'Face Off' Returns in August with All-Star Season For show's fifth season, eight past contestants return for redemption

Even more unexpected twists and turns await in the fifth season of Syfy's highly-rated and acclaimed unscripted series 'Face Off', returning Tuesday, August 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. And this season, the stakes are higher than ever, as eight talented and up-and-coming special effects make-up artists arrive to the competition in Los Angeles to a shocking revelation -- among their competition are eight more contestants from past seasons of 'Face Off', all hungry for a chance at redemption!

In the first episode, contestants are thrown right back into the fire with their first Foundation Challenge, in which they must complete the looks of costumed partygoers for an elaborate costume ball, with colorfully dressed cast members from Syfy's new docu-series 'Heroes of Cosplay' in attendance for inspiration ('Heroes of Cosplay' premieres immediately following 'Face Off').

Returning to the lab for the new season is actress and host McKenzie Westmore, along with judges Ve Neill (The Hunger Games, The Amazing Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean), Glenn Hetrick ('CSI: New York,' The Hunger Games, 'Heroes') and Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus). World-renowned makeup artist -- and McKenzie's famous dad - Michael Westmore also returns to resume his role as the show's official mentor to the contestants.

The guest judges on tap for season five include Bryan Fuller ('Hannibal,' 'Pushing Daisies'), Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), Academy Award-winning makeup artist Bill Corso (Lemony Snicket, The Amazing Spider-Man), Kevin Grevioux (Underworld), Lin Shayne (Insidious, There's Something About Mary), renowned sculptor and concept artist Jordu Schell (Edward Scissorhands, 'Babylon 5'), Cassandra Peterson ('Elvira'), former 'Face Off' series judge Patrick Tatopolous (Total Recall, 300: Rise of an Empire) and Academy Award-winning makeup artist Valli O'Reilly (Lemony Snicket, Alice in Wonderland).

2013 Spotlight Challenges

For the Spotlight Challenges this fifth season, the contestants will be tasked to create fully-realized characters that not only look camera-ready for TV or film, but which also tell a story specific to the challenge's genre, scene or world. The new season's challenges will also include creating a futuristic Frankenstein and his bride; a whimsical character inspired by Mother Goose nursery rhymes; a Morlock-inspired subterranean humanoid beast; an alluring Mother Earth goddess inspired by the contestants' own moms; a reimagined and modern version of a classic Halloween character complete with an articulating 'treat'; an original living art character inspired by Cubism, Surrealism, Pop Art, Expressionism and Constructivism; a stylized alien for an out-of-this-world performance on the Reveal Stage with world-renown circus troupe, Cirque Berzerk; a grim character inspired by one of the seven deadly sins; a scary ghost with a comedic edge; a dark elf warrior for a fantastical elven army; and an exotic flying creature/human-hybrid.

Finale Challenge

For the finale, the final three contestants will each create two lead characters from Swan Lake: a woman transforming into a swan and the sorcerer who casts the spell on her. These finale makeups will be put to the test in an epic performance by the Los Angeles Ballet.

The 'Face Off' contestants will be whittled down week by week, until only three remain for a final showdown. The winning artist will receive $100,000, a 2013 Fiat and a VIP trip from Kryolan Professional Make-Up to one of their 85 international locations. For Season 5, Kryolan has joined the series as the official make-up sponsor.

To meet the cast of season four, see photo galleries and video, visit www.syfy.com/faceoff.

Meanwhile, following is a snapshot of the Season 5 ''Face Off'' contestants:

Returning Veterans

Alana Schiro (season three)
Age: 20
Hometown: New York, NY
Residence: Northridge, CA

Bryan "Tate" Steinsiek (season one)
Age: 31
Hometown: Henryetta, OK
Residence: Henryetta, OK

Eric Zapata (season four)
Age: 23
Hometown: Victoria, TX
Residence: Victoria, TX

Frank Ippolito (season one)
Age: 32
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Residence: Burbank, CA

Laura Tyler (season three)
Age: 27
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Residence: Orlando, FL

Miranda Jory (season two)
Age: 21
Hometown: Louisville, KY and Seattle, WA
Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Robert "RJ" Haddy (season two)
Age: 36
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Residence: Charleston, WV

Roy Wooley (season three)
Age: 46
Hometown: Tucker, GA
Residence: Tucker, GA

Newcomers

Adolfo Barreto Rivera
Age: 32
Hometown: Puerto Rico
Residence: Las Vegas, NV

Alaina "Laney" Parkhurst
Age: 23
Hometown: Manitou Beach, MI
Residence: West Hollywood, CA

Edward "Eddie" Holecko
Age: 20
Hometown: Berea, Ohio
Residence: Savannah, GA

Lymari "Lyma" Millot
Age: 33
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Residence: El Paso, TX

Sam "Rick" Prince
Age: 38
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Residence: Nashville, TN

Samantha Allen
Age: 27
Hometown: Tinton Falls, NJ
Residence: Bayville, NJ

Scott Ramp
Age: 52
Hometown: Salem, OR
Residence: Pasadena, CA

Steve Tolin
Age: 33
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Residence: Pittsburgh, PA

About 'Face Off'

'Face Off' is an authentic depiction of the high creative standards necessary for a special effects make-up artist to succeed in their craft. The series debuted in January 2011 as a new reality competition program to critical and ratings success. Season four of 'Face Off' averaged 2.8 million total viewers.

'Face Off' is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year-round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities and is currently seen in more than 98 million homes.