Dark Cinema Film Festival is a horror-based short film festival for all things dark, sinister, and supernatural. This is a physical screening event, featured at the historic Ritz Theater in Tooele, Utah, offering a unique opportunity for filmmakers to have their work viewed by a live audience in an immersive, atmospheric setting. Our 2024 event sold over 300 tickets to captivated audience members. Our event hosted food trucks, dark vendors, a live narrator, and eerie hauntings. We are interested in horror films that explore dark, sinister, eerie, paranormal, and supernatural themes; so, if your film conjures fear, suspense, or the unsettling, we want to see it!

Best Film
Best Film Utah Filmmaker
Audience Favorite
Audience Favorite Utah Film

Unique trophies will be provided at Dark Cinema 2025 if present in person.

By submitting your film to Dark Cinema Film Festival, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms, rules, and regulations:

Film Details:
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Dark Cinema Film Festival welcomes short films under 15 minutes that align with our horror-themed focus (dark, sinister, spooky, eerie, paranormal, etc.). Utah filmmakers are prioritized, but exceptional non-local entries will be considered. Films must be original, tell a story, and not use stock footage. Export settings should be 4K or 1080p, 24fps, in .MP4 or .MOV format, with a 16:9 or wide-screen aspect ratio. Films containing explicit nudity will not be accepted.

Screening Permission & Timing:
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By submitting, you grant Dark Cinema Film Festival permission to screen your film both during the main event and for promotional press screenings prior to the physical festival.
The exact screening schedules, dates, and locations will be determined solely by the festival organizers.

Film Completion Date:
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Films must have been completed on or after January 1st, 2020. Priority will be given to films completed after January 1st, 2022 to ensure fresh and recent content for audiences.

Premiere Status:
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While a premiere is not required, films that have not been previously screened in Utah will be favored.
Films must not have been commercially screened, aired on television, or made available on the internet in the U.S. prior to the festival. Films publicly available on major streaming platforms (such as Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo, Amazon, Hulu, etc.) or released on home media will not be eligible. This restriction does not apply to screenings at other festivals behind a ticketed paywall.

International Submissions:
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We welcome films from all over the world. Submissions from diverse voices, including those from underrepresented countries and cultures, are highly encouraged. All non-English films must include accurate English subtitles.

No Stock Footage:
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Use of stock footage is not permitted. All footage must be original or licensed specifically for the film.

Submission Fees:
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Submission fees are required to be paid at the time of entry and are non-refundable under any circumstances, regardless of whether the film is accepted into the festival or not.

Legal Release:
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Screening & Promotional Permission:
By submitting your film, you grant Dark Cinema Film Festival permission to screen your film during the festival and any associated promotional events. The timing, number, and location of screenings are at the sole discretion of the festival organizers.
You also grant Dark Cinema a non-exclusive license to use the film’s name, stills, and promotional materials for the purpose of promoting the festival, both online and in person.

Rights, Ownership & Licensing:
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By submitting your film, you warrant that you are the sole author and owner of the film, or that you have obtained all necessary rights, clearances, and permissions from third parties.
You confirm that you have secured appropriate copyright clearance for all aspects of your film, including but not limited to music, footage, and any third-party materials.
The film must not be under option, nor have been purchased by any third party that would interfere with the screening at Dark Cinema Film Festival.
There should be no disputes regarding ownership, and all rights must be clear for screening. Any copyright infringement claims will be the sole responsibility of the filmmaker.

No Liability:
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By submitting, you agree to hold Dark Cinema Film Festival, its staff, agents, affiliates, and sponsors harmless from any and all liability related to the screening, promotion, or other use of the film.
Dark Cinema is not liable for any loss, theft, or damage to submitted films or promotional materials.

Costs & Responsibilities:
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Any costs associated with submitting, including shipping, postage, promotional materials, travel expenses, or insurance, are solely the responsibility of the submitter.
The festival organizers are not responsible for lost or non-received entries or materials.

Indemnification:
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You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dark Cinema and its affiliates from any claims, damages, costs, and liabilities, including legal fees, arising out of or in connection with the submission or screening of your film.

Compliance with Festival Rules:
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Participation in the Dark Cinema Film Festival implies full acceptance of the festival's submission rules and conditions. You understand that failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification from the festival without refund.

No Screening Fees:
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You acknowledge that by submitting to the festival, no screening fees or payments will be made to you if your film is selected to screen at the festival. The selection and participation are voluntary and without financial compensation.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Trevor Allen

    Dark Cinema 2024 was an outstanding experience! Connor and his team truly pulled out all the stops, creating a well-organized event that featured an array of food trucks, tattoo artists, and local vendors. Seeing our film, STROBICON, on the big screen was a thrill, and the audience's reactions made it even more special.

    For horror filmmakers in Utah, this festival is a must-submit. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow filmmakers and engage with passionate horror fans.

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the incredible review, Trevor! Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we're thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience at Dark Cinema 2024. STROBICON was absolutely a highlight of the festival—your team did an amazing job, and it was a thrill to see it on the big screen with such a lively audience.

    We’re glad you enjoyed the event, it was fun getting to meet you and your team during the evening. We hope to see you and your team back at Dark Cinema in the future!