The Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival is a celebration of Ohio Filmmakers. Our goal is to spotlight and showcase local Ohio Filmmakers within the Horror / Horror adjacent genre(s).

Season 1 of the Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival happend on September 16th, 2023, and was attended by over 300 patrons and filmmakers in the historic Akron Civic Theatre. We had over 50 submissions and had a 50% selection rate.

Season 2 was on October 11th, 2025, and also held at The Akron Civic Theatre. Thanks to a generous donation from Isabelle George we were able to offer cash prizes for Best of Festival ($1,000), runner up ($500), and 2x ($250) for Special Accolades. We had 15 official selections and 5 special accolades running just over 3 hours. We received over 9 hours of short films. We had an increased attendance and also welcomed a collection of local artists and makers. After the event, we packed The Lockview across the street for the official afterparty. Killer Video also released Blood Moon, their second craft beer collaboration with the Hoppin' Frog as the official drink of the festival.

Season 3 will take place on Saturday October 10th, 2026 and will be held once again at the Akron Civic Theater. We will be continuing the vendor market and holding the afterparty in-house at the Civic to accommodate more guests. Isabelle George has made another gracious donation this year allowing us to continue to offer cash prizes for Best of Festival ($1,000), runner up ($500), and 2x ($250) for Special Accolades.

Details and event schedule will be updated soon.

All films submitted will be judged on a 12 different categories on a 5 point system, including originality, direction, writing, cinematography, performance, production value, pacing, structure, editing, and sound. Each film will be rated by a minimum of two judges, then highest rated films will be sent to 2 additional judges, to get final composite score.

We believe in transparency, so all comments and scores are available to filmmakers upon request after official selection has been announced.

We also believe in accessibility, so early bird submissions will only be $20 until April 1st, 2026, after that submission pricing increases to $40. In addition, tickets for the in person event will not exceed $20.

Where: Akron Civic Theater
When: October 10th, 2026

The Akron Civic Theatre, opened as Loew’s Akron Theatre on April 20, 1929 with Robert Ames in “The Voice of the City” on the screen. We are excited to get back our theatrical roots to host The Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival. AIHSFF is celebration of Ohio Filmmakers and shorts that were filmed in Ohio. We’ll accept films produced from any date, as long as the it was filmed and/or Filmmaker resides or has resided within Ohio. IE, if you have a great horror film from 50’s or before, we’re dying to see it!

More details to be announced, please stayed tuned.

We ask all filmmakers to provide a photo, bio, trailer and poster for each film upon submission. Although it is not required for consideration, our goal is in not only increase awareness of AIHSFF, but our filmmaking and arts community as a whole. Clips of submitted films, filmmaker photos & bios, trailers, and posters may end up online and posted to our social media, if submitted. We will NOT post whole films on social or any additional online forums.

Thank you for your consideration on attending and submitting to The Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival. For any questions please email: AIHSFF@Gmail.Com

Awards & Prizes

Best of Festival - $1,000 Grand Prize
Best of Festival: Runner Up - $500 Prize
Best of Festival: Special Accolade 1 - $250 Prize
Best of Festival: Special Accolade 2 - $250 Prize

More special awards to be announced.

Rules & Terms

By submitting your film, you agree that:
1. Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival can use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster) for promotional purpose.
2. Entry fees are non-refundable.
3. You own all the rights to the film.
4. You cannot withdraw your submission after the official selection announcement of each round.

Submissions close on August 15th, 2026. All submitters will be notified if they made official selection or rejected by September 1st, 2026.

An unlimited number of films can be submitted, and an unlimited number of films will be considered for the festival. Films must be within the Horror genre or Horror adjacent to be considered. Films must be under 40 minutes in length, including credits. We’ll accept films produced from any date, as long as the it was filmed and/or Filmmaker resides or has resided within Ohio. IE, if you have a great horror film from 50’s or before, we’d love to see it! Films must have been filmed and/or Filmmaker must have residence or had residence within Ohio. Films must be independent, IE must not have been produced by any major studio. Panel of at least 4 judges will choose festival entries, and awards.

We ask all filmmakers to provide a photo of themselves, bio, trailer and poster for each film upon submission. Although it is not required for consideration, our goal is in not only increase awareness of AIHSFF, but our filmmaking and arts community as a whole. Clips of submitted films, filmmaker photos & bios, trailers, and posters may end up online and posted to our social media, if submitted. We will NOT post whole films on social or any additional online forums.

There will be an awards ceremony to announce winners and recognize official selection at the close of the festival.

Please note, no comp tickets will be provided for official selection or award winners into AIHSFF. All submission payments are final. No refunds will be issued.

The Akron Civic Theatre is 501c3 nonprofit organization, whose mission is to enrich the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds by presenting a diverse array of local and national performing artists and community events. Your support helps keep our doors open while celebrating and strengthening the diversity that makes our community so vibrant and strong.

Important notice: By submitting to Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival, we consider that the submitter owns all the rights to the film, meaning that the submitted work (i) does not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, that (ii) does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity, and that (iii) its representatives have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Film at or in connection with the Festival. Also, that the submitter is duly authorized, on his own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the film, to exhibit the film at the Festival.

Rules and terms and conditions are subject to change at the discretion of the Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival.

4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Max Kaplan

    What an insanely cool theater and festival. Thank you for being so welcoming to our lead actor Porter and for the 3rd Place Prize! Can't wait to be back.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Chris Gierowski

    We had a blast! Everyone was friendly and communication was great. Films were awesome and crowd was a lot bigger than we expected. Lots of eyes got to see our project. Definitely submitting again!

    September 2023
    Helpful
  • Johnny Wu

    The festival was great! It's at a nice large theater that is beautiful and fun to be at. The organizer also making sure everyone is taken cared of and communicate really well with everyone, thank you for including me!

    September 2023
    Helpful
  • Jonathan Riles

    The Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival was showcased at one of the best performing arts venues I have ever been in - the historic Akron Civic Theatre. Neil was an engaging host who brought in many informed presenters. It was an awesome blend of both film and theatre horror content. I will definitely be marking it on my 2025 calendar!

    September 2023
    Helpful