Some filmmakers have dark appetites...
We maintain a ruthless ambition to submerge audiences in unyielding suspense and to throw viewers off balance in new and disturbing ways. We strive to master these techniques, because we are drawn to the writhing darkness deep within the subconscious. Some audiences yearn for this maelstrom with a primal hunger, and devour such viewing experiences with shuddering, cathartic enthusiasm.
The Amsterdam Dark Arts Film Festival (DAFFA) is a new event that celebrates and enables this masochistic interaction with a carefully curated selection of the most disturbing horror, sci-fi and fantasy short films available to mortals. From the Occult to quick-fix slashers, from dystopian realms to wonderfully-weird and dark fantasy, DAFFA is a new home for genre film in Western Europe.
Amsterdam - the Devil's destination.
Set deep within the kinky surrounds of one of the world’s most debaucherous cities, DAFFA is a filmmaker oriented festival created to inspire, empower and entertain those with the darkest imaginations. Filmmakers from all over the world are welcomed to our inaugural event during Halloween 2021 at Lab111, where a weekend of terrifying films, masterclasses, development workshops and networking ends off with an awards ritual and afterparty with distinctly dark entertainment.
Let's get this bloody thing in the can!
As aspirant filmmakers we know the power of the short form as a stepping stone towards more ambitious projects. In our workshops and masterclasses we have a keen focus on empowering filmmakers to develop their creative ideas, but also to take full advantage of strategic opportunities. Old Nick's Pitching Forum has the clear intent to fast-track an idea into production - winners go home with cash- and support prizes that will significantly boost production quality. All pitch-participants will receive thorough feedback from a representative of the jury. We want your work to get produced, so we tailor-make these sessions. Another specific area of focus is networking. In formal and informal sessions, we strive to create meaningful contact with future collaborators, allies and advisors.
DAFFA provides continued support to ambitious filmmakers with our online alumni-community where they can continue to share their success, exchange ideas and ask for guidance.
Join us in the shadows, showcase your mastery of the Dark Arts and become a DAFFA-initiated acolyte...
Filmmakers and screenwriters contend for a high quality “Astaroth’s Blessing” statuette, designed by the brilliant Stephan Vos, or a “Distinction in the Dark Arts” Special Mention certificate. For either at least 17 projects will be honoured.
Our nominations, special mentions and awards are decided by a jury of industry professionals through a points system and debate.
Awards are given in the following categories:
Best Short Film
Best Horror Short
Best Sci-fi Short
Best Fantasy Short
Best Cult Candidate Short (other genres)
Best Benelux Malevolence Short
Best Director
Best Performance (any gender)
Best Cinematography
Best Original Music
Best Screenplay
Best VFX
Best Practical FX
Best Sound Design
Best Student Filmmaker
Winner of the Short & Dark Screenplay Competition
Winner of Old Nick's Pitching Forum
Special Mentions can be given in any of the above mentioned categories, sub-genres or other encouragement prizes.
Some awards include cash and production support prizes by our partners and sponsors. We are updating the list below with new additions:
Raindance is an independent film festival and acclaimed film school that operates in major cities including London, Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Budapest, Berlin, Dubai and Brussels. Raindance showcases features and shorts by filmmakers from around the world to an audience of film executives and buyers, journalists, filmmakers and thousands of fans and is listed by Variety as one of the world’s top 50 unmissable film festivals.
Raindance is one of our major sponsors, providing our special mention winners with free access to a course of their choosing. Award winners receive free access to 2 courses and a year’s free Raindance membership - which in itself holds a plethora of resources and benefits to ambitious filmmakers.
Maloney is a premiere equipment rental company in Amsterdam.
Owner Max Maloney (NSC) is an accomplished DOP with numerous credits to his name. His keen insight into cinematography-trends informs the wide variety of top brands available to rent including Arri, Leica, Red, Cooke, Sony, Canon, Zeiss, Angenieux, Fujinon, Blackmagic, TLS, Teradek, Paralinx, Vocas, Freefly, Easyrig and SmallHD. They also have a wide variety of grip gear (Mövi, Ronin, Dollies, Jibs), lichting equipment (HMI's, tungsten lights, LED panels) and smoke machines.
The winner of Old Nick’s Pitching Forum takes away a whopping €1500,- rental voucher to film their nasty little project! Two worthy Special Mention Winners will each receive a €250,- voucher.
Cinecrowd is the premiere crowd-funding platform in the Netherlands with more than 750 successful campaigns to date. They boast an 86% success rate and provide filmmakers from Europe and all over the world with thorough guidance in creating high quality campaigns.
Winners and special mentions of Old Nick’s Pitching Forum receive a waiver for the handling fee required to set up a campaign, and a first donation from DAFFA towards this end.
Scare-Me is a deeply unsettling live horror experience and a Scare Con nominee for Best European Scream Event. With 4 haunted house experiences and 2 adventure rooms they terrify unsuspecting attendees with live actors in high end FX make-up.
They share our vision to get genre filmmakers into production, and support the winners of Old Nick’s Pitching Forum with set-building, (FX)make-up and featured extra’s - a massive boost for production quality!
Festival Formula is a prominent presence on the industry, film festival, and education scene. As creators of bespoke festival strategies, they enable filmmakers to start the film festival journey fully prepared. Filmmakers are provided with a list of carefully selected festivals which takes into account the length, production values, genre, and budget limitations for submission fees. The service includes all of the information about the festivals such as deadlines, any affiliation the festival may have, dates, submission platforms to utilise, premiere status requirements, or specific categories that may suit the film.
The lucky winner of Old Nick’s Pitching Forum will receive a full strategy package to the worth of ₤666!
InkTip: Where everyone goes for scripts and writers.
Winners of our Short & Dark Screenplay competition will receive an InkTip Script Listing and have their logline featured in InkTip Magazine so they can promote themselves and their scripts to InkTip’s entire network of producers, managers, and agents. InkTip Magazine is sent to over 15,000 producers and representatives.
Producers have made more than 393 films from scripts and writers found through InkTip.