80 Screams International Film Festival is back… with a wicked new twist!

Returning in 2027 as the film festival that comes to you, this LIVE, and online, event is now part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the cult-hit horror series, Saturday Fright Theater.

Founded in 2018, 80 Screams has always championed the boldest, bloodiest, and most original voices in indie horror, spotlighting everything from micro-shorts to full-length features.

This year, we’re resurrecting the fest as a curated, month-long virtual showcase, designed to bring your film directly to an audience of die-hard horror fans, critics, and fellow filmmakers.
No travel. No gatekeeping. Just real exposure.

Saturday Fright Theater presents: 80 Screams will feature selected films in special programming blocks, complete with awards, filmmaker Q&As, live panels, audience chats, and surprises hosted by the twisted mind behind the series, Erik William.

This is your chance to have your film discovered by new audiences, celebrated by a cult-favorite horror platform, and immortalized in a month-long virtual "screamfest".

Whether your film is terrifying, experimental, hilarious, or just plain weird, if it “screams” Indie Horror, we want to see it.

Get your film seen. Get discovered. Join the “80 Screams” Team

Learn more: https://4lcmp.com/80-screams-international-film-festival/
Selected submissions will air on Saturday Fright Theater: https://www.saturdayfrighttheater.com

Awards & Prizes

Submission Rules & Information
80 Screams International Film Festival is proudly presented by Four Leaf Clover Multimedia Productions.

Film Length Categories
Please submit your film to the appropriate category based on runtime:
Micro Horror Films: 1–5 minutes
Short Horror Films: 5–20 minutes
Extended-Length Shorts: 21–59 minutes
Feature-Length Fiction Films: 60–120 minutes

Submissions that do not meet the timing guidelines may be disqualified or reassigned to the appropriate category at the discretion of the festival.

Eligibility:
1. Filmmakers from around the world are welcome to submit.
However, films must be in English or include English subtitles to be considered.

2. Films must have been completed within the past five (5) years.

3. By submitting, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights to the film and that you are authorized to share and distribute the work via online platforms.

4. Works must be independently produced and align with the horror genre or its subgenres.

5. Festival sponsors are welcome to submit but are not eligible for competitive awards. However, they may qualify for the Audience Choice Award, based on viewer votes during the virtual event.

Submission Information
All filmmakers will be notified of their film’s status via the email address provided in their FilmFreeway submission.
Please add 80screams@4lcmp.com to your safe senders list to avoid missing important festival updates.
If selected, you grant 80 Screams International Film Festival and Saturday Fright Theater the non-exclusive rights to use excerpts, stills, trailers, and promotional materials from your submission for:
Festival programming
Online screenings
Marketing and promotional use: This includes the potential to be streamed or highlighted on Saturday Fright Theater during the festival and beyond.

Rules & Terms

80 Screams International Film Festival is brought to you by 4-Leaf Clover Multimedia Productions.

80 Screams International Film Festival sponsors are not eligible to win awards for any submitted works; however, if selected, they may win an Audience Best Picked Award from viewers voting.

We will accept submissions until the extended deadline.

The following are the film lengths that should determine your film submission type:

Feature-length fiction and documentary films: 60 minutes or more
Micro films: Less than 7 minutes
Short films: between 7 and 25 minutes
Extended-length short films: between 26 and 45 minutes

SUBMISSION INFORMATION:
If your film has been released, it is not eligible for this competition.
You will be notified of acceptance via email.

All entries selected into the 80 Screams International Film Festival, grant 80 Screams International Film Festival the right to use any footage from the preview screened and all submitted publicity photos and any other materials sent to us pertaining to this entry for 80 Screams International Film Festival's promotional and streaming purposes, without limitations, including Saturday Fright Theater programming.

SCREENPLAY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Early Bird Deadline: 9/30/2025
Regular Deadline: 6/30/2026
Late Deadline: 8/28/2026
Extended Deadline: 9/30/2026

Screenplay file names should be saved in this format:
Title_Lastname.pdf

Feature film screenplays should be at least 75 pages and not exceed 130 pages.

Writers who submit screenplays to 80 Screams International Film Festival will have the option to receive feedback from our readers.
The feedback may be very brief, generally three to five sentences outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay.

Please include a title/cover page with your screenplay title, author name,
WGA registration number and/or copyright information.
The title page will not count towards the overall script page count.

Screenplays can be submitted online by emailing 80screams@4lcmp.com
The winning screenplay will be announced online.

Please add our email address to your email safe senders list, address book, or contact list so that any correspondence with the 80 Screams International Film Festival will not be blocked or filtered into your bulk folder.

All 80 Screams International Film Festival Awards will be announced in early December after the screenings, and the winners will, of course, receive an email prior to that.
We will reach out to the winners in October/November for shipping any and all awards won.

Questions may be submitted to 80screams@4lcmp.com

34 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rodrigo Avila Cardona

    An incredible experience to participate in this horror film festival.

    February 2022
    Helpful
  • Pamela Kaval

    There were so many wonderful films that screened at 80 Screams International Film Festival, that we were truly honored that our film, Mothering Sunday, was selected and shown among all the others. The organizers were great. We enjoyed watching the films.

    January 2022
    Helpful
  • yoshinobu nakamura

    Thank you for selecting "ofuda".
    I will encourage you in the future!

    January 2022
    Helpful
  • R.J. Redl

    Our team felt honored to have been selected as a part of this amazing festival.

    December 2021
    Helpful
  • Stephen Cooke

    I loved this festival. Even though I couldn't attend due to international travel restrictions, I was so chuffed to be able to tune in to the award announcements on a live stream platform. Thanks for the selection of my horror script, The Blacksmith!

    December 2021
    Helpful