Mike Thomas, Co-Founder of FANtastic Horror Film Festival, Dies at 72
- More Horror
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Seth Metoyer, MoreHorror.com -
The independent horror community has lost one of its longtime champions.
Mike Thomas, film critic and co-founder of San Diego’s FANtastic Horror Film Festival, died August 26 following a years-long battle with kidney disease. He was 72.
Thomas founded FANtastic Horror Film Festival alongside his wife, Jo Ann, in 2013. Over the next decade, the festival became a gathering place for independent filmmakers, actors, producers and horror fans, recognizing more than 300 filmmakers and performers before concluding its run in 2023.
Mike built his reputation as an outspoken film critic with a particular affection for independent cinema. He could take a major studio production apart without ceremony, yet he understood something essential about microbudget filmmakers: these movies came from people spending their own money, calling in favors, losing sleep and somehow dragging a movie across the finish line.
FANtastic gave those filmmakers a place where the work was valued.
More Horror covered several FANtastic Horror Film Festival events over the years, making Mike’s passing especially personal for us. I also had films I produced screen and receive awards at FANtastic, so I experienced firsthand the encouragement Mike and the festival extended to independent filmmakers.
I remain deeply appreciative of what Mike created and what he gave to the indie horror community. Festivals can screen movies and hand out trophies. The great ones create relationships, memories and a sense that somebody out there actually sees the work. FANtastic became that kind of place for a lot of people.
That legacy comes through clearly in the tributes shared following his death.
“With the FANtastic Horror Film Festival, Mike not only created a rock-solid event, he created a community,” Dread Central founder Steve Barton said. “His contributions will be long revered and remembered.”
Actor Bill Oberst Jr. similarly remembered Thomas for the respect he showed independent filmmakers, while filmmakers and former festival collaborators have recalled his generosity, enthusiasm and genuine love for the people creating horror outside the studio system.
Thomas suffered a stroke in 2018 and later lost kidney function, requiring hemodialysis. Through those difficult years, those closest to him said his passion for movies remained a constant.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Mike Thomas’ life is planned for later this year in his hometown of Philadelphia. A GoFundMe has also been established to assist with celebration-of-life and final expenses:
From everyone at More Horror, we extend our condolences to Jo Ann, Mike’s family, friends and the countless filmmakers whose lives crossed his path.
Thank you, Mike, for giving independent horror a place at the table.
Below is a video from 2014 featuring More Horror correspondent Dawna Lee Heising interviewing FANtastic Horror Film Festival co-founders Mike and Jo Ann Thomas as they announced the official selections for 2014's festival, held in San Diego over Halloween weekend.
Looking back at footage like this now feels especially meaningful. It captures Mike doing what so many in the independent horror community will remember him for: celebrating filmmakers, building community and giving independent horror a place to be seen.
