Workshop Registration

Crafting Fear: The Business of Horror Filmmaking

Horror is one of the most powerful genres for independent filmmakers, where bold creative vision can turn a modest production into a global success. But making a horror film that audiences want to see, distributors want to acquire and investors want to finance requires more than scares, it requires understanding the business of the genre.

In Crafting Fear: The Business of Horror Filmmaking, genre expert Michael Paszt takes participants behind the scenes of developing, financing, producing, marketing, selling and distributing successful horror films. Drawing on his experience in genre cinema and independent production, Paszt explores how filmmakers can build commercially viable projects without sacrificing their creative voice.

Participants will examine what makes a horror concept marketable, how to establish an appropriate budget, package a project for financing and sales, maximize production value and develop effective festival and distribution strategies. The workshop combines industry insights, real-world case studies, group discussion and interactive analysis.

Filmmakers will leave with a practical understanding of how to transform a horror concept into a producible, financeable, marketable and commercially viable independent film.

The Introduction to Independent Filmmaking workshop is strongly recommended as a prerequisite. This workshop is recommended as a companion to the Producing Dramatic Film and The Business of Film Distribution workshops.​

Tue 3 November 2026, 6 - 10 pm   
(Registration deadline is Tue 3 November 5:00 pm)

Instructor: Michael Paszt

As a co-founder and Managing Partner at Raven Banner and a producing partner at Slash’s BerserkerGang and Hangar 18 Media, Michael Paszt has been instrumental in positioning Raven Banner as a leader in the global genre film space, representing such unique films as Andre Ovredal’s The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Gaspar Noe's Climax, Issa Lopez’s Tigers Are Not Afraid and the Oscar® nominated, Embrace of the Serpent. Michael has also Executive Produced over 50 feature films including Sundance Film Festival and SXSW Audience Award winner Turbo Kid and SXSW hit Psycho Goreman. Michael originally began his career as a director on music videos working with heavy metal bands such as Anvil. He produced the Shudder Original V/H/S/94, which became the most-watched premiere in the streamer’s history, Steven Kostanski's Deathstalker and most recently Rebekah McKendry's Sundown, which had its world premiere at the Locarno Int'l Film Festival.  He is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker; his feature Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas.

For the past 15 years, Michael has also taught Distribution and Marketing at the Toronto Film School.



Location: 1137 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2A3
Category: Producing
Maximum Capacity: 12
4 hours of instruction $85 /member$110 /nonmember