Hollywood filmmakers return home to southland for Fright Night Film premiere
Calumet City filmmakers Harry Locke IV and Walter Banasiak reunite at Governors State University for an October 30 horror and independent film showcase
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — The Chicago Southland International Film Festival (CSIFF), presented by Governors State University (GovState) will host the Southland premiere of “Kaishaku” a psychological horror feature directed by South Suburban native Harry Locke IV, during Fright Night Film Fest on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The evening will also feature independent films and web series produced by local filmmakers, opportunities to meet popular YouTube personality Doug Walker, and post-screening question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers and cast members.
Tickets are $10 plus fees and are available at www.govst.edu/FrightNightFest, by phone at 708-235-2222, or at the Center for Performing Arts box office.
Chicago Southland Filmmakers Bring Their Work Home
“Kaishaku” was produced by Harry Locke IV, Alain Azoulay, and Azoulay Pictures. The film's Southland premiere highlights the work of filmmakers with deep roots in the Chicago Southland community.
Joshua E. Young, director of the CSIFF, said the festival is excited to bring home Locke and showcase other local filmmakers.
“The Chicago Southland International Film Festival is thrilled to host other locally produced film projects, especially GovState Alum Walter Banasiak and his film, ‘Ad/Break’,’’ Young said.
Longtime friends Locke and Banasiak graduated from Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City, Illinois, in 2007. They began producing films in high school and continued pursuing filmmaking as their academic paths diverged. Banasiak earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in filmmaking from Governors State, while Locke attended the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.
Since college, Banasiak has produced content for Channel Awesome, the popular YouTube production company based in Chicago's southwest suburbs. His work includes dozens of episodes of “Twilight-Tober Zone” and “Fanscription” as well as several short films.
Locke has accumulated more than 100 film credits on IMDb, contributing to projects spanning award-winning documentaries, independent cinema, and major film franchises. His credits include the Academy Award-winning documentary “Icarus,” the Sundance breakout “Tangerine,” and films in the “X-Men” and “Divergent” franchises.
Fright Night Film Fest Schedule and Special Guest
The doors at the Center for Performing Arts will open at 6 p.m. for a meet-and-greet with Doug Walker, known to fans as Channel Awesome's “Nostalgia Critic”. Now in its 19th season, the popular YouTube series has helped establish Walker as a recognizable voice in online entertainment.
Attendees will have the opportunity to take photos with Walker, included with admission. Photo prints will also be available for purchase for artists’ autographs. Walker is also scheduled to moderate post-film Q&A discussion with the filmmakers.
Film programming begins at 7 p.m. with screenings of the first three episodes of “Space Trash,” a science-fiction, action, and comedy web series produced and directed by James Jarosz, followed by “Ad/Break,” an Adult Swim-inspired horror short film produced and directed by Banasiak.
Following a brief intermission, the evening will continue with the Southland premiere of “Kaishaku,” Locke, Banasiak, Jarosz, and other members of the film's cast and crew will participate in a post-screening discussion.
‘Space Trash’: Science-Fiction Comedy in a Galaxy Full of Garbage
Produced and directed by James Jarosz, “Space Trash” follows Flynn, a galactic garbage collector working in a distant future where humanity has abandoned Earth and scattered across the stars. Flynn, a blue-collar trash collector, and his robot companion work for a galactic waste-retrieval company, scouring the void for space debris while dodging marauders and deadly scavengers. His most recent haul of space junk proves to be a bit more than he bargained for. It's a tough job, but someone has to take out the trash.
Jarosz also served as art director on Locke's “Kaishaku” and worked in multiple cast and crew roles on Banasiak's “Ad/Break.”
Jarosz said he is excited to display his work on the big screen, stating, “Having the opportunity to partner with Chicago Southland International Film Festival and Governors State University to bring our films to the [Center for Performing Arts] is such a fantastic opportunity. The projects are so great, and we can’t wait for folks in the Southland community to see them.”
‘Ad/Break’: An Unsettling Horror Short from Walter Banasiak
“Ad/Break” showcases Banasiak's work as a filmmaker and brings him back to Governors State University, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. In “Ad/Break,” the same woman appears in multiple advertisements, pitching wildly different products from different eras. But something’s amiss about these chipper promotions that soon compound into a threatening chase through surreal spaces.
Banasiak also served as script supervisor and appears briefly in “Kaishaku.”
“Along with my lifelong friend, Harry, my multitalented pal, Jim, and the amazing cast and crew of our projects, this convergence of collaborators is really something special. I’m ecstatic to show our work together and experience the live audience reaction,” said Banasiak.
‘Kaishaku’: A Southland Premiere of a Psychological Horror Feature
The featured film of Fright Night Film Fest, “Kaishaku” is a psychological thriller directed by Locke. The film depicts the story of a financially strained mother (Iris) who is offered an unthinkable deal to act as a "spotter" for her terminally ill friend's (Bridgette) suicide in exchange for financial freedom.
“The story reflects a zeitgeist of people quietly carrying burdens they fear are too heavy to discuss. That resonance mattered deeply to me,” said Locke, who served as the film's director, producer, and digital colorist.
Get Tickets to Fright Night Film Fest 2026
Fright Night Film Fest takes place Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois.
- Doors open: 6 p.m.
- Film programming begins: 7 p.m.
- Admission: $10 plus fees
- Tickets: www.govst.edu/FrightNightFest
- Box office: 708-235-2222
- Location: Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL 60484
Watch the official Fright Night Film Fest teaser trailer here.
Follow the Chicago Southland International Film Festival on Facebook and Instagram for festival news and announcements. Follow the Center for Performing Arts on Facebook and Instagram for information about upcoming events.
About the Chicago Southland International Film Festival
Founded in 2018, the Chicago Southland International Film Festival (CSIFF), presented by Governors State University, aims to propel “reel” stories forward by providing a global platform for creatives with unique perspectives to showcase their work and develop their craft.
CSIFF has brought more than 300 local, regional, national, and international films to Chicago's Southland, giving audiences opportunities to experience diverse storytelling and filmmakers opportunities to engage directly with viewers. Films featured at the festival have received Emmy and Peabody Awards and earned Academy Award nominations.
Media Contact:
Joshua E. Young, Director
Chicago Southland International Film Festival
Governors State University
Email: jyoung4@govst.edu
Phone: 708-235-2826
Governors State University (GovState), recently voted the Best in the Southland, is a 4-year, comprehensive institution of higher education located in Chicago’s Southland. GovState serves nearly 4,500 students in four academic colleges: Arts and Sciences, Health and Human Services, Business, and Education and Human Development. Home to 2025-26 Men’s Basketball CCAC champions, GovState hosts 16 athletic teams.