On April 21, horror movie buffs will have the opportunity to get the wits scared out of them for nine hours straight at the 2012 Bonebat Comedy of Horrors Film Festival.

The festival, which will be from 2-11 p.m. at Big Picture Theater Redmond at 7411 166th Ave. N.E. in Redmond Town Center, will feature 21 short films as well as three feature-length films — the latter of which will be making their big screen debuts in the greater Puget Sound area.

Redmond resident Steve Holetz, one of the organizers for the festival, said the short films will be shown in three blocks of seven, with one block screening before each feature film. The shorts range from student creations to low budget productions to more costly projects featuring big names. There are a few by local filmmakers, but the mix is very international with shorts coming from Denmark, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Spain and other areas of the United States.

Holetz and his best friend and fellow festival organizer Gordon Caulkins, who lives in Davis, Calif., had 75 short films to narrow down to the final 21 and while they enjoyed the process, it was not easy.

“We had to face off in the cinematic octagon if you will,” he said about his and Caulkins’ arguments about selecting films.

Holetz said selecting shorts was much like creating a mix tape for a friend because they wanted to pick the right films and screen them in just the right order.

The three feature-lengths premiering at Comedy of Horrors are “Dead Heads,” a zombie road movie, “Monster Brawl,” which Holetz described as a monster wrestling movie and “The Moleman of Belmont Avenue,” which features Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund.

Holetz likened Comedy of Horrors to waking up on a Saturday morning and gorging on cereal and cartoons, but for adults. People can enjoy the films and purchase pizza and beer courtesy of Redmond-based sponsors Flying Saucer Pizza and Mac & Jack’s Brewery. Holetz said the two businesses are among several Redmond area sponsors they are working with for the festival.

“To proudly partner with businesses we love,” he said, “that’s just been really awesome.”

Attendees can also enjoy the live music of “nerdcore” rap group Death*Star of Kirkland and Burning of I, a heavy metal band from Duvall. There will be a raffle drawing and opportunities to win prizes and Holetz said if people want a break from being scared, they can hang out in the theater’s lounge area, enjoy cocktails and just relax.

Because alcohol will be served, Comedy of Horrors is a 21 and older event. Tickets can be purchased at www.bonehand.com and are $25 through today. Starting Saturday, tickets will be $30.

This will be the film festival’s second run, the first was in September 2010. This year, Comedy of Horrors is part of the City of Redmond’s Take Root, Branch Out arts season, which Holetz said was great as they are bringing something different and unique to the city’s art scene.

The idea for the film festival came through Holetz and Caulkins’ podcast, “The Bonebat Show,” which debuted on Sept. 30, 2007 and airs every three weeks.

“We just posted our 84th show,” Holetz said proudly.

The comedy and pop culture podcast features independent music the two friends discover, interviews with musicians and a “multimedia triage” where they discuss movies, books, video games, comics and other forms of entertainment.

“We’re unrepentant nerds,” Holetz said.

During the triage, he and Caulkins would discuss horror movies and after hearing other people who have held film festivals, they decided they wanted to give it a try. The first festival was successful even though it was held on a weekday and Holetz said they hope to have greater success this year.

“We want to put together the best entertainment package that we can,” he said.