Several filmmakers thanked us in their submissions for running a No Entry Fee contest. (It didn't improve anyone's chances, but it's still nice to be thanked!)

As in previous years, the 2006 winners were announced in October.

A new award category was introduced: Best Music Soundtrack.

There was another change of screening venue. Loscon has annual themes, and the people running Loscon in 2006 didn't think that horror films fit in with their theme that year. And so the Tabloid Witch moved to the Santa Monica Public Library.

The SMPL's Main Branch buildings are only a few years old, with an impressive, state-of-the-art screening room: the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium. The library also has a coffee shop and atrium just outside the auditorium.

And because it's a public library, all events must be free to the public (no tickets sold), on a first come, first seated basis. This wouldn't work for most film festivals, which are for-profit. But it's ideal for the Tabloid Witch, which has never charged either filmmakers, audience members, or its host venues.

In 2006, the Tabloid Witch honored seven films (same as in 2005), but it awarded fourteen trophies (up from thirteen).

The 2006 winners were screened at the SMPL on December 9th, followed by an audience Q&A with attending filmmakers. Writers, actors, and winning composer Christopher Farrell also came, many to accept their trophies.

The creative team from Strange Aeons flew down from Seattle to attend. Nightmare Man sent a large contingent of talent. Moloch and Zombie Island also sent their people.

The library was gracious, and invited us to return for 2007 -- which we did!

2006 Tabloid Witch Award Winners

* Best Horror Feature Film .............. Rolfe Kanefsky (Nightmare Man)

* Best Horror Short Film ................. Mike Flanagan (Oculus)

* Best Actress .................................. Blythe Metz (Nightmare Man)

* Best Actor ...................................... Scott Graham (Oculus)

* Best Supporting Actress ................ Tiffany Shepis (Nightmare Man)

* Best Supporting Actor ................... Jerry Lloyd (Strange Aeons)

* Best Cinematography .................... Juan Rodriguez (Moloch)

* Best Sound ..................................... Mike Flanagan (Oculus)

* Best Music Soundtrack .................. Christopher Farrell (Nightmare Man)

* Honorable Mention ........................ Bill Whirity (Zombie Island)

* Honorable Mention ........................ Kenny Selko (Alone)

* Honorable Mention ........................ Aldo E. Serrano (Moloch)

* Honorable Mention ........................ Eric Morgret (Strange Aeons)

* Honorable Mention ........................ Paul Carty (The Kooky Kastle)

What Does It Take to Win a Tabloid Witch?

Check Best Horror Short Film winner, Oculus:

Check out Honorable Mention winner, The Kooky Kastle:

Gallery of Winners

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