Frightening Ass Film Fest is a Southern fried celebration of horror and genre cinema from the creators of the Chattanooga Film Festival. The event is two days and features the best in short form and feature length horror films, live music, stand-up comedy, special guests and more. Past line-ups have included:

After Midnight
VFW
Tammy and the T.Rex
The Endless
Tragedy Girls
Suspiria: The Restoration
78/52: Hitchcock's Shower Scene
Re-Animator
Phantasm
Train to Busan
Victor Crowley
The Babadook
Under the Shadow
Found Footage 3D
Beyond the Gates
From A Whisper to a Scream
Dangerous Men
Tales of Halloween
The Hallow
Hellions
Deathgasm
Demon's Rook

Here's what past guests have said about FAFF and Chattanooga Film Festival:

"A Must-Visit Genre Fest" - Michele "Izzy" Galgana - Screen Anarchy/A FAVOR/FOR A GOOD TIME CALL

"There's no place more scary than Chattanooga during the Frightening Ass Film Fest, and I'm not even talking about the movies. The city with the fastest broadband internet in the world was disrupted by so many evil spirits during "Iron Man 3" that Robert Downey Jr. couldn't get a connection. Now all of that creepy mojo settles onto the Palace Picture House for two days every fall where they show, not just movies about maniacs, but movies that were possibly made by maniacs. I wear a cross around my neck, concealed by a bullet-proof vest, at every screening." Joe Bob Briggs -LEGENDARY CRITIC/FILM HISTORIAN

"If you're a genre filmmaker, you must submit to FAFF. It is the BEST horror cinema weekend extravaganza in the southeast. It's an authentic celebration of what we love, and an absolute blast (in beautiful Chattanooga!). Chris Dortch and his team have something really special going between this festival and CFF. It's the kind of horror fest and celebration of new ground-breakers and old treats that makes you want to keep making films so that you have a shot at going again. I'm so lucky to have been a part of it in 2016 and will be forever grateful for the experience. I can't wait to go back!" Matt Mercer - FEEDING TIME/BEYOND THE GATES

"The Frightening-Ass Film Fest is by far the spookiest and arguably the most ghoulish celebration of classic and new independent horror cinema that you'll find on the correct side of the Mason Dixon. A new Halloween tradition where where you can experience the bleeding edge of modern indy horror, re-visit genre classics on the big screen in a midnight screening environment, and hang with incredible fans and filmmakers in a celebration of all things Frightening-Ass." Tim Reis BAD BLOOD/THE MIND'S EYE/TETHER

"FAFF was a blast! Monster flicks, costume contests, kooky dancing, and candy everywhere, what more could you want for Halloween?" James Sizemore THE GOAT WITCH/DEMON'S ROOK

BEST FEATURE
BEST SHORT
BEST STUDENT SHORT
BEST SCARE

Prizes range from cash money to Frightening Ass Prize Packs loaded to the gills with cool goodies from our event sponsors.

One film per entry fee. Entry fees are non-refundable. Paying the fee does not guarantee your film will be played, it only enters your film into consideration for being a part of the festival. Student discount available with valid college ID.

Films must be original in content or adapted with binding permission.

Deadline for submissions is September 6, 2020

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • South Turk

    A really great festival. We greatly enjoyed the digital screenings and especially the community experience despite taking place during COVID! Highly recommended.

    January 2021
  • David Walton Smith

    Great festival, thrilled to have been a part of it.

    November 2020
  • Matthew Barber

    Excellent festival! Really great virtual edition! My short film "No One Is Coming" had the honor of screening at this year's event! The Virtual Edition was a blast, it was almost like being at an in person event! I highly recommend submitting!

    November 2020
  • Didn't have the chance to attend, but I will make sure that next time I'm a part of a Chattanooga Film Festival, I'll be going. Such a great lineup of films. Wish I could have been there. One of the volunteers was kind enough to let me know how my film played with the crowd. Nothing but good things about this fest, and about these folks running the show. Thanks for letting my film be a part of it!

    November 2019
  • Andre Dixon

    Outstanding Film Festival. Chris Dortch is a fantastic festival organizer. Great communication and lots of fun! Highly recommended!

    October 2019