Welcome to Haunted House FearFest, an independent horror film and video game festival dedicated to celebrating our passion for spine-tingling terror. We showcase the work of innovative independent filmmakers and game developers from around the world, with a special focus on promoting the talents of women and underrepresented groups in the horror genre. Our mission is to share our deep love for horror and its diverse sub-genres, including paranormal, monsters, slashers, zombies, gore, gothic, dark fantasy, psychological thrillers, and much more! If it evokes fear, terror, and blood – We want it!

Prepare yourself for an immersive experience at Haunted House FearFest, where we curate the finest independent horror films and video games that will keep you glancing over your shoulder until the very end. To achieve this, we seek out filmmakers and game developers with a twisted imagination and a penchant for the horrifying to join us in creating an unforgettable journey into the realm of fear and suspense.

FESTIVAL THEME - ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?

OCTOBER 2024 - IN PERSON & VIRTUAL SCREENINGS
Venue - TRIAD THEATRE (158 W 72nd Street, NY NY 10023)
Festival Dates - Thursday, October 24 - Saturday, October 26.

The dark strikes an uneasiness that brings your senses on high alert. Your heart rate elevates. Your ears play tricks with you. Your eyes fight to adjust to any familiar shape they see. The concept of the dark is about terror and chaos. Control and journey. This year's festival theme revolves around darkness. The darkness of the mind. Darkness of physical space. Darkness that piques curiosity. The selected films and video games will embody these narratives, offering stories of the unknown, self-discovery, and turmoil.

Give us your creepy. Bring the funny. Show us your warped sense of imagination at the 2024 Haunted House Fearfest Film & Video Game Festival.

Why Submit Your Masterpiece?

🔪 Showcase Your Talent: Feature your film or game before a captivated audience of horror enthusiasts, industry insiders, and fellow creators.

🔪 Global Recognition: Gain international exposure and recognition for your exceptional storytelling, cinematography, or game development skills.

🔪 Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow filmmakers, game developers, and potential collaborators in the horror genre.

🔪 Awards and Prizes: Compete for prestigious awards that celebrate your creativity and mastery of horror.

🔪 Promotion: Benefit from our extensive marketing efforts, promoting your work to a wide and diverse audience.

For Video Game Submissions

We are currently accepting game submissions for our 2024 Festival that are inline with our festival theme: Are You Afraid of the Dark? Your game should be immersed in a world where darkness reigns supreme and every creak, groan, and whisper sends shivers down your spine. Whether you're a master of atmospheric horror, a virtuoso of jump scares, or a maestro of psychological terror, the Haunted House FearFest Festival invites you to unleash your most terrifying creations upon the world.

Submit your original video game creations, from indie gems to horrific nightmares, let your imagination run wild. From haunted mansions to abandoned asylums, from ghostly forests to desolate streets, your game can transport players to the darkest corners of their nightmares.

Our esteemed game judge, Rafi Alam is an industry veteran and horror aficionados, will carefully scrutinize each submission, evaluating creativity, immersion, and, most importantly, sheer terror.

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, you must submit your game on our festival page in the itch.io platform - https://itch.io/jam/haunted-house-fearfest AND submit your game to our filmfreeway page to qualify as an entry into the festival. You will have to pay a submission fee to qualify via our filmfreeway page. On our FilmFreeway page, you can submit under the project type - VR/XR/Immersive

So gather your courage, sharpen your wits, and unleash the darkness within. The Haunted House FearFest Festival awaits, daring you to prove: Are You Afraid of the Dark?

FESTIVAL THEME - ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?

OCTOBER 2024 - IN PERSON & VIRTUAL SCREENINGS
Venue - TBA (NYC)
Festival Dates - Thursday, October 24 - Saturday, October 26.

Awards & Prizes
The BEST OF THE FESTIVAL will receive the coveted GRIM REAPER AWARD and Winners Laurel (EPS)

BEST OF THE FESTIVAL - One film will receive the horribly good 'GRIM REAPER AWARD' in recognition of being the OVERALL BEST OF THE FEST!

MAIN FILM CATEGORY WINNERS - Will receive a Winners Laurels (EPS and Award Tropy). The categories are:

Best Animated Short
Best Animated Feature
Best Horror Comedy Short
Best Horror Comedy Feature
Best Psychological Short
Best Psychological Feature
Best Zombie Short
Best Zombie Feature
Best Slasher Short
Best Slasher Feature
Best Monster Short
Best Monster Feature
Best Paranormal Short
Best Paranormal Feature
Best Horror Short
Best Horror Feature

ADDITIONAL CATEGORY AWARDS - The winner will receive a Winners Laurel (EPS) and Award Trophy. The categories are:

Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Music
Best VFX (Make-up or CGI)
Best SFX
Best Actor/ Comedy
Best Actress/Comedy
Best Actor/Drama
Best Actress/Drama
Best Supporting Actor/ Comedy
Best Supporting Actress/Comedy
Best Supporting Actor/Drama
Best Supporting Actress/Drama
Best Drop Dead Funny
Best Supernatural
Best Haunting
Best Animation
Best Ensemble Cast

MAIN VIDEO GAME CATEGORY WINNERS - Will receive a Winners Laurels (EPS) and Award.

Best Game of the Year
Best Art Direction
Best Audio Design
Best Narrative
Best Score & Music
Best Horror
Best Action/Adventure
Biggest Scare

PLEASE READ ALL RULES AND TERMS BEFORE SUBMITTING

Our focus is on independent films and video games that are self-produced and financed. Please inform us if your entry is having any kind of premiere with us.

When submitting your project, ensure you apply to the correct and appropriate category.

There are NO restrictions on when your film or video game was completed or previously screened. Even if it is already online, you may enter your film or video game.

If your project is 'not in' English, please EMBED SUBTITLES in your screening file.

When submitting a video game, you must explain your involvement in the work. Please also have the right to submit a game (get permission from the publisher). Should you be selected, you must provide a copy for us to play.

A video will have to be submitted to enter. However, our goal is to create an environment where game creators are met halfway and can relax about promotion - A screen capture is fine. MAKE SURE to list where or if the game is published.

For all films and video games submitted, make sure your content is available to download in the highest quality possible, preferably via FilmFreeway or Vimeo. If you wish to send your film, do so on a USB stick. But it will only be returned if you send a Stamp addressed envelope.

We accept no responsibility for illegal submissions under any circumstances. Please check you are authorized to submit the film/video game and that it is not subject to any litigation or under threat of litigation. If you have a distributor, make sure they agree to allow the film to be submitted. Each Applicant must possess all of the legal rights and clearances to the submission. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to clear all content of the Project from any and all actual or potential legal claims and issues, including, without limitation, claims based upon theories of libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, violation of rights of publicity, theft of trade secrets, breach of confidence, breach of confidential relationship, and breach of express or implied contract (“Third Party Claim(s)”). The Festival expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any content or materials within or relating to the submitted Project that are or may be the basis for any Third Party Claims based upon any of the foregoing legal theories or others.

In the event that any claim, dispute, action or proceeding shall be brought or asserted by any person or entity that alleges that the Project makes unauthorized or unlawful use of any copyrighted content or material, Applicant shall fully indemnify and defend the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

The applicant permits HHFF to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the film. We also encourage accepted filmmakers and video game developers to do their promotion of the festival on social media - THIS BENEFITS US ALL.

Applicants agree to HHFF holding additional exhibition screenings if selected or win. The screening selections are at the sole discretion of the festival judges - All Decisions Are Final.

Due to the number of submissions and limits on screening times, being accepted does not necessarily mean your project will have a live screening. Even if it is not screened theatrically, we may still include it in our online screenings. If this is an issue, please send us a message directly in order to opt out.

Anyone from any country can take part in this competition. EXCEPT those from a RESTRICTED/SANCTIONED country, in which case you CANNOT be included in the competition. Those countries include - Iran, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria, Myanmar(Burma), Mali, Venezuela, Afghanistan and those countries listed on the U.S. Department of Treasury website - https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/sanctions-programs-and-country-information. If you are from a sanctioned country and you submit your film, the festival reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submissions fees collected from the Applicant.

For entrants under the age of 18 parental consent must be provided.

We do not offer screening fees under any circumstances.

It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that any Project submitted to the Festival for consideration is viewable in its entirety. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Project that is not viewable due to any technical issue, whether the fault of the Applicant or any third-party system.

You may withdraw your submission at any time, but there are NO REFUNDS.

We offer a discounted rate for films we invite to submit. As festivals go, our entry fees are very reasonable.

Applicants acknowledge that HHFF reserves the right to change the nature of screenings and events due to circumstances related to the venue (in person and virtual), public health and welfare or at the direction of local, state, or federal authorities. In such cases no submission refunds shall be issued.

HHFF is under no obligation to provide comments regarding submitted films and video games to any applicant. The festival is not responsible for any internal comments obtained by the applicant regarding their film or video game.

If the film and/or video game is selected for the live screening of the annual, the director/game developer or someone from the cast or crew must be able to attend the screening in New York.

In the event that a filmmaker, game developer, submitter or anyone affiliated with the submitted project engages in any form of harassment, threats, or disruptive behavior towards the festival organizers, staff, or any other participants, whether in written or verbal communication, or through any digital or physical means, Haunted House FearFest Film Festival reserves the right to take the following actions:

1. Immediate Disqualification: The film or submission in question may be disqualified from the festival, and all associated benefits, including any scheduled screenings or participation in the event, may be revoked. There will be NO REFUNDS on submission fee(s)

2. Legal Action: Haunted House FearFest Film Festival may pursue legal action if the harassment or threats are deemed to be unlawful.

3. Ban from Future Participation: The submitter may be banned from submitting to Haunted House FearFest Film Festival in the future, and this information may be shared with other film festivals within the industry.

By submitting your project to Haunted House FearFest Film Festival, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions, and you acknowledge that any form of harassment or threats will not be tolerated.

By submitting to the festival, you agree that you have read, understand, and will comply with ALL Terms & Conditions as stated in the items above.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Chris Schrack

    Our time at Haunted House FearFest was truly exceptional. The organizers put together a great event with an impressive lineup of films, and the venue was such a wonderful ideal setting. A special thanks to Renee, who championed our film For Sale and was such an amazing supporter. I look forward to submitting my work here again and am genuinely thankful for the opportunity to showcase our film this year. Heartfelt gratitude to Renee and the entire team for an unforgettable experience!

    November 2023
  • Sarah Smick

    I had a fantastic experience screening my horror comedy short at Haunted House FearFest this year! Renee put together such a professional weekend of events with an extremely high-caliber slate of films. Films I am still thinking and talking about over a month later. The venue was perfect for a horror festival and the MC was top notch. Plus, I made meaningful connections with other filmmakers at the fest. I will definitely be submitting my work here again and am so grateful to have had the chance to screen my short here this year! Thank you to Renee and her whole team!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Yay! Thank you so much for the kind words and so glad you had a great time! You are super talented and as a woman in the horror business I love providing a platform to honor more women horror filmmakers. You are super talented and can't wait to watch your next film!

  • Allan Piper

    Renee Huff and the programmers assembled an outstanding international slate of films that ranged the gamut from chilling straight horror to psychological drama to hilarious horror/comedy. The festival team were great to deal with. Publicist Julie Farin worked hard to promote the films and generate press hits. Jeremy Parsons was a delightful MC. The venue was beautiful and macabre. And I got to meet and connect with a diverse group of talented filmmakers from around the world. I will be excited to watch this festival grow in coming years.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Allan for the kind words. Your film is amazing! Yourself, Cast and Crew are Fantastic and Super Talented! Can't wait to see your next film at Haunted House FearFest

  • Amazing festival with good energy, atmosphere and attitude. Very professional and helpful staff. Thank you for everything

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the kind words.

  • Russell Emanuel

    Great film festival that treated us well! Thank you so much!

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Russell!