Sinister Sundial Film Festival
Deadlines
About festival
Sinister Sundial Film Festival
Sinister Sundial is not your typical film festival; it’s the dark, demented, genre-obsessed sibling of the long running Sundial Film Festival, and it’s hungry for the bold, the bizarre, and the blood-soaked.
This is where sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and thrillers rule the screen. Where cult classics are born. Where filmmakers who dare to color outside the lines find their people, their tribe, their audience.
Held in the heart of Northern California in the shadow of the iconic Sundial Bridge, Sinister Sundial is a no-holds-barred celebration of genre filmmaking in all its twisted glory. From gritty creature features to cosmic nightmares, from psychological thrillers to post-apocalyptic epics, we crave the films that push limits, subvert expectations, and stick in your teeth like taffy.
What Makes Us Different? We are unapologetically genre. Forget the arthouse pretense. At Sinister, we worship at the altar of the weird, the wicked, and the wondrous. We honor subversion and rebellion. We love the filmmakers who take risks, get messy, and make us feel something uncomfortable and unforgettable. We don’t do cookie-cutter laurels. Our awards are designed like the festival itself—sharp, dangerous, and destined for your shelf. Plus, special awards for first-time filmmakers, underdogs, and the creatively possessed. We’re a fest for fans, too. We want you here, in the seats, screaming, laughing, and gasping right alongside your audience. This is not a whisper-quiet festival—it’s an experience.
Why Submit? Your film deserves a festival that actually gets it. No eye rolls. No genre snobs. We’re here to celebrate you, your voice, and your vision—warts, tentacles, and all.
Why Attend? Because you’re one of us. Because you know genre is where the most original, fearless, and punk rock stories live. Because at Sinister Sundial, you’ll find your new favorite films, make killer connections, and walk away infected with a little more beautiful madness.
Festival Amenities
Accepted Content
Submission Categories
Horror
Dare to disturb, terrify, and thrill. The Horror category celebrates short films that push the boundaries of fear. Whether it’s psychological dread, supernatural suspense, chilling monsters, or twisted realities. We want stories that haunt, visuals that linger, and ideas that crawl under your skin. If your film can make an audience squirm, scream, or nervously laugh in the dark, this is where it belongs.
Sci-Fi
The Sci-Fi category is for short films that imagine the future, bend reality, or take us beyond the stars. We’re looking for bold visions, speculative technology, and worlds where science fuels the story. Whether it’s dystopian, space-faring, or exploring the weird and unknown. If your film sparks curiosity, challenges what’s possible, or reveals the strange beauty of the universe, submit it here and let your imagination run wild.
Fantasy
The Fantasy category welcomes short films that conjure new worlds, awaken ancient magic, or breathe life into the impossible. From enchanted realms and mythical creatures to epic quests and spells gone wrong, we want stories where imagination reigns. If your film transports audiences beyond the ordinary and makes the unbelievable feel real, this is your place to shine.
Thriller/Suspense
The Thriller category is for short films that grip audiences with suspense, tension, and unexpected twists. Whether it’s a crime story, psychological game, or nail-biting chase, we want films that keep viewers guessing and on the edge of their seat until the final frame.
Dark Comedy
The Dark Comedy category celebrates short films that find humor in the twisted, the macabre, or the bizarre. If your film makes people laugh at things they probably shouldn’t—or brings a wicked sense of fun to horror, sci-fi, or fantasy—this is your playground.
Animation
The Animation category is open to all animated short films with a genre twist—horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or thriller. Whether hand-drawn, stop-motion, or digital, we’re looking for imaginative stories and bold visuals that push the boundaries of animated storytelling.
Local Film
The Local category shines a spotlight on filmmakers from our region. If your film was made by a local crew, set in Northern California, or tells a uniquely local story, submit here and show off the homegrown talent that makes our community special.
Student Film
The Student category is for emerging voices and fresh perspectives. Open to filmmakers currently enrolled in school or who recently graduated, this category welcomes all genre shorts—horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or thriller—from the next generation of storytellers.
Music Video
The Music Video category showcases short-form films where music and visuals collide in bold, imaginative ways. We’re looking for music videos that embrace horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or thriller aesthetics. Whether it’s a haunting narrative, a surreal dreamscape, or a pulse-pounding ride. If your video tells a story, sets a mood, or leaves viewers mesmerized and a little unsettled, this is your stage.
Festival Rules
Rules:
RULES & TERMS Read these before you submit—or suffer the consequences.
We accept genre films only. That means Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thriller, and all the glorious sub-genres within. No dramas, no rom-coms, no exceptions.
All films must be submitted via secure online screener through FilmFreeway. We do not accept DVDs, VHS, BetaMax, or cursed 16mm reels... unless you really want to tempt fate (contact us first).
Submission fees are non-refundable. Once you're in, you're in. No take-backs.
By submitting, you give us permission to screen your film at the festival if selected. You also grant us the right to use stills, posters, and short clips (under 30 seconds) for promotional purposes.
If your film is selected, you must provide us with the highest quality screening file possible. ProRes, H.264, or DCP—your call.
No watermarked files. This is a professional event, act accordingly.
All languages are welcome, but non-English films must have English subtitles. No subs? No dice.
Completion date: We prefer films completed within the last 2 years, but we will consider cult revivals or rediscovered lost gems that fit the Sinister vibe.
Premiere status: Not required, but world, U.S., or California premieres may receive priority love.
We love first-time filmmakers, student films, and DIY productions. If you made it in your garage with a camcorder and a gallon of fake blood—send it.
We reserve the right to reject any film that doesn't play nicely with our mission. That means: no hate speech, no extreme real-life cruelty, no content that puts our audience at risk.
If your film is shock for shock’s sake without art, story, or intent—it’s a no.
Legal rights: By submitting, you confirm you have all rights secured (music, images, likenesses, etc.). Don’t make us clean up your legal mess.
