Last July, the New York City Horror Film Festival was dealt a tragic blow when Michael J. Hein, its founder and director, died suddenly at age 41. Now, his legacy lives on as the fest’s 2012 incarnation is ready to roar and offer a heavy lineup of feature and short horrors, plus a pair of horrific honorees. Read on for the full, updated schedule.

Hein’s family and a group of past collaborators (including—full disclosure—yours truly) have selected an eclectic group of superior independent chillers to be shown at the Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick Street), Thursday-Sunday, November 8-11; in addition, Wes Craven and Rob Zombie will appear to receive special-achievement awards, and each will screen one of their movies (to be announced). An opening-night party will take place Wednesday night, November 7 at Times Scare (8th Avenue at 42nd Street) starting at 7:30 p.m. Below is the final schedule for the movie programming blocks and other events:

Thursday, November 8, 7 p.m.
FACING RUPERT (short)
SURVIVOR TYPE (short)
NAILBITER (feature, directed by Patrick Rea)

Thursday, November 8, 9:30 p.m.
NIGHT OF THE PUMPKIN (short)
THE DEADLIEST GAME (short)
BUG CHASER (short)
SPIDERS 3 (feature, directed by Tibor Takacs)

Friday, November 9, 7 p.m.
THE CAPTURED BIRD (short)
AMELIA (short)
NEGATIVE IMAGE (short)
NIGHTSCAPE (feature, directed by David W. Edwards)

Friday, November 9, 9:30 p.m.
DEER HEAD VALLEY (short)
SANDWICH CRAZY (short)
PLUSH (short)
SHOW ME (short)
Rob Zombie feature with Zombie in attendance, receiving the Michael J. Hein Award for Personal Achievement in Direction

Saturday, November 10, 1 p.m.
ROTTING HILL (short)
TORTURE PORN (short)
HIERARCHY (short)
GAME OF WEREWOLVES (feature, directed by Juan Martínez Moreno)

Saturday, November 10, 4 p.m.
CHILD EATER (short)
THE RIBBON (short)
MOTHER DIED (short)
IT’S IN THE BLOOD (feature, directed by Scooter Downey)

Saturday, November 10, 6:30 p.m.
ALICE JACOBS IS DEAD (short)
FAMILIAR (short)
GUT (feature, directed by Elias)

Saturday, November 10, 9:15 p.m.
FOXES (short)
TELL (short)
Wes Craven feature with Craven in attendance, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award

Sunday, November 11, 12 p.m.
Panel discussion with horror filmmakers and journalists

Sunday, November 11, 2 p.m.
DEMENTED (short)
LOVE BUG (short)
TESTAMENT OF KARMA (short)
DEVILING (short)
MIMESIS (feature, directed by Douglas Schulze)

Sunday, November 11, 5 p.m.
ANOREXIA (short)
BETWEEN FRIENDS (short)
SLEEPWALK (short)
CHUCKING EMILY (short)
DEVOURED (feature, directed by Greg Olliver)

Sunday, November 11, 7:30 p.m.
GALLERY OF FEAR (out-of-competition feature, directed by Alan Rowe Kelly and Anthony G. Sumner)

An awards presentation will also take place Sunday night. Tickets are now on sale, so for that and other information, hit up the fest’s official website. 

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