The inaugural HHF was an amazing success at Quentin Tranatino's NEW BEVERY CINEMA in Los Angeles. We had 2 cast & crew reunions (The Howling & Return of the Living Dead), a free panel on "How to Finance, Produce and Sell Your Work" (with 11 panelists from the following disciplines - producer, director, agent, financier, sales agent), free screenings of shorts and features, more free giveaways than virtually anywhere, awards and networking events. Plus two Honoree's - JOE DANTE and DICK MILLER and the first ever Family Authorized PRICE AWARD (handed out by Vincent's daughter VICTORIA PRICE).

Since then we have honored the fabulous CASSANDRA "ELVIRA" PETERSON and the late great SID HAIG with the prestigious PRICE AWARD, had cast & crew reunions of ELVIRA'S HAUNTED HILLS, NIGHT OF THE DEMONS and THEY LIVE, with a live performance from Honoree (and JOHN CARPENTER collaborator) ALAN HOWARTH and celebrated the career of the iconic LANCE HENRIKSEN to name but a few of our festival highlights.

Other guests have included MIKE "THE SHAPE OF WATER" HILL - 2018's Monster Maker of the Year - DEE WALLACE, KEN FOREE, BAI LING and BILL MOSELEY.

We've had FREE screenings and events too, including another incredibly insightful and educational PANEL TO DIE FOR. Both were packed houses and lots of fun.

We have some amazing guests planned for 2020 so stick with us, there's never a dull moment at HHF.

So what do we accept? Well we accept ANY films, produced ANY year, in ANY category you feel is Grindhouse or Exploitation-genre related (horror, action, sci-fi, martial arts, animation, film noir, teen comedy, erotic, blacksploitation etc). We say ANY year as we're here to help guide film-makers sell and successfully distribute their work.

We offer all winners the chance to have their work distributed too - through our partnership with FILM FEST DISTRIBUTION.

Our new venue has a full bar, stage, vendor space, kitchen, large hall, green room and its own parking lot. It's the perfect venue to network and socialize. So bring your business cards and make the most of what HHF has to offer.

Here's what our fans said:
"Very cool." (Joe Dante - Director of GREMLINS & THE HOWLING)

"A resounding success." (LatinHorror.com)

"Pay attention to HHF." (ShockTillYouDrop.com)

"An incredible success. The crowd was great, the shorts were great, the atmosphere was great, the free gifts were great (comic books and a zombie jello mold? hell yeah), the popcorn was great, I mean, hell, the damn tickets were FREE. What else could you ask for?" (Framehopping Blog)

"A cool vibe." (David Leclercq - Directer & Festival Attendee)

"I'm honored to have screened there with my own work." (Jerry Pyle - Director)

" It was hands-down my favorite festival on the circuit." (Lowell Northrop - Director & Festival Attendee)

Awards & Prizes

WINNERS will receive over $2000 (current total value) worth of prizes, awards and benefits from our many sponsors spread amongst them.

WINNERS will also be offered the opportunity of having their work distributed worldwide (non-exclusive) through our unique partnership with FilmFest Distribution (see www.filmfestdistribution.com for more details).

Awards are given to all our winners.

We also promise an unprecedented HHF networking experience - with a full bar, lounge and dining area for informal socializing before and after screenings and panels.

Plus we'll be honoring another of Hollywood's Horror Greats with the PRICE AWARD - benefitting the VINCENT PRICE ART MUSEUM. We'll be releasing the names of those we'll be celebrating in the coming months.

Rules & Terms

Our rules are very basic but necessary. Please take a look before you enter.

1. Entry Rules
We accept ANY films, produced ANY year, in ANY category you feel is grindhouse or exploitation-genre related (horror, action, sci-fi, martial arts, animation, film noir, teen comedy, erotic, blacksploitation etc).

Submit the film/screenplay digitally through FilmFreeway exclusively. You may have multiple entries. We do not offer a waiver fee. Entry fees are non-refundable. We do not return submission entries. All selections are final.

2. Subtitles
Any foreign language films must have english subtitles.

3. Formats
For the selection process a digital screener must be submitted via FilmFreeway. Screenplays must be submitted in English as a digital PDF via FilmFreeway.

4. Publicity
We reserve the right to use extracts from submissions for festival publicity and marketing purposes.

5. Awards (incl. but not limited to)
Best of the Fest
Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Horror Comedy
Best Documentary
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Production Design
Best Music Score
Best Make-Up
Best Special Effects
Best Unproduced Screenplay (Feature)
Best Unproduced Screenplay (Short)

6. Legal Terms & Conditions
The film contains no genuine acts of violence or animal cruelty.

Entrant warrants that they have the full & uncontested legal right (incl. full rights to the use of the film’s music) to enter their film/screenplay work to Hollywood Horrorfest and that the said work is not subject to nor threatened by any litigation.

Entrant holds Hollywood Horrorfest its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry. Entrants agree to defend and indemnify Hollywood Horrorfest, its directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants, volunteers, judges and agents against any and all claims, demands, actions, or lawsuits arising out of or related to the screening of the submitted film, performance of the music, or displaying of the art.

Hollywood Horrorfest has the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to change the festival date or location, if deemed necessary or unavoidable, to ensure a successful festival. In such a case the festival would continue as normal, just at another venue/date TBD.

48 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • David-Matthew Barnes

    This is a fantastic festival for screenwriters, coordinated by a terrific team. They were very communicative. They care about filmmakers, and it shows.

    October 2019
    Helpful
  • Erik Boccio

    What a fantastic festival! All the selections were good and the opening night feature/Q&A was such a fun time! Friendly people and great location. Thank you Miles! Will be coming back!!

    August 2019
    Helpful
  • Robert Ward

    On the "star rating" section I honestly had to give five stars for each category. I thought about each one carefully and didn't see anything lacking in this festival. I attended last year as a finalist but did not win. I attended this year recently and won Second Place for Best Feature Script for "The Funny Farm." What's interesting is that I had a great time both years I attended, one for winning and one for not. (Though I admit it was awesome this year to hear my name called, walk up to the stage and receive my award, walk off the stage to be professionally photographed in front of a red carpet screen, then walk back to my seat with people in attendance congratulating me on my way back to my seat.) I've made some fruitful connections at HH and even the volunteers/workers for the festival have become friends (also friends on Facebook). Festival Director Miles Flanagan does a great job of creating a fun and relaxed horror-film experience, and he makes sure that Hollywood Horrorfest showcases some pretty cool in-person talent from the industry, from actors and writers, to directors and producers. Hollywood Horrorfest is clearly building and gaining more and more buzz each year as word gets out about this festival. There's no feeling of pretentiousness, and horror aficionados of every degree rub elbows and have full access to established horror filmmakers and industry professionals with ease. All communications from HH via email were sent and/or returned in a timely manner, too. Even the venue for the festival is enjoyable and I've gotten to know the staff and bartenders (yes, there's a full bar!) at The Mayflower Club. Overall, an all-around great time and I look forward to returning again.

    August 2019
    Helpful
  • colin Costello

    We were a finalist in HHF, thus did not get to screen. However, I am grateful that the festival still honored us with a finalist laurel.

    August 2019
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  • Samantha Bringas

    I am honored to win Best Short Screenplay this year for "They're Watching". Between the laurel and medal, I feel validated as a writer! Although I wasn't able to attend Hollywood Horrorfest, their posts on social media makes me sad I missed it! They were very responsive and clearly love horror.

    August 2019
    Helpful