"Essential Horror Film Festival" - Raindance.org

"20 Coolest Film Festivals" - MovieMaker Magazine

"13 Horror Film Festivals to Die For" - MovieMaker Magazine

"Coolest Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival" - MovieMaker Magazine

"Best Horror Film Festival" - Production Hub.com

Finalist - "Best Film Festival" - Orlando Weekly

"Love this Festival"! - Robert Englund aka Freddy Krueger

The FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival is the Largest and Longest Running Horror Genre Film Festival in the State of Florida. Located in an actual movie theater, not a convention hall!

FREAKO the Clown welcomes you to GET FREAKY with us! We are the home of the coveted "FREAKY AWARD".

Celebrate and Support the Art of Independent Horror! This international horror genre film festival is the brainchild of FEAR FILM Studios Owner Robert J. Massetti. As a veteran independent horror filmmaker, Robert wanted to make a film festival that celebrates the independent horror filmmaker by giving the artist a forum to show his or her work.

The festival is a showcase of some of the most talented, up and coming horror filmmakers in the world and tries hard to help filmmakers reach their goals with their films. This is a festival not to be missed for fun and exposure.

The Festival screens films at the Brand New EPIC THEATERS at Lee Vista! The theater features electric reclining seats, state of the art projection, Dolby Sound, reserve seating, as well as a beer and wine bar in the lobby! Located only minutes from Orlando International Airport with Hotels, Restaurants, and Bars all within walking distance. Making FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival one of the best festivals to attend in the world!

The FAMED “Freaky Award” represents independent horror’s highest achievement in Filmmaking, Acting and Short Script Writing.

JURY AWARD
BEST FEATURE
BEST FLORIDA FEATURE
BEST SHORT
BEST FLORIDA SHORT
BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY (Unproduced)
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST SPECIAL FX MAKEUP

Short Screenplay Competition Rules:

We are looking for Original Short Screenplays which showcases the writers ability to entertain and scare in a short amount of time.
Horror/Sci-fi genre scripts must be original and un-produced. No more than 30 pages in length written in English. Standard screenplay format.

***PLEASE READ OUR TERMS BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR FILM***

We are an International Horror Genre Film Festival. Movies submitted must have some sort of horror elements to be considered for our program. We also accept Sci-Fi films as long as they have horror elements as well. We accept documentaries, comedies, experimental, animation, dramas, ect. as long as they are in the horror genre. We do Not accept any Fan Films.
*Foreign language films MUST be dubbed or subtitled in English or the film will not be accepted.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT SUBMISSION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE FOR ANY REASON*

Final Presentation format:
DCP (Digital Cinema Package) for D-Cinema Projectors.(*This is the only Format we use*) This gives you the BEST presentation for your film. If you have a DCP already you can easily submit it us by sending us a link from Drop Box, Google Drive or any File Transfer service. You can also mail us an external drive.

***We only deal with filmmakers. We don't deal with Sales Agents or Distributors! We do NOT pay for DCPs, Lab Fees, Upload Fees, Rental Fees, Distribution Fees, or any other kind of Fees. Those fees are the responsibility of the filmmaker.***

An entrant is solely responsible for ensuring that all necessary copyright and other permissions for their film has been obtained prior to submitting their film. This includes, but not limited to, music, stock images, footage, photos, graphics and sound. Entrants warrant their film does not breach any of the intellectual rights, or any other rights, of any other person. Entrants will fully indemnify the FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival of any costs, loss, expenses, damages, or liability, whether direct or indirect, arising out of a claim by a third party or another party.

The judges’ decision is final and no discussion will be entered. Entrants agree not to approach festival staff to discuss.

BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, I/WE HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Christine Rifkin

    This is a great festival and it was so wonderful to be a part of it. I really loved the theater and it was a great location to see all these awesome independent horror films. Robert Massetti was so wonderful to meet and I applaud him for putting on a great event. I plan to attend every year now even if I don’t have anything to enter, I had that much fun!

    October 2023
  • So proud to be a part of this great festival.

    October 2023
  • Mitch McLeod

    I've just been to this film festival for the second time and I can say with full confidence that it's one of the best festivals I've attended. Robert Massetti is an incredible festival director with strong communication and a clear passion for what it is he's putting together. The festival itself, particularly in this last run, has had the strongest consistency in terms of quality films. Epic Theaters makes for a great location to screen films, boasting comfortable seats, gigantic screens, and a booming sound system. Overall, the festival is just a top experience and highly recommended for any horror filmmakers.

    The one downside to this year's festival was the lack of filmmakers willing to show up to the screenings of others. Don't just show up for your film then the awards. Go see other movies. Network. This is the point of a festival. Much appreciation to those who I DID see showing up for others.

    October 2023
  • Mitchell Slan

    Freak Show is a brilliant festival put on by some incredibly kind people. My first Freak Show was such an incredible experience and I still relish those memories. The unique screenings, the fun they provide, the cool merch, and always picking such great films. I still keep in touch with filmmakers I met in 2017. It made me eager to want to come back and try to win a freaky award!

    However, I was really bummed with my second year. We took home the award for best music video. I was so upset that I couldn't attend in person and emailed many times asking if I could pay to have my award shipped to me. Radio silence. I tried for over three months and no response whatsoever. Awards are not what film festivals are all about, but I was really looking forward to this one.

    March 2023
  • The Creeping Film

    A wonderful festival. We were proud to be have THE CREEPING be the opening feature at Freak Show.

    Unfortunately we couldn't attend the festival itself but the communication was excellent and we were honoured to be part of the lineup.

    November 2022