Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival is a Horror Film Festival.

We only screen Horror films but our definition of Horror is very broad - our films are creepy, shocking, messy, hilarious, cruel, twisted or deeply disturbing but they must address our mortality in some way.

Since 1993, we've been screening the finest horror storytelling - we love films that unsettle or disturb our audience...or make them laugh at very wrong things! We love films which address our mortality in creative and surprising ways. We screen shorts, features and documentaries, live action and animation. Our particular focus is on debut directors as we unearth and showcase the most exciting new voices in our genre.

At Dead by Dawn, it’s all about the story.

Dead by Dawn is a unique discovery festival, and proud to be the UK’s longest running genre film festival.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award for Best Short
Audience Award for Best Feature
Audience Award for Best Animation

Rules & Terms

WE ACCEPT FEATURE AND SHORT SUBMISSIONS

PLEASE BE AWARE WE ONLY ACCEPT FEATURE SUBMISSIONS WHERE A UK PREMIERE IS AVAILABLE

HOW TO SUBMIT A FILM FOR CONSIDERATION:
- Simply send us a link to Vimeo (or similar) and a password
- The email address to use is info@deadbydawn.co.uk
- It helps us a lot if you put your film title in the Subject line
- You’ll get an email acknowledging receipt of the submission
- If the link or password is wrong, the submission will be rejected

WHAT WE DO WITH YOUR SUBMISSION:
- We send you an email notifying you of receipt of your film
- The film is seen by our programmers
- We notify you if your film is selected
- We notify you if your film is not selected
- We don’t respond to emails asking for submission updates
- We don’t provide feedback on why a film hasn’t been selected

VITAL THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SUBMITTING A FILM TO US:
- It’s a short film if the runtime is 59 minutes or less
- It’s a feature if the runtime is 60 minutes or longer
- Screeners not in English must have English subtitles
- We don’t accept works in progress or trailers for consideration
- You may only submit your film once
- Please don't send us posters or press kits
- We don’t currently programme music videos or web series
- Please don’t add us to mailing or other distribution lists
- Please don’t send us updates about your film
- We no longer accept submissions on DVD or memory sticks
- A screener request is not an invitation to screen at the festival
- We take the security of your submission very seriously
- We don’t know where we heard about your film