A “Film Tampa Bay Presents” Screening

Film Tampa Bay Presents is a quarterly series designed to showcase Tampa Bay-area films, filmmakers, actors and locations through FREE community screenings at Tampa Theatre. And on Oct. 19, Cannibal Comedian from Florida native Sean Haitz and Tampa’s own Ryan James will have you screaming with laughter (or just screaming?) as part of the Nightmare on Franklin Street series.

Cannibal Comedian tells the tale about a psychopathic cannibal (Aaron Prager) who – fed up with his lack of ambition – tries his hand at stand-up comedy in an attempt to satisfy his appetite for normalcy. “It is a love letter to films like The King of Comedy and the original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” says writer/director Haitz. Indeed, “our film features involvement from Tobe Hooper cast alumni Edwin Neal and Allen Danziger.”

A Florida native, Haitz began making movies at age 10. In 2019, he wrote, directed and starred in Big Top Evil, which co-starred Austin Judd and Bill Moseley (House of 1,000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2). Other titles included the Sarasota Film Festival hit, Mangrove Slasher 2, and his next project is the sci-fi horror comedy AREA 5150 starring Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp) and Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior).

Producer and editor Ryan was born and raised in Tampa Bay, graduating from Countryside High School with a focus in TV/Film and then the University of Central Florida’s film school with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film Production. His production company, Pink Plaid Productions, is behind award-winning films such as the Kevin Smith biopic Shooting Clerks and the upcoming features Dark Circles and AREA 5150.

Cannibal Comedian recently received the Best Feature award at the Days Of The Dead film festival in Indiana; nods for Best Feature, Best Actor (Aaron Prager), and Best Screenplay at the Houston Horror Fest; and Best Feature, Best Actor (Aaron Prager), Best supporting Actor (Austin Judd), Best Writing, and Best Directing at the HorrorHound FIlm Festival.

Doors open at 6:00pm, and the first 150 patrons to enter will receive FREE popcorn and soda. Admission is FREE, but reservations are required by clicking the show time.

CLICK HERE for the rest of the 2023 “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” series lineup