Grindhouse Nights combines the best in independent horror, exploitation and sci-fi films with amazing live entertainment. Our event is designed to showcase the filmmakers, and give them an opportunity to screen their films in front of local fans and to mix, mingle and network in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. In 2022 we celebrated our 10th anniversary with our biggest show yet, and we only plan to grow from here.

What sets our film festival apart from the other is that in addition to screening independent films, we also have live entertainment throughout the day. For example, burlesque dancers, sideshow performers, singers, bands, magicians, comedians, etc. We also have costumed entertainers and our models, The Grindhouse Girls, mixing and mingling with the crowd to bring the fans a truly unique experience that is unlike any other film festival. We're proud of saying, "You never know what you're going to see at Grindhouse Nights!"

We specialize in horror and exploitation films (think of the grindhouse theaters in Times Square in the 70s and 70s, hence the name of the festival!) However, we love expanding our horizons and will consider sci-fi, fantasy, dark drama, thrillers and animation.

We HIGHLY encourage the filmmakers to be in attendance if at all possible. One of the main features of our event is the Q&A that takes place after each film, and the ability for filmmakers and fans to mix, mingle and network with fans and fellow filmmakers.

All of this takes place in a venue that also adds to our uniqueness. Crossroads is a fantastic music club/restaurant with great Cajun inspired food and an amazing staff.

We're quite sure that you'll never regret attending Grindhouse Nights!

All accepted films and filmmakers will be eligible for juried awards.

Best Short Live Action
Best Short Animation
Best Feature
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Visual FX
Best Practical FX
Best Sound
Best Original Score
Best Grindhouse Film
Best Student Film
Best First Time Filmmaker
Festival Director's Choice

Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Villain
Best Ensemble

and other awards as merited

PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THESE TERMS, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!

Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee PER ENTRY and a completed online entry form. All films must be in English or have English subtitles baked into the file at the time submitted. We will not decode closed captioning.

Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway and if your film is accepted into the festival, a downloadable link must be provided either via FilmFreeway or via an alternate method.

A short synopsis must be provided.

Films, TV pilots, episodes, web series, etc... are all welcome. However, we do NOT accept "fan films". Please do not submit those.

If you use any copyrighted or trademark materials or content including music or stock media, you must properly list these in your credits and notify Grindhouse Nights Film Festival at the time of submission and provide us with proof of the agreement(s). We will not accept films with music or images improperly taken from other films, television, recordings, or other media. This includes works of satire and parody, and as mentioned above, fan-films.

We do not have any restrictions as far as exclusives, premieres, release date, or anything like that. If you think your films is a good fit, go ahead and submit!

Grindhouse Nights Film Festival reserves the right to screen submitted films during the event.

Films must be the original work of the applicants. If a film is based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you represent that you have secured all necessary rights.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Please note that we are unable to grant requests for fee waivers, so kindly do not request a waiver. We feel that our submission fees are very reasonable, and if we granted all of the waiver requests we receive, we would not be able to run the event. We hope you understand.

We understand that film concepts come in many resolutions and sizes. To properly respect that, we ask that if your film is accepted it comes to us already mastered or re-mastered in a standard 1920x1080, 16:9, MP4 format. Use letterboxing and side-bars as needed, but we want to make sure your film plays as you intend an audience to see it on our projectors. We do not accept DVDs, Blu Ray, or physical media of any kind.

If we do not receive your film in a proper format in time for us to program the festival, we reserve the right not to play your film during the day of the festival.

Films are reviewed for acceptance and awards by a jury and all decisions are final. This festival caters primarily to filmmakers and fans in the NY/NJ/PA/CT area, and it is highly recommended that the filmmakers be in attendance where possible. Part of the attraction of our festival is the Q&A session that we conduct after each film, and the interaction between the filmmakers and fans. Of course, we do accept exceptional films from outside this area, and we have screened films from all over the United States and International films as well. We just want to make it clear that we do favor local filmmakers. Again, we do accept and screen films from all over the world, but we like to focus on local filmmakers when possible.

IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME FILMMAKER, PLEASE INDICATE AS SUCH WHEN YOU SUBMIT! WE HAVE AN AWARD CATEGORY FOR THAT!

If there are ever any questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to send an email to grindhousenights@gmail.com and we will respond ASAP.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • These folx were so fun and pleasant to communicate with! Thanks for the award and kind words:)

    May 2022
  • Skip Shea

    Great festival! I'm very happy to have been a part of it and will definitley submit again! Thanks for having us!

    May 2022
  • Brooks Wieszczek

    Had a great time at the Grindhouse Nights Film Festival! Todd and the other staff members were great during the event, as well as during communications leading up to the event. Filmmakers were invited to take part in a Q&A session with the audience; everyone was really welcoming and encouraging. Great experience.

    May 2022
  • Paul Kelly

    Submitting to the Grindhouse Nights Film Festival was a wonderful experience. I encourage all filmmakers to submit their films to this phenomenal festival. The professionalism of the organizers is outstanding.

    May 2022
  • Roberto Lopez

    I had a great time at Groundhouse Nights.

    May 2022