When FrankenCon kicked off in 2022, we thought it would be fun to add a short film fest to the mix. We had no idea the FrankenFilmFest would grow into the heart and soul of the entire event! Both the convention and the film fest have always highlighted independent horror, along with exploitation and Grindhouse cinema. Over the past four years, the quality of submissions has blown us away, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

The FrankenFilmFest 2026 is set for Saturday, June 27th, as part of the FrankenCon Horror Convention, which runs June 26th–28th at the Hilton Knoxville Airport, right next to McGee Tyson Airport.

For more details on FrankenCon and the FrankenFilmFest, visit www.frankencontn.com.

Awards & Prizes

Prizes at FrankenFilmFest 2026 will be awarded in the form of trophies in the following categories:

- Best of the Fest - overall best short
- Best Director - short with tightest direction, interesting visuals, "well-made" flick
- Best performance - awarding the best singular performance among all the shorts
- Greatest Gore - short with best gore effects
- Funniest Flick - awarded to the short that our judges find the most humorous
- Cory's Grimy Grindhouse Award - awarded to the short we feel best carries on the legacy of grindhouse/exploitation cinema
- Mystery award - our festival team will choose the criteria and not reveal the award until the awards ceremony at the show, it could be anything (scariest, best action, etc...)

Rules & Terms

- Entries must have been filmed after 01/01/2025.
- Entries must not have been submitted to a prior FrankenFilmFest.
- Shorts must be 12 minutes or less (including credits).
- Fake trailers are allowed as submissions.
- The top 8 entries will be shown at the FrankenFilmFest on 06/27/2026.
- In the event that the top 8 entries have a total runtime of less than 90 minutes combined, more entries will be shown at the festival.
- After preliminary judging, the selected entrants will be contacted and will each receive 2 general admission tickets for FrankenCon to attend the film fest.
- Selection for screening does not guarantee that an award will be given to your short.
- Submission does not guarantee that your film will be shown.
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Scott Bryan

    FrankenCon is always awesome. The filmfest is a highlight. We weren't able to go this year but have been in years past and have already received feedback from folks who enjoyed the screening!

    July 2026
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  • John Dimes

    I was surprised and delighted to have won an award with the festival! I truly wished I could've attended. Everyone was so kind to me--even from afar! I am genuinely thankful for the experience.

    June 2026
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  • Aline Viens

    Although we weren't able to attend this year's festival in person, our experience with FrankenFilm Fest has been nothing short of exceptional.
    From the very beginning, Cory and the entire team were warm, professional, and incredibly supportive. Every interaction was thoughtful, welcoming, and showed a genuine passion for independent filmmakers.
    Receiving both Best of the Fest and Best Director for Face-off was an incredible honor that our team will never forget. We are deeply grateful for this recognition and for the care and enthusiasm the festival shows toward the films it selects.
    FrankenFilm Fest is clearly built by people who truly love cinema and who make filmmakers feel valued, whether they are able to attend or not.
    We wholeheartedly recommend this festival and sincerely hope to have the opportunity to attend in person in the future.
    Thank you again, Cory and the entire FrankenFilm Fest team, for an unforgettable experience!

    June 2026
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind words, Aline! We loved "Face-Off" so much and the crowd in-attendance loved watching it this past weekend as well! Thanks for your support of our show and we hope to see more from y'all in the future!

  • Adrian Abbott

    Absolutely lovely team, extremely communicative and encouraging towards filmmakers. Highly recommend.

    May 2025
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  • Michael Dorfman

    My sons and I are incredibly honored to be a small part of your epic festival! Thank you so much for selecting and screening our short film!!

    May 2025
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