Submit a Horror Film
Horror is built for festivals.
It’s emotional, communal, and designed to be experienced with an audience.
Submitting a horror film to the right festival can turn a screening into a moment.
Laughter, tension, silence, reactions. That’s where horror lives.
This page helps you understand what horror festivals look for and where genre films tend to connect best.
What Counts as a Horror Film
Horror covers a wide range of styles and tones.
This includes:
Psychological horror
Supernatural horror
Slashers and creature features
Horror comedy
Thriller and dark sci-fi
Experimental or surreal horror
What matters most is intent.
Strong horror films know the experience they want to give the audience.
What Horror Film Festivals Look For
Horror programmers watch a lot of genre work.
The films that stand out usually do a few things well.
They commit to tone.
They build atmosphere or tension early.
They understand pacing.
They respect the audience’s expectations while still surprising them.
Big budgets aren’t required.
Clear vision is.
Common Horror Submission Mistakes
Many horror films struggle for similar reasons.
They don’t establish tone early.
They rely on jump scares without buildup.
They explain too much instead of letting moments land.
They run too long for the story they’re telling.
They submit to festivals that don’t program genre work.
A strong horror submission understands where it belongs.
Choosing the Right Festivals for Horror
Not all festivals embrace horror in the same way.
Some focus entirely on genre audiences.
Some welcome horror within broader underground or experimental programs.
Others program horror only when it strongly connects with their audience.
Submitting to festivals that value horror as a genre makes a real difference.
Where to Submit Your Horror Film
These festivals actively program horror and genre films and screen them for real audiences.
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
A long-running genre festival dedicated to horror, thriller, and dark films.
Dead Weird
A festival for strange, dark, and unconventional genre work that pushes tone and style.
Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF)
A home for boundary-pushing horror that blends genre with experimentation.
Atlanta Shortsfest
Programs strong horror shorts alongside narrative and experimental work.
Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival
For ultra-short horror films that deliver impact fast.
Spotlight Film Festival
An end-of-year showcase for standout genre and horror films.
Each of these festivals approaches horror differently. Choosing the right fit helps your film land with the right audience.
Final Thought
Horror works best when it’s experienced together.
The right festival screening can turn your film into a shared memory.
If your horror film knows what it is and who it’s for, there’s a festival audience waiting for it.
Ready to Submit Your Horror Film?
Explore festivals that program horror and genre films for engaged audiences.
Submissions are handled through FilmFreeway.