The summer cycle of the Days of the Dead International Film Festival, a component of the Days of the Dead Horror Convention will take place July 5-7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana USA. The event will be held at:

Indianapolis Marriott East
7202 East. 21st. Street
Indianapolis, IN 46219

All OFFICIAL SELECTION films will screen the entire weekend. A select number of Official Selection screenplays will be chosen for live script reads throughout the event weekend.

Special Pricing for INDIANA Residents & Students (must be registered in highschool or a post secondary school).

***Please note the awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2024***

We are an INTERNATIONAL film festival, screenwriting, series & music video competition open for all to submit. Horror includes but is not limited to: sci-fi, thriller, supernatural, dark comedy, fantasy, suspense, noir. If in doubt, please contact us prior to submitting your film/screenplay/music video: dotdfilmfest@gmail.com

We accept the following horror themes: Short Film, Feature Film, Music Video, Series/Pilot, Fan Film, Micro Short, Student Film. Shorts must be under 40 minutes in length, features must be a minimum of 40 minutes in length. Music Videos and Micro Shorts must be under 7 minutes in length. Short screenplays (under 40 pgs), Feature screenplays (40-120 pgs). All screenplays must be in spec script format.

Our highly acclaimed film festival is a component of the (multi-city) Days of the Dead convention, now in its 13th year. Days of the Dead brings attendees and filmmakers an all inclusive experience by combining the convention, film festival, tattoo expo and after-hours events. In addition there are celebrity & filmmaker panels, vendors, a costume contest, and award ceremonies for the film festival and tattoo contest.

EACH OFFICIAL SELECTION WILL RECEIVE:
(2) 3-day passes to the event (CONVENTION, FILM FESTIVAL, AFTER-HOUR EVENTS, CELEBRITY AND FILM FEST PANELS)

Trophy award winners NOT PRESENT will incur shipping & handling costs for the award to be shipped, certificate winners will be mailed at no cost to the winner.
Trophies must be claimed no more than 90 days from the time of notification, or the award will be forfeited (9/30/2024).


TROPHY AWARDS "Dead Head"
Bad Mutha Fucker (Best in Show)
Best Feature
Best Short
Best Directing
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Design
Best Special Effects
Best Story

CERTIFICATE AWARDS
Troma Award
Best International Film
Best Micro Short
Best Feature Screenplay - Additional prizes see info below
Best Short Screenplay - Additional prizes see info below
Best TV Pilot/Web Series
Best Ensemble Cast
Best Production Design
Best Costume Design
Best Stunts
Best Kill
Best Villain
Best Music Video
Best Indiana Film
Best First Time Filmmaker
Best Student Film
Best Original Song

ADDITIONAL PRIZES
Los Angeles based Sound of Scripts , a bespoke production service that transforms screenplays, stage plays, podcasts, and books into audio will award an audio production package to the winner of the short and feature screenplay competition. This package will bring your script to life and be a valuable asset. The “First Ten Pages” ($600 value) package consists of up to five voice talent performers, sound production/engineering and up to 12 pages of the screenplay.

For 22 years, Los Angeles based Coverage Ink has been an industry leader assisting writers to improve their craft, giving them the best opportunity for success by having their work in front of experienced and qualified readers, who have gone through a stringent selection process. The Winners of the feature and short screenplay competition will receive the CI Standard Analysis ($159 value.) A thorough, empowering report detailing everything that's working in your screenplay - and what isn't. Includes logline, synopsis, 6-10 pages of notes, and a 37-point grid and recommendations. Additionally, the Top 3 Finalist in the feature and short screenwriter competition will receive the CI Half-Hour Consultation ($45 value) - a phone, Zoom, or Skype session with one of the CoverageInk.com partners.

***Films can be nominated for multiple categories. Days of the Dead reserves the right to eliminate a category if there are not enough viable nominations.***

***PLEASE READ ALL RULES & TERMS PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR FILM***

Days of the Dead Film Festival is excited to consider your short film video (under 40 minutes in length) or your feature film (over 40 minutes in length) within the category/ theme of horror. There is no length requirement for music videos.

Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway.

If selected, acceptable screener formats are as follows: MP4, MOV, Apple Pro Res. Digital is highly preferred H.264 Stereo format.

Please upload trailers directly to Film Freeway, Vimeo or email directly.

We accept films produced after July 2022. Screenplays have no restriction in term of when it was written,

In the interest of fair competition to all that submit their films / music videos, Days of the Dead does NOT offer free submission waivers.

Please submit the version you want judged. We do not allow alternate versions to be submitted without being subject to another entrance fee.

By submitting your film to the Days of the Dead Film Festival, you acknowledge and authorize the use of materials for promotional use which includes but is not limited to excerpts, images, trailers. You also agree to hold the Days of the Dead Film Festival harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, expenses and damages as a result of entry.

Premieres will be considered in final programming decisions.

All films not in English must have English subtitles.

Films can be nominated for multiple awards and/or categories. Days of the Dead reserves the right to eliminate a category if there are not enough viable nominations.

Notifications will be made on or prior to May 20, 2024 via email or phone.

Days of the Dead reserves the right to disqualify any submission without refund and Days of the Dead does not allow any refunds once a film has been submitted.

Films that have been acquired, produced, financed or distributed by any major motion picture studio(s) or production company(s), at the time of screening, will be screened out of competition. It is the sole responsibility of the submitting entity to attain all permissions required from the studio(s) or production company(s) prior to submission and screening.

By submitting, artists agree to all terms set forth in the rules.

Entering your film is considered giving the Days of the Dead Film Festival permission to screen your film during the course of the event.

Days of the Dead is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition prior and during the Days of the Dead event for promotional purposes.

The submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless Days of the Dead and Days of the Dead Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

It is NOT PERMITTED to change or alter the Days of the Dead logo and/or laurels due to branding purposes without explicit permission from the festival directors. Do not create laurels, we provide them.

SUBMISSION SUGGESTIONS:
Please include the following items when submitting your film:
1) Poster
2) Stills/Set pictures
3) Trailer- not required but highly recommended, even for shorts (limit trailers to 90s)
4) Complete the Filmmaker Biography section in FilmFreeway (we use this to promote)
5) Current email and mailing address

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kenny Foo

    Great festival with multiple locations and screenings - I wasn’t able to attend in person but Audery and George were great with their communications. Honoured to have my short “Slash” selected! Thank you!

    February 2024
  • Karl Redgen

    This is one of the best festivals I've attended. The organisers do such a good job of making you feel welcome and appreciated. Their communication is next level and they're always available to answer any questions. The Atlanta event was fantastic with some incredible films and panels. It was an honour to be part of such a great event and to be able to attend in person. It's definitely worth the entry fee for sure!

    January 2024
  • Thomas Schultz

    Definitely a Festival that is worth the entry fee. We had an amazing time at the Chicago Festival, and had a really great experience. George, Audery and the rest of the staff go the extra mile on putting on an amazing festival. Communication is excellent, and you can see that the entire team truly cares, and gives the utmost respect and love to each film/ filmmaker that's screening. I don't normally write reviews, but this is a festival I'll definitely be submitting to again, and I highly recommend this festival. One of the better festival experiences i've had.

    January 2024
  • Matt Vita

    The organizers of the festival, Audrey and George were delightful! It was an honor to be considered alongside a number of other great features and shorts. The slate of films was stellar, and the panels and discussions were insightful. It was great to meet so many of the other filmmakers.

    December 2023
  • Jason Huls

    The Days of the Dead International Film Festival in Chicago was one of the best organized, most friendly festivals I’ve ever been to. Audery and George were quick to provide information upon my film’s acceptance and quick to answer any questions. One perk this festival offers to the selectees is vendor table space at the convention. Filmmakers can greet convention attendees and promote their films to a large, relevant audience. I met several other filmmakers and professional contacts here and we’ve kept in touch since. I am honored to have my film, That Damned Yellow Raincoat, screen at Days of the Dead. I want to go back every year.

    November 2023