From the makers of GenreBlast comes a down and dirty weekend celebration of grindhouse, exploitation, cult, underground, and midnight cinema.

Emanating from the Palace Theater in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, our aim above all is to have fun, have a few drinks and enjoy some great movies.

We're looking for features, shorts, fake trailers, and grindhouse screenplays mainly in the categories of Midnight/Cult, Grindhouse/Exploitation and Extreme Horror. Show us what you got!

We have all of the essentials: a kick-ass theater, a sweet bar, and your films! Plus access to restaurants and pubs in the downtown Chattanooga area. Network with fellow filmmakers and revel in all the juicy, gory, groovy cinematic goodness we're putting together.

Awards & Prizes

Awards for the following categories:

Plaques/certificates:

Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best WTF Film
Best Micro Short
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Director
Best FX
Best Cinematography
Best Score
Best Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Local Film
Best Fake Trailer

and, our top honor:

The FaceGrinder Trophy (spirit of the fest award)

Plus:

Sponsor swag, fest t-shirts, etc...

The winner(s) of the screenplay competition will have their script read live at the fest by a cast of crazy actors. It will be streamed live and also recorded for posterity. Screenwriters are encouraged to attend and network.

Rules & Terms

Short films are 59 mins. or less.

Feature films are 60 mins. and up.

No waivers. Please don't ask. Email requests for a waiver will be deleted without being read. Thanks for understanding.

All submission content must be owned entirely by you. No copyrighted content unless you have paid to use it.

No refunds for submissions, so if you have any questions, make sure you ask them BEFORE you submit.

All films not in English must be submitted with English subtitles. We don't like dubbing, so don't even bother with that.

That's pretty much it. Email us if you have any questions that don't have anything to do with asking for a waiver.

Shock us, scare us, make us laugh. Do your worst.

Do you have what it takes to be a part of Chattanooga's coolest, baddest film fest?

Prove it.
20 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • josh stephenson

    I attended the 2nd annual Grindsploitation Film Fest and I cannot begin to express how much fun I had and how welcoming everyone was. I literally made friends and future contacts from everyone in attendance. Hosts/programmers were ridiculously welcoming and accommodating to everyone. And regardless of all that positivity - their efforts felt genuine and sincere which is the best part. I drove from New Orleans, LA to Chattanooga, TN and will do it again in a heartbeat for next year. Easily the best fest experience I've ever had.

    March 2020
    Helpful
  • Jacob Gillman

    Unfortunately we weren't able to make it out for the festival ourselves, but Chad and Nathan did a great job producing the event and staying in contact with us. They chose some really cool and unique pieces to feature. Overall, this is a cool festival run by chill guys. Highly recommended.

    March 2020
    Helpful
  • Bears Rebecca Fonte

    Great communication. I was not able to attend but felt like I was in good hands. Thanks for screening my film!

    March 2020
    Helpful
  • David Axe

    Lovely, nasty little festival. Highly recommended for genre fans.

    March 2020
    Helpful
  • Brock Cravy

    We were so thrilled to have our film ‘Innocent Boy’ selected for Grindsploitation 2020! Communication was fast and friendly, and the team really seemed to love what they do. AND we were awarded the Facegrinder Award!!

    March 2020
    Helpful