UNH Manchester’s Real Horror Film Series Expands with Center for Humanities Grant

The Department of Business and Communication Arts at UNH Manchester is excited to announce that the Center for the Humanities has awarded them with the Programs and Projects Grant, which will allow the department to host additional screenings for the UNH Film Series: Real Horror.

Real Horror is a unique screening program that explores horror films as allegories for political, social, and cultural issues. Each event includes a film screening in UNH Manchester’s 40-seat theater followed by engaging discussions with guest speakers—professors, writers, and filmmakers—who provide context and insight into the themes behind the scares. 

"The grant will help cover screening rights, honoraria for guest speakers, promotion, refreshments, and related costs, enabling us to host three to four screenings throughout the academic year," says Jean-Paul DiSciscio, Assistant Professor of Business and Communication Arts at UNH Manchester.

The series is open to all UNH students and the greater Manchester community, aiming to spark conversation, build community, and deepen appreciation for cinema as both entertainment and art. The series is organized by Jean-Paul DiSciscio in with support from the Center for the Humanities at the University of New Hampshire.

The series kicked off with a screening of the 1974 horror cult classic Deathdream, featuring a special appearance by the film’s star—and New Hampshire native—Richard Backus, who joined the audience for an insightful Q&A following the event. The first screening took place on October 27, 2025, with an almost full house, and the next screening is currently being planned for after winter break. For updates on upcoming screenings, join the mailing list here.