BEST EDITING at Phoenix’s premier horror film festival.

     

    NEVERMORE FILM FESTIVAL (Durham, NC, Feb. 19-21, 2010)

    SINKHOLE is one of fourteen shorts selected for North Carolina’s 11th annual Nevermore Film Festival.

     

    OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL (Omaha, NE, March 8 -14, 2010)

    SINKHOLE screens at Nebraska’s premier film festival.

     

    PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL (Phoenix, AZ, April 8-15, 2010)

    SINKHOLE returns to Phoenix to screen at Arizona’s largest film festival, listed by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals!

     

    WISCONSIN FILM FESTIVAL (Madison, WI, April 14-18, 2010)

    SINKHOLE returns to the Midwest to screen in Wisconsin’s premier film festival.

     

    TROMADANCE FILM FESTIVAL (Ashbury Park, NJ, April 16-17, 2010)

    SINKHOLE screens in the fiercely independent film festival inspired by South Park’s Trey Parker and founded by Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman.

     

    INDIE SPIRIT FILM FESTIVAL (Colorado Springs, CO, April 23-25, 2010)

    SINKHOLE returns to Colorado to screen at the 2010 Indie Spirit Film Festival. Click here for more info on SINKHOLE’s screening.

     

    SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Seattle, WA, May 20-June 13, 2010)

    SINKHOLE screens at the largest and most well-attended film festival in the United States with 150,000 attendees expected in 2010.

     

    PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST (Palm Springs, CA, June 22-28, 2010)

    SINKHOLE screens at America’s largest showcase for short films as part of ShortFest’s Dayshift Program on Friday, June 25th. SINKHOLE wins BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY BY A STUDENT and one of five films picked to screen at the BEST OF THE FEST 2010: JURY AWARDS!

     

    ROOFTOP FILMS/NORTHSIDE FESTIVAL (Brooklyn, NY, June 24-27, 2010)

    SINKHOLE is included in a special screening for the Northside Festival, a three day celebration of musicians, filmmakers and artists in Brooklyn, NY to take place on June 24-27. Rooftop Films partnered with L Magazine and the to put together the special screening.

     

    CINEFANTASY FESTIVAL (Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 31-Sept. 12, 2010)

    Sinkhole is selected to screen at the 5th annual CineFantasy Festival in Sao Paulo, an international event dedicated to Sci-Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror films.

     

    OKLAHOMA HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (Tulsa, OK, Sep. 3-5, 2010)

    SINKHOLE screens at the first annual Oklahoma Horror Film Festival.

     

    ATLANTIC CITY INTERNATIONAL FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL (Atlantic City, NJ, Sept. 8-12, 2010)

    Sinkhole is selected to screen at the first annual ACIFMF.

     

    TRI-CITY INDEPENDENT/FAN FILM FESTIVAL (Richland, WA, Oct.15-16, 2010)

    TCIF3 is a showcase for independent fillms, especially in the Science-Fiction, Horror, Comedy and Fantasy genres. SInkhole is selected for TCIF3’s Friday Fright program. 15.

     

    DEAD BY DAWN INTERNATIONAL HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (Edinburgh, Scotland, Oct. 9, 2010)

    Scotland’s premiere horror film festival in Edinburgh.

     

    CELLULOID SCREAMS (Sheffield, Scotland, Oct. 22-24, 2010)

    SINKHOLE returns to Scotland for Celluloid Screams, a festival which aims to bring the best classic and contemporary horror films to the big screen.

     

    BURIED ALIVE FILM FEST (Atlanta, GA, Nov.12-13, 2010).

    Buried Alive strives to promote underground filmmaking in the Southeast and beyond while providing the Atlanta area with the best independent horror has to offer.

     

    CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL (Moraga, CA, Feb. 10-16, 2011)

    SINKHOLE is nominated for BEST STUDENT FILM at CAIFF, a premiere showcase for independent, foreign and mainstream films and one of the fastest growing film festivals in California.

     

    SCREAMIN’ ATHENS HORROR FESTIVAL (Athen, Greece, March 18-19, 2010)