Dead Northern - Putting the Festival in Horror Film Festival!

Submissions are now open for the Dead Northern Horror Film Festival in York, North Yorkshire, 25-27 September 2026!

The Dead Northern Horror Film Festival returns in 2026, bringing another spine-chilling celebration of horror cinema to the North! Whether you craft blood-curdling slashers, mind-bending psychological horrors, eerie supernatural tales, or terrifying creature features, we want your nightmares on screen.

This is more than just a film festival, it’s an immersive horror experience where filmmakers, fans, and industry professionals come together to celebrate the genre we love. From exclusive screenings and filmmaker Q&As to networking events and horror-themed entertainment, Dead Northern is the ultimate destination for horror storytellers.

Why submit your film?
🔪 Industry Exposure – Get your film in front of passionate horror audiences, critics, and industry insiders.
👁️ Unforgettable Atmosphere – Experience a festival designed to embrace the eerie, the strange, and the terrifying.
🏆 Awards & Recognition – Compete for a range of festival awards, with past winners going on to secure distribution and festival circuit success.
💀 A Horror Community Like No Other – Meet fellow horror filmmakers, forge collaborations, and revel in the macabre magic of Dead Northern.

Voted in the top 90 best genre film festivals on the earth 2025-2026!
https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/531260/best-genre-film-festivals-sidebars-2025-2026

Submissions are now open, dare to share your vision with us?

Enter your film today… before it’s too late....

The deadline for features and shorts is the 30th June 2026. We are open to short films, feature and documentary, fantasy, thriller, and horror films of all production techniques, forms, and budgets.

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

Any questions? Email us at info@deadnorthern.co.uk
For the latest news and updates please go to www.deadnorthern.co.uk

The Dead Northern Team

Best Feature Film - 2025 Winner - Home Education

Dead Northern Award - 2025 Winner - He Kills at Night

Best International Feature Film - 2025 Winner - Tabula rasa

Best Short Film - 2025 Winner - Grandma is Thirsty

Fresh Meat Award - 2025 Winner - Marrow

Best Cinematography - 2025 Winner - Richard O'Hare - Bloodbuzz

Best Performance - 2025 Winner - Amy Mason - Poly Baggage

Best Supporting Performance - 2025 Winner - Phoebe Sparrow - Snare

Best Special Effects - 2025 Winner - Bath Bomb

Bloody Good Death Award - 2025 Winner - Pimple

Best Original Score - New to 2025 - Scott Ampleford - Next Show in 90 Minutes

Best Music Video - New to 2025 - Handgemeng - "Medieval Knievel"

ELIGIBILITY - Dead Northern is open to short films, features and documentaries in the fantasy, thriller and horror genres. All production techniques, forms & budgets are accepted.

SUBMISSION FORMAT - We only accept online screeners

FILM FORMAT FOR FESTIVAL SCREENINGS - All films screened in our cinema must be provided as DCP, Flat 1:89 or Scope 2:39 video format, with sound 5.1. The Cinema cannot accept any other format.

Please note: Short films should be a maximum of around 25 minutes, and longer submissions should be submitted in the feature category.

The primary contact completing the submission process must be authorised to submit the film for consideration. Films submitted must have permission from a distributor or sales agent representing the film, and the applicant must have obtained necessary clearances for the inclusion of any copyrighted music and images used. With this submission, the applicant confirms that they possess all rights necessary for the screening of the submitted film.

Films previously submitted to Dead Northern will not be considered.

SUBMISSIONS - Dead Northern only accepts submissions via FilmFreeway.
Dead Northern guarantees that your film will never be used in any way other than that to which you agree.

SUBMISSION FEES - There is a submission fee to enter your film. All submissions are final, and there are no refunds.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES - You may enter as many films as you wish. Each entry requires a separate submission form, fee, and upload.

CONTACT - For all enquiries, please contact info@deadnorthern.co.uk

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMS If the original language of any dialogue or text featured in the film is not English, the preview and screening copy must be subtitled in English, unless this is at variance with the filmmaker’s intention.

SELECTION PROCEDURE - All programming selections are at the discretion of the Dead Northern Directors, whose decision is final.

Dead Northern will not provide comments on films before submission, nor reasons for rejection of a submitted film, however, we are happy to provide informal feedback on individual films after the festival has taken place. Note that this is a non-binding commitment.

NOTIFICATION - Dead Northern will not confirm the receipt of submissions and preview copies. All applicants will be notified via e-mail about the selection or rejection of their film.

Films in our programme may screen twice. Films may be screened privately to the jury or accredited guests. Films may also be included in other public programmes, subject to the submitter’s permission.

There are no fees for participating in the festival. Participants are not entitled to claim rental or other fees for the screenings of their films at the festival.

FURTHER SCREENINGS - If selected for the festival, the submitter authorises Dead Northern to file their film in the festival archive, where it may be made available for further screenings or events promoted by the festival itself, solely for cultural and not for commercial purposes.

PUBLICITY - In addition to the reproduction of stills from selected films for all Dead Northern publications and press, selected films may also be screened as part of preview screenings to promote Dead Northern.

If possible please supply digital and printed copies of any marketing material. For printed marketing material we ask that this is signed by at least the director. These are non-returnable and will be used as prizes in our charity raffle.

SUBMISSION AGREEMENT - At the point of payment on your submission, you will be asked if you have read and agreed with the festival’s regulations. By agreeing to proceed with your submission, you agree to these regulations, and your application can then be processed. The entry of a film is binding and implies the acceptance of these regulations. In the event of disagreement concerning the interpretation of the regulations, the interpretation of the festival will take precedence. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the submission being disqualified. These regulations are subject to change without prior notice.

DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS FOR SELECTED FILMS - Films must be provided in DCP format for the festival screening, full delivery instructions will be provided on notification of selection.

ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL - DEAD NORTHERN encourages all selected filmmakers to attend the festival. Full details of ticketing arrangements and support will be included in any notification of acceptance into the festival.

Any questions? Email us at info@deadnorthern.co.uk
For the latest news and updates please go to www.deadnorthern.co.uk

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • The Dead Northern Horror Film Fest team are fantastic and have impeccable taste! We wish we could have attended in person. Thanks for all the love for our film SUN! xx

    December 2025
  • Pardeep Sahota

    A really well-run festival. The communication was clear and timely. The screening went really smoothly. Set in a beautiful city. Great fun and would gladly submit again.

    December 2025
  • Giovanni A. Pedde

    Honored to have been selected for this year's festival. Communication was great and the program was rich and innovative. We look forward to be back with our new project.

    October 2025
  • Gordon Phillips

    Stu and the rest of the Dead Northern festival team were all amazing! We were so thrilled to screen here. The festival was so well organized, marketed and executed.

    While I wasn't able to attend in person, I followed along and it looked to be one of the best out there. Definitely deserving of their inclusion in Dread Central's 90 Best Genre Festivals this year!

    October 2025
  • Colin G Cooper

    Though I wasn't able to attend Dead Northern in person, my experience communicating with festival director Josh Lawson & his team was excellent. I also know from speaking with others who attended that the screening was well-organized & the audience was great. Our short film Bath Bomb was fortunate enough to be awarded Best Special Effects, which is a true honour. I look forward to the opportunity to submit again in the future.

    October 2025