IMPORTANT UPDATE: DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND RESTRICTIONS, WE ARE UNABLE TO HOLD THE FESTIVAL IN 2020. OUR 2020 FESTIVAL IS MOVING TO SUMMER OF 2021, WHERE WE WILL HAVE AN EXPANDED JOINT EDITION OF OUR 9TH AND 10TH ANNUAL EVENTS COMBINED. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR NEW SUBMISSIONS FOR 2021.

The International Horror Hotel Film Festival and Convention is held every June in Northeast Ohio (near Cleveland). We have open competitions for films and scripts in the following genres: documentary (film only), experimental (film only), fantasy, horror, horror-comedy, slasher, sci-fi and suspense-thriller. We also accept trailers, music videos, TV pilots (film or script), and web episodes (film or script).

Competition is also open for our horror film scoring competition (submissions through our website). At the event, we have live scream king/scream queen and FX makeup competitions as well.

The event features four days of film screenings, two days of panel discussions and lectures, a convention, special guests, networking parties, live competitions and more.

***PLEASE READ ALL RULES/TERMS BEFORE SUBMITTING***

Awards & Prizes

Genre awards in each category - 1st through 4th place, plus honorable mention awards, for qualifying projects.

For attending winners, awards include trophies, plaques and certificates. Non-attending winners receive e-certificates.

Grand champion belts to: Best Overall Film, Best Overall Script, and Viewer's Choice Award. (Must be in attendance to receive the physical award.)

Additional film awards and nominations include acting, cinematography, directing, editing, and Ohio film awards.

Sponsored awards TBA.

Rules & Terms

***PLEASE READ ALL RULES/TERMS BEFORE SUBMITTING***

When submitting your project, be sure to E-MAIL US at horrorhotelfest@gmail.com with your selected genre: documentary (film only); experimental (film only); fantasy; horror; horror-comedy; sci-fi; slasher; suspense-thriller. If you are submitting a TV pilot or Web episode, whether film or script, please e-mail us which of the two you are entering your project as. Filmmakers, please also note if your film is a student project or non-English/subtitled film, as we have separate categories. Please include your project name in the e-mail.

There are NO restrictions as to when your film or script was completed or where it has been released. Anyone may enter the competition. All entries must receive an average score of 85 or above in the judging process to qualify for award placement.

Filmmakers - If you are submitting your screener by hard copy, we will require TWO copies. Please check BOTH copies of your DVD or Blu-Ray before mailing to make sure they play. Each DVD or Blu-Ray should have your film title, total run time and FF tracking number. It is recommended that you check your DVDs or Blu-Rays on more than one DVD/Blu-Ray player (not a computer) to ensure they play, as this is a common issue with submissions. We do NOT accept files, file discs, or any other format - NO EXCEPTIONS.

Hard copies are NOT returned, unless you clear this with the festival administration from the beginning. In order to have your disc(s) or script(s) returned to you (after the festival) you MUST send an SASE along with your disc(s) OR script(s) - not separately or after.

IF YOU SUBMIT VIA SECURE ONLINE SCREENER AND YOUR FILM IS SELECTED TO SCREEN, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SEND A HARD COPY (DVD / BLU-RAY) OF YOUR FILM FOR SCREENING. ANY SELECTED FILM NOT RECEIVED BY A GIVEN DEADLINE WILL BE REPLACED IN THE LINEUP - NO EXCEPTIONS.

We do not grant submission fee waivers under any circumstance.

We do not pay screening fees.

Please note, if your project qualifies for an award, you or a direct representative from your project must be in attendance at the festival in order to receive any physical awards. Non-attending winners will be e-mailed award certificates after the event.

All submissions - whether accepted or not - come with ONE complimentary 4-day event pass to the festival. No additional passes will be comped. Any additional passes must be purchased in advance or at the door.

If you have a film in competition which can no longer be considered for screening, you may withdraw it from screening consideration but still leave it in competition for award placement. Please e-mail horrorhotelfest@gmail.com immediately if you need to withdraw from consideration for screening.

You may withdraw your submission at any time, but there are no refunds on submissions.
46 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Austin

    Great hosts and an awesome experience!

    August 2019
    Helpful
  • Pete Jacelone

    This is a cool festival attended by true indie horror fans and fellow film makers. I was not personally able to attend my screening, but my producer was and had only good things to say about the hosts, venue and attendees.

    August 2019
    Helpful
  • Timothy Troy

    Horror Hotel is a blast! I've brought two films there now, and both times I had a great time making a ton of new friends and seeing some of the best genre films on the festival circuit. Ray and Kristina's communication is top notch, and their love for their festival is palpable the minute you arrive. Highly recommended!

    July 2019
    Helpful
  • Leonard Varasano

    Thank you International Horror Hotel for recognizing my script,
    Father Knight, as a Finalist in the Short Fantasy Category!

    June 2019
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  • Giancarlo Orellana

    I had a great time at the Horror Hotel! This is a great festival for networking and opportunity to watch amazing horror films from all around the world. Thank you to this fest for screening my film and awarding it 2nd Place in the Suspense Thriller Shorts category.

    June 2019
    Helpful