5 indie film festivals for horror filmmakers
Horror is one of the most active genres on the independent film circuit.
Panic Fest
Kansas City, Missouri
Panic Fest launched due to the fact that there was no dedicated home for horror, thriller, and sci-fi films in Kansas City. Held every April at this historic Screenland Armour theater, this festival screens 33-45 features and 75-85 short films annually. Early screenings have included What We Do in the Shadows and the Elijah Wood Maniac remake. The festival also hosts a video dive bar in the theater basement, complete with VHS tapes, retro gaming systems, and more.
Screamfest Horror Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
Remember the film Paranormal Activity? That was discovered at Screamfest in 2007 and the rest is history. Screamfest is the largest and longest-running horror film festival in the country. Founded in 2001, this 10-day festival is held annually in October at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Feature films must not have screened publicly in Los Angeles County prior to the festival.
International Horror Hotel Film Festival
Cleveland, Ohio
The International Horror Hotel is a four-day festival held each June and was founded by Emmy-winning producer Ray Szuch, who also created the Indie Gathering International Film Festival in ‘95. Now in its 15th edition, the festival received over 200 submissions and screened 150 films in 2025. International Horror Hotel Film Festival accepts features, shorts, scripts, trailers, music videos, TV pilots, and webisodes across all horror genres. This festival is available to submit through Hiike Independent’s The Circuit.
Dark and Stormy Nights Film Festival
Ocean Shores, Washington
This brand-new, two-day festival is making its debut in Washington this October. The festival is founded by filmmakers for filmmakers, focused exclusively on short horror films. All selected filmmakers receive free lodging. The festival itself includes city-wide horror themed events throughout Ocean Shores.
Overlook Film Festival
New Orleans, Louisiana
Here’s a fun fact. When Overlook was established in 2017, it was held at the Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon. Sound familiar? This was the exact building used as the exterior of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. The four-day festival screens feature and short films and collaborates with The Prytania Theatres. The most recent edition in April received 700 submissions and selected 62 films from 10 countries globally.
Distribution deals, industry relationships, networking opportunities, and press coverage all happen at these horror festivals. The Circuit was created to help filmmakers navigate the difficult process of finding the festival that best suits your film. As our network continues to grow, so does the number of horror festivals available to submit through Hiike Independent’s The Circuit.
