A Night of Horror International Film Festival is now based in the United States of America!
In 2025 - its 17th edition, and its second year in the USA - A Night of Horror will run concurrently with MidWest WeirdFest. Each festival will have it's own cinema screen, and unique program, at the iconic Micon Downtown Cinema, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin from March 6-9, 2024. This will allow MidWest WeirdFest's loyal audience to also dip their toes into the bloody waters of A Night of Horror.
What began as a short film event in 2007 became Australia's longest-running showcase of horror and dark genre cinema from around the world. Now based in the USA, A Night of Horror is programmed once again by the festival's founder, Dean Bertram PhD.
The fest remains dedicated to screening and promoting the work of new, independent filmmakers and screenwriters from around the world working in the horror and related genre space.
A 2021 Dread Central article noted that A Night of Horror was “Australia's top genre festival” and attributed this ranking to “Dean Bertram's discerning curatorial eye” and his insistence in selecting “films from blind submissions, as opposed to sourcing from other festivals, distributors, or sales agents.”
Indeed, unlike many festivals, A Night of Horror programs the majority of its lineup from cold submissions (i.e. films submitted by you - the independent filmmaker - through our open submission process). We never have, and never will program the majority of the festival's line-up with films sourced from sales agents, distributors, or other festivals. This helps ensure that you - the submitting filmmaker - have a far better chance of screening at A Night of Horror, than at many other festivals that accept cold submissions, but then turn around and disingenuously program the majority of their line-up from films sourced elsewhere.
In our mission to showcase talented screenwriters, the festival also holds a screenplay competition for unproduced scripts, both features and shorts.
What the press says about A Night of Horror:
Dread Central: A Night of Horror has been selected by a panel of industry experts (filmmakers, festival directors, and journalists) as one of The Best Horror Film Festivals in the World for a second year running:
https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/424491/the-best-horror-festivals-in-the-world-2022/
Adrian Tofei (filmmaker and international film festival authority) ranks the festival in the top 25 horror festivals on his important site: https://adriantofei.com/top-100-international-horror-film-festivals/
Fangoria: "A festival of frights gorging itself on a diet of sinister submissions from local and international filmmakers, it’s the only one of its kind in Australia... an institution."
Encore magazine: "Australia's first horror film festival ... recognises the past and gives the horror genre a platform for the future."
Showtime Movie News: "If your taste runs into the darker side of life then you don't want to miss A Night of Horror Film Festival."
FilmInk magazine: "Fans of all things dark and nasty are in for a real treat."
Oz HorrorScope: "Sydney's first real horror film fest ... a fantastic event."
People magazine: "Ghoulish gold for all tastes."
Drum magazine: "Australia's leading horror movie event... renowned and successful."
Praise from attending filmmakers:
Ursula Dabrowsky (FAMILY DEMONS / INNER DEMON): "Back in 2009, I World Premiered my first horror film, Family Demons, at A Night of Horror before a large audience of horror fans. I was pretty nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. That night was one of the best nights of my life. I met like-minded people who are passionate and respectful about intelligent, thoughtful horror films. In short, I found my tribe. Without a doubt, A Night of Horror has been a massive leg up in terms of my success as an Australian horror filmmaker and as far as I’m concerned, will continue to be one of the best ways to start off a horror film’s journey into the world."
John Michael Elfers (FINALE): "Saying that we had a tremendous experience at A Night of Horror would be an understatement. It was our World Premiere and exceeded our expectations. The screenings were packed, projection was gorgeous. We had a blast with the Q&A after our screening. A Night of Horror is committed to helping independent horror filmmakers find their audience and get noticed. They put our film in the hands of distributors, reviewers, and got us on the radio. The personal attention was unlike anything I've experienced at other festivals."
Devin Goodsell (BORNLESS ONES): "Couldn't have had a better time premiering BORNLESS ONES at A Night of Horror! Big thanks to Dean, the amazing crew of the festival, and the other incredibly talented filmmakers! There were so many great films to see and having BORNLESS ONES be a part of it was truly an honour!"
Deke Richards (TAX SHELTER TERRORS): "A Night of Horror Film Festival gave my co-directed documentary TAX SHELTER TERRORS the exposure it needed to get it to the next level. Immediately after its premiere, it received much praise and interest within the film industry, that it never had beforehand. I will never forget the professionalism and courtesy of the staff which gave this event that special touch. This is a great festival to get your film the right spotlight and I will always love to have any future project shown at this event!"
Mike Masters (REEL ZOMBIES): “I’ve attended all types of festivals across the world with REEL ZOMBIES and my experience at A Night of Horror ranks amongst the best of them all. Festival Directors Dean Bertram and Lisa Mitchell do a great job and the festival is extremely well organized with a great selection of films making inclusion in the festival an honour. I look forward to seeing this festival continue to grow and expand and it will be at the top of the list for festivals to submit to with my next genre picture.”
Steven Kastrissios (THE HORSEMAN): "A Night of Horror is fast becoming a major player on the Australian festival circuit. With so little support for local genre films, Dean Bertram and Lisa Mitchell's festival is a shining beacon of light. There's a genuine warmth and celebration of the films they support and it infects everyone who comes along."
Seve Schelenz (SKEW): "I am very honored to have been accepted and showcased at A Night of Horror. I can't think of a better place than this outstanding festival to kick off the world premiere of SKEW... I had an unforgettable experience here and look forward to submitting my future films in a hope to have my World Premieres at A Night of Horror Film Festival."
Damien Slevin (A BREAK IN THE MONOTONY): "I was very honoured to be a part of A Night of Horror International Film Festival. As a lover of the genre it is one festival that I would want to attend, let alone be included in. Horror could not have better representation than this gem of a festival. Aside from the great lineup of quality international and domestic films it would have to be about the friendliest and most welcoming fest I have attended. I look forward to next year’s lineup."
Wade K. Savage (THE DEAD WASTES): "A Night of Horror is one of the most incredible horror festivals you will go to. Put together by people who love horror, it's an utter blast. Dean Bertram and the team are championing horror content in Australia, and what's more importantly, they are supporting true upcoming talent. If there is any horror festival you need to be apart of A Night of Horror is it. "
Daniel Giambruno (THE NEW LIFE): “At last! A film festival in Sydney which is not about having cocktails with public servants!… unless they have been dead for three weeks and still willing to tear the Scream Queen’s dress into shreds… to start with! Horror and fantasy are without doubt the genres that give film directors the most creative freedom.”
Lee After (THE LONE WOLF): "Going to A Night of Horror was definitely one of the best experiences of my life. From seeing awesome films to meeting the great people running the show, everything about the fest was fantastic! If you're thinking about going, don't think, just go!"
David Curzon (OVERBOARD): “A welcoming and well organised festival with a great atmosphere.”
Best Film, Best Director, Best Short, Best Lovecraft Short, Best Animated Short, Best Music Video, Best Web/TV/New Media, Independent Spirit Award, Feature Screenplay Competition Winner, Feature Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Finalist, Short Screenplay Competition Winner, Short Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition Finalist.
