HorrOrigins Film Festival is an awesome genre film festival in it's fifth year. We're focused on making an event that is beneficial to screenwriters & filmmakers alike via networking, screenings and mentor opportunities.

Horror, Sci-fi & Thrillers are WELCOMED!

HorrOrigins Film Festival will hold an in-person fest only this year for 2024

HorrOrigins Film Festival screenings will be held Galaxy Theatres in Tucson, AZ.

About:

HorrOrigins is founded by Brandon Waites. Brandon founded HorrOrigins in 2019 as a means for genre screenwriters and filmmakers to have the opportunity to network and screen their films in theatrical settings. After screenings, HorrOrigins hosts networking opportunities at Serial Grillers on Speedway Blvd.

Social media hashtag: #HorrOrigins #WhereHorrorIsBorn #WhereHorrorBegins

More announcements on events will be coming soon!

Winners of certain category will win our O'Scare awards (pictures above).

Certificates and/or Awards will be given for:

*Best Independent Overall Feature Director (Feature & Short) from all genres
*Best Independent Overall Film (Feature & Short) from all genres
*Best Overall Feature Screenplay
*Best Overall Short Screenplay

*These categories are up for the O'Scare awards.

HorrOrigins does reserve the right to remove O'Scare awards from any category at any time.

Certificates will be given to categories like Best Actors, Actresses, Cinematography, Composers, Editors, International Films and more!

HorrOrigins will assign certain winners a one-time meeting with a Hollywood mentor. Mentors will be assigned to the winners at a later time but are subject to change due to scheduling conflicts. More mentors could be added at a later time.

2024 Mentors will be assigned after the festival.

Our Past Mentors included:

Barbara Muschietti producer of "IT" and "IT: Chapter 2"

Patrik Andersson producer of "Midsommar"

James Kniest cinematographer of "Annabelle," Netflix’s "Hush" and the upcoming "The Haunting of Bly Manor"

Peter Schink screenwriter of “Legion”

Jennfer Trent co-producer of "Happy Death Day 2 U" and "Ma"

Xavier Neal-Burgin director of the horror documentary "Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror"

HorrOrigins will also give our prizes from our sponsors to select winners.

Please read all rules & conditions before submitting.

By submitting, you acknowledge that you give HorrOrigins Film Festival the authorization to utilize any excerpts, images or biographical information of the filmmakers from any film submitted for promotional purposes.

Premieres and attendance are not required but will for considered in the final programming decisions.

Acceptable screening formats for exhibition are:
DCP's

HorrOrigins does not pay screening fees.

HorrOrigins reserves the rights to disqualify any submission without refund or reason.

HorrOrigins does not allow any refunds.

Screenings & awards ceremony will be scheduled by the HorrOrigins staff.

Any films not in English must be subtitled.

Screenplays must be in English.

Please submit the version of your film or screenplay that you want to be judged, as we do not allow for these to be updated at a later time. If you require an updated (revised) screenplay or film to be viewed, submission fees will apply.

Films & Screenplays are only accepted via online submission platforms. Finalists will be announced during the event. Winning screenplay(s) will be announced at the conclusion of the festival event.

Filmmakers & Screenwriters will acquire one VIP pass.

Films that have been acquired, produced, financed or distributed by any major motion picture studios or production companies are not eligible for our competitive awards (with exception to our mainstream category) but are eligible for screenings. It is the sole responsibility of the submitting filmmaker to attain all permissions required from the major motion picture studios or production companies prior to submitting and screenings.

Submitting filmmaker/screenwriter has full legal rights to submit film and/or screenplays.

Notifications will be made by social media, email and/or phone.

HorrOrigins reserves the right to omit any awards should the festival not receive enough entries for specific categories or if no of the submissions meet the judging standards.

HorrOrigins reserves the rights to give out any additional specialty awards should the judging team feel any of the films/screenplays deserve it.

Certificates will be sent out after the festival. Certificate will be emailed to filmmakers.

HorrOrigins holds the right to change screening venue or platform for any reason but will make notifications should this occur.

HorrOrigins holds the right to change selections at any time due to any reason.

HorrOrigins requests that you do not submit any YouTube or any other public videos. Doing so could result in immediate disqualification.

It is the sole responsibility of the submitting filmmaker to secure any authorization and rights for copyrighted materials used within the film.

By submitting, you acknowledge and accept the rules & conditions of HorrOrigins Film Fest. The submitter also agrees to hold harmless HorrOrigins Film Fest from any and all claims resulting from my entry.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Allan Piper

    HorrOrigins assembled an outstanding program that I was honored for my film to have been part of. The festival director was a great communicator who answered all my team's questions swiftly and clearly, and made it easy to coordinate the delivery and return of the DCP.

    Thanks to covid, I sadly wasn't able to attend in person, but I have since had the chance to see several of the films and meet the filmmakers, so I appreciate what a great slate of films it was.

    I also have heard from people who attended that the screening quality of the films was excellent, and that the festival was loaded with opportunities to meet and network with fellow filmmakers.

    Now I need to get to work making another film to submit in hopes of getting another chance to attend in person.

    December 2023
  • We didn't get a chance to make it down, but so looking forward to it next year! What a stellar line-up!

    October 2023
  • Shane Bannon

    We were thrilled to be a part of this festival! Brandon and the team put together a great lineup and gave us plenty of opportunities to mingle with other filmmakers. It was especially nice to get to know the members of the Tucson Film Commission and to hear about all the filmmaking opportunities in the area!

    October 2023
  • Robert Tiemstra

    A marvelous event. I met some great filmmakers here and saw a pretty peerless slate of films. As my introduction to the Tucson film community and horror in general, you couldn't ask for better. It's an event I will endeavor to submit to every time I have a horror film to show.

    October 2023
  • This is a great festival! Brandon and team are very attentive and professional, the communication is excellent and the work directly with the filmmakers to resolve any issues or facilitate the promotion of the selected films. They are genuinely interested in cinema and filmmaking, and it shows.
    This festival also gives filmmakers the opportunity to screen their films in front of high profile producers and distributors.

    October 2023