A trip to the Halloween Horror Picture Show 2004 means a superbly spooky night for horror aficionados.

The University Film and Video Association is hosting a night of hair-raising films and other Halloween chills with Enigma Films and Metropol Productions. The Halloween Horror Picture Show 2004 , taking place on Saturday ,will feature independent films, including London Voodoo, The Reaper, The Fall and Filthy — winner of 24 film festival awards. Attendees will also get the chance to meet the actors, actresses and filmmakers of the movies.

“Some of the indies (independent films) are more outrageous than anything you will see from a studio film,” said Rick Danford, co-creator of the event with Andy Lalino. “Indies have to work much harder to get attention and they also have much more creative freedom, and these maverick filmmakers have really taken advantage of that.”

The show begins at 5 p.m. in Cooper Hall room 103. John Biebrich of Filthy is the host. Special guests include Channel 44’s “Creature Feature” host Paul Bearer II, producer Jason Thomas and actress Krista Grotte who stars in the The Nightmare Collection and Filthy. Creators Rick Danford of Enigma Films and Lalino of Metropol Productions will be there as well.

And don’t expect to be just a spectator. Everyone is encouraged to show off terrifying garb in the costume contest.

So why go watch these films instead of just renting Night of the Living Dead or Friday the 13th at Blockbuster? Because 100 percent of the $5 it costs to get in will help fellow Floridians affected by the recent hurricanes. And there’s another reward, according to Rodrick Colbert, president of the University Film and Video Association: Independent films are more creative than big-budget films, he says.

“Hollywood turns out movies as a commodity to be sold. Film festivals and independent filmmakers produce art,” said Colbert, a graduate student of sociology.

According to Colbert, filmmakers must use humor and depend on a local “cult following” to get attention.

The Blair Witch Project and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre were independent films that became widely popular. But, said Colbert, most independent films can be found only at local film festivals.

“Many independent films are hard to find and are not readily available at Blockbuster, much less on cable or in the theater,” he said.

Students might be too old for trick-or-treating, but they can still experience gut-wrenching terror and dress in Halloween costumes while they support a valuable cause during Halloween Horror Picture Show 2004.

For more information visit www.halloweenhorrorpictureshow.com.