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RALEIGH, N.C. — Exclusive screenings of the made-in-North Carolina movie “Halloween Kills,” a coastal getaway for two and other prizes will reward horror fans in a new sweepstakes from Visit North Carolina that encourages people to get a COVID-19 vaccine and celebrates the film’s Oct. 15 release.

The first round in the sweepstakes offers seats and concessions for Oct. 14 screenings of “Halloween Kills” in Raleigh, Greensboro, Concord and Wilmington, where the 12th installment of the horror franchise was shot. Winners must provide proof of vaccination to be admitted to a screening, where their luck may lead to bonus take-home prizes.

While the entry period to win a pair of tickets closes Oct. 7, the chance at a horror film-inspired getaway to Wilmington continues until Oct. 31. The grand prize covers a three-night stay for two at Dreamers Welcome, the B&B that hosted star Jamie Lee Curtis during the filming; a Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington tour; admission to film credit-fertile Airlie Gardens; dining; and a $500 gas card. The winner will have until June 30 to take the trip.

“The release of ‘Halloween Kills’ creates an opportunity to encourage vaccine uptake while calling attention to North Carolina’s role as a film industry favorite,” said Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell. “Just as Michael Myers may inevitably meet his match in Laurie Strode, the coronavirus vaccines play an essential role in fighting the pandemic.”

Laurie Strode, the character who propelled Jamie Lee Curtis to stardom with the original “Halloween” (1978), is among the latest names from the horror genre to create a screen presence in North Carolina. The “Scream” team recently filmed a new installment in Wilmington, which also hosted production for “The Black Phone” (“Scream” hits the screen Jan. 14; “The Black Phone” rings Jan. 28). “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997), “The Conjuring” (2013) and the “Sleepy Hollow” series (2013) filmed in the Wilmington-Southport area, and other horror projects appear further west on the North Carolina map: “Cabin Fever” (2002) in Danbury, “Hannibal” (2001) in Asheville and “Evil Dead II” (1987) in Wadesboro, among others.

“This time of year we call our state ‘North SCarolina,’ ” Tuttell said. “Other times we boast about the hundreds of projects shot in Wilmington, Charlotte and other places from the mountains to the coast.”

The “Halloween Kills”/Vaccines Save promotion follows Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent announcement that filmmakers have spent a record $409 million to shoot projects in North Carolina in 2021. Beyond the trio of soon-to-arrive horror features, viewers can mark their calendars for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (in theaters Sept. 17), the series “Our Kind of People” (debuting Sept. 21 on FOX), the made-for-TV movie “One Summer” (premiering Oct. 3 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) and season two of “Hightown” (streaming Oct. 17 at Starz).

The sweepstakes is Visit NC’s latest push in an award-winning effort to drive recovery from the pandemic. The safety-focused Count On Me NC initiative combined evidence-based training for businesses with consumer education in a collaboration with the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and N.C. State Extension. Drive-Thru Vacations steered travelers to experiences that could be enjoyed from inside a car. Outdoor NC, a partnership with the N.C. Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, incorporates safety into a mission centering on responsible enjoyment of nature.

“Amid all the challenges posed by the pandemic, we’re gratified by the opportunities we’ve been able to seize as we summon our strengths,” Tuttell said. “That goes for our ability to meet the needs of filmmakers investing in our state’s economy and also for our ability as individuals to band together in our fight against COVID-19.”

About Visit North Carolina:
Visit North Carolina is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Established in 2014, the EDPNC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that oversees the state's efforts in business and job recruitment and retention, international trade, and tourism, film and sports development. The mission of Visit North Carolina is to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. For more information on North Carolina’s destinations and travel assets, go to VisitNC.com.

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CONTACT:

Margo Metzger
919-413-8884
media@visitnc.com