HenHouse of Horrors Film Festival

Where the craft of beer making and independent filmmaking come together!

HenHouse Brewing is incredibly stoked to announce the first annual “HenHouse of Horrors” Film Festival, in partnership with Forever Midnight and Santa Rosa Cinemas!

At HenHouse, we are Super-Duper Stoked about the three F’s of Halloween: Fresh beer, Fake blood and independent Filmmaking! For this reason, we have decided to launch our very own “HenHouse of Horror” Film Festival on October 25th - 26th, 2024!

As a companion to our annual Halloween extravaganza, “Witchcraft & Occult”, we are celebrating all things ominous and terrifying by collaborating with the world’s premier horror movie podcast: Forever Midnight! With Forever Midnight judging entries and HenHouse providing exclusive beers for the festival, it’ll be a halloween celebration of epic proportions.

HenHouse Brewing is located one hour North of San Francisco in beautiful Sonoma County, a premiere destination for craft beer, wine, culinary delights and films! Sonoma County has been the backdrop for many Hollywood films, including George Lucas’s “American Graffiti”, Wes Craven's “Scream”, Alfred Hitchcock's classic “The Birds” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “Peggy Sue Got Married” to name just a few.

We invite you to come get chills with us over a cold beer and showcase your independent filmmaking project by submitting your spookiest work to our fun new festival!

Awards & Prizes


Forever Midnight Judging Panel:

Submissions to the HenHouse of Horrors Film Festival will be judged by an expert panel curated by and including the hosts of the widely popular “Forever Midnight” Podcast to determine the final selections.

The Forever Midnight Podcast has been offering their hilarious and irreverent commentary on Horror Films past and present since 2013. The collective effort of musical friends, Brian Henderson, Jef Overn & Josh Staples and their mutual love of horror in cinema, Forever Midnight’s “Scary Movie Research Center & Cooperative” has created hundreds of hours of entertaining shows, unforgettable merchandise, and exclusive vinyl and cassette soundtrack releases.

In addition to performing live at premiere horror conventions, Forever Midnight currently curate an exciting monthly film series at The Landmark Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco. HenHouse Brewing and Forever Midnight’s collaborative beer series “Witchcraft & The Occult” and the accompanying “Rituals of the OakCult” events have been favorite projects of both parties for 6 years running.

All finalists are eligible for the following Awards:

Best Director
Best Actor/Actress
Best Gore & Special Effects
Best Cinematography
Best Horror
Best Thriller
Best Sci Fi
Best Dark Comedy
Best Animated Horror/Thriller/Sci-Fi
Most Original Concept/Screenplay
Best Makeup and/or Costumes
...Plus, Many More!

HenHouse Brewing Company reserves the right to add award categories based on submission material and judge recommendations.

Submission Deadline: September 15th, 2024

Rules & Terms

Submissions are only accepted through FilmFreeway.

Please make sure to include a film screening link (Vimeo preferred) or upload your film to FilmFreeway in order to be considered. We do not accept physical copies of films for consideration.

Upon submission, you acknowledge and agree that your film may screen up to three times at our venues during the festival.

No waivers are granted.

Short films should not exceed 30 minutes in length.

All films must be in English or have English subtitles.

Films created prior to 2020 are not eligible.

Submission does not guarantee acceptance. Submission fees are non-refundable.

By submitting you certify that your film is an original work to which you have full rights to all aspects, including the use of the music. Your film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.

Entrants must maintain open and timely communication with festival organizers. Failure to respond to inquiries or furnish necessary information may result in disqualification.

By submitting your film you acknowledge and agree that you have read, understood, and fully comply with all submission eligibility information, rules, terms, and conditions.

By submitting your project, you give permission for HenHouse of Horrors Film Festival to use stills, titles, copy, video clips, and/or information from the short for promotional purposes.

By submitting your projects, you hold HenHouse of Horrors Film Festival, its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from your entry.