Horror ShowFest is a competitive Film Festival dedicated to Horror Short Films and Feature Films. The Call for submitting at 5th edition of Horror ShowFest is open from July 17th, 2023 to June 20th, 2024.

-History-

From the first edition, the intent of the event was to promote horror cinema not only as a cinematographic genre, but as a window on the world and our society.
An international festival like ours allows us to see the realities of other countries, their lifestyles, their fears and their obsessions through the lens of horror cinema.
Horror tells about everyday reality often better than the media.
We are proud to be able to showcase hundreds of artists who in recent years have told the world we live in.

Both large productions and amateur works can participate in the festival, the thing that matters is the message the authors want to send. Fear, terror is everywhere, we are waiting for your stories to make our audience shiver.

Best Horror Short Film;
Best Horror Feature Film;
Best Editing | Horror Short;
Best Editing | Horror Feature;
Best Make-Up | Horror Short;
Best Make-Up | Horror Feature;
Best Costume | Horror Short;
Best Costume | Horror Feature;
Best Cinematography | Horror Short;
Best Cinematography | Horror Feature;
Best Director | Horror Short;
Best Director | Horror Feature;
Best Soundtrack | Horror Short;
Best Soundtrack | Horror Feature;
Best Actor/Actress | Horror Short;
Best Actor/Actress | Horror Feature;
Best Mobile | Horror Short;
Best Mobile | Horror Feature;
Best Script | Horror Short;
Best Script | Horror Feature.

All winners and selected works receive a free certificate (jpg file via e-mail).
The organization may decide not to award one or more category prizes.

Use 50% discount code 50hsf2024 for submit your film.

ART. 1 - Submission
Registration for the competition has to be made by the on-line platforms. The director pays the fee ( not refundable) relative to the category and to the period of registration. The open call starts on July, 17th 2023 and closes on June 20th 2024.

HORROR SHORT CATEGORIES
Earlybird Entry from 17/07/2023 to 23/08/2023 $ 20.00
Middle Standard Entry from 24/08/2023 to 27/09/2023 $ 23.00
Standard Entry from 28/09/2023 to 02/11/2023 $ 25.00
Middle Late Entry from 03/11/2023 to 06/12/2023 $ 28.00
Late Entry from 07/12/2023 to 10/01/2024 $ 30.00
Middle Final Entry from 11/02/2024 to 21/02/2024 $ 33.00
Final Entry from 22/02/2024 to 20/03/2024 $ 35.00
Middle Extended Entry from 21/03/2024 to 17/04/2024 $ 38.00
Extended Entry 18/04/2024 to 20/06/2024 $ 43.00

HORROR FEATURE CATEGORIES
Earlybird Entry from 17/07/2023 to 23/08/2023 $ 25.00
Middle Standard Entry from 24/08/2023 to 27/09/2023 $ 28.00
Standard Entry from 28/09/2023 to 02/11/2023 $ 30.00
Middle Late Entry from 03/11/2023 to 06/12/2023 $ 33.00
Late Entry from 07/12/2023 to 10/01/2024 $ 35.00
Middle Final Entry from 11/02/2024 to 21/02/2024 $ 38.00
Final Entry from 16/03/2023 to 10/05/2023 $ 40.00
Middle Extended Entry from 21/03/2024 to 17/04/2024 $ 43.00
Extended Entry 18/04/2024 to 20/06/2024 $ 45.00

ART. 2 Submission requisites
Italian or foreign HORROR Short Films which last up to 30 minutes; Italian or foreign HORROR Feature Films which last up to 120 minutes.

ART. 3 Genres
It's an HORROR genre film festival. The author is responsible for the content and any disclaimers regarding the material submitted.

ART. 4 SELECTION
Official notification date: June 26th 2024.
The Films received within the terms above, will be examined by Festival Staff that determines, unquestionably, the admission to the final stage of the Festival. The author(s) of selected films will be contacted by the organization. The full program of screenings will be published on the Festival social channels within June 26th 2024.

ART. 5 PRESELECTION
May be made a pre-selection of the Films before the late entry deadline, in this case the directors will be contacted by Festival Staff.

ART. 6 AWARDS
Best Horror Short Film;
Best Horror Feature Film;
Best Editing | Horror Short;
Best Editing | Horror Feature;
Best Make-Up | Horror Short;
Best Make-Up | Horror Feature;
Best Costume | Horror Short;
Best Costume | Horror Feature;
Best Cinematography | Horror Short;
Best Cinematography | Horror Feature;
Best Director | Horror Short;
Best Director | Horror Feature;
Best Soundtrack | Horror Short;
Best Soundtrack | Horror Feature;
Best Actor/Actress | Horror Short;
Best Actor/Actress | Horror Feature;
Best Mobile | Horror Short;
Best Mobile | Horror Feature;
Best Script | Horror Short;
Best Script | Horror Feature.
The organization may decide not to award one or more category prizes.

ART. 7 ADVERTISING PURPOSES
Festival Staff can use parts of the selected Films for advertising purposes via print, radio, trailer on TV or Cinema or Internet.
After registering for the festival, a post will be made on the event's social networks with the poster of the registered work.

ART. 8 Acceptance of Rules and Regulations
Participation in the competition implies acceptance of these rules. Festival Staff reserves the right to make any changes to the rules and regulations and how to deal with any controversial matters. It’s strictly forbidden to privately contact the staff and jury members during the selection period of the festival, punishment: exclusion from the competition.

PRIVACY
Subscribers to the Horror ShowFest, agree as established by Decree 30 June 2003, No. 196 on the protection of privacy, the use of personal data for all initiatives related to the event. The author of the work declares to accept the regulation in all its parts, you have the legal availability of the film and to authorize the public screening without compensation, freeing the organization of the Festival from any responsibility for the present and future. By entering the competition each author is responsible for the content of his works. The author declares to hold all rights to the work, not in any way prejudicing the rights of third parties, such as other authors, subjects portrayed, transferees of rights, along with those of music, etc. It also declares that the audiovisual material used is not protected by SIAE. Pursuant to the provisions of Legislative Decree. 30/06/2003 n. 196, we inform the author that the provision of data required and necessary for the completion of the documentation of enrollment in the Festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Levi Morris

    I was beyond grateful and surprised to learn the same day the film was selected Horror ShowFest announced the awards and our feature PARALYSIS won Best Mobile Feature! I appreciated that they posted photos from the festival on their social media too. Because the festival was in Italy and I wasn’t able to attend it’s nice to see images from the screenings. Good communication from the festival and appreciate the honor!

    July 2023
  • This was a great festival and was honoured to be chosen great communication and publicity no issues whatsoever.

    July 2022
  • Neil Rowe

    Our film was part of the online event due to covid restrictions so some of the categories we are unable to comment on. But we have ticked full stars as we did not want to put this event down in any form. The way it was run we are in no way in any doubt the stars would have been awarded if we could be there and experience the face to face contact/hospitality and networking etc........However due to the situation of the global pandemic we must say it was truly impressive that this festival kept going and allowed us filmmakers a platform. Events like this are very important to all in the film world and we were grateful this one kept going and did not cancel. Communication for us was via email and we have to say we were kept up to date and in the loop brilliantly. The overall choices in film and reach of this festival was well achieved. A professionally run festival that managed everything so well.

    October 2021
  • Unfortunately we weren't able to travel to Horror ShowFest because of covid restrictions, but the festival was very communicative and had a solid selection of films. Definitely a high quality festival and we will for sure be submitting in the future, with the hopes to attend in person next time!

    September 2021
  • HS is a must in every festival run. So proud to have been part of such an amazing experience.

    September 2020