HORROR ISLAND 7th EDITION – NEWS
We are thrilled to announce that KINEMALAND (www.kinemaland.com/es) has officially joined Horror Island as our Internet Media Partner, alongside the prestigious horror magazine Grimoire of Horror, whose founder Jim Cox also serves on this year's Jury.
Starting with this edition, all newly selected films and festival reviews will also be featured on Grimoire of Horror, giving our filmmakers even greater international exposure.
We are also proud to collaborate with DAGON FILMS, a boutique label dedicated to exclusive, handcrafted limited editions for horror collectors. Built around a passion for true underground cinema, DAGON FILMS specializes in numbered collector releases for genre enthusiasts.
Filmmakers with selected short films who are interested in physical distribution are now welcome to submit their work for consideration by DAGON FILMS, opening up an exciting new opportunity to reach collectors and fans through exclusive limited editions.
PALMARÉS / PREMIADOS 2025:
IN THE NAME OF…
Dirección: Marcos Muñoz Flores
Mejor Cortometraje
Mejores Efectos Especiales (FX)
WORM
Dirección: Callum Thomas
Mejor Actriz: Serena Meltzer
MU
Dirección: Javier Méndez Cañada
Mejor Actor: Pau Rosell
HELEN
Dirección: Helio Mira
Dirección de Animación: Miguel Miranda
Mención Especial – Animación
WINNERS of the previous editions: https://horrorisland.wixsite.com/horrorislandfestival/
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ABOUT US:
Daniele Arturi – An engineer with a burning passion for writing, Daniele has appeared in several independent horror productions including Tales to Tell in the Dark (dir. Lorenzo Zanoni), 61: Scorecard Killer (dir. Poison Rouge), 6 Songs (AAVV), Confessions of a Necrophile Girl and Eldorado (dir. Domiziano Cristopharo). He later starred as the lead in The House Guest and Blue Sunset (both directed by Cristopharo), becoming a notable figure in the European indie horror scene.
Domiziano Cristopharo – Described by the international press as “The Italian baron of bold, sensual, and extreme horror”, Cristopharo has been a pioneer in reviving Italy’s long-dormant erotic-horror tradition. With over 30 films to his name, he stands as one of the most prolific and visionary independent Italian directors working today — a cinematic hybrid of Dario Argento and Federico Fellini, blending vintage aesthetics with transgressive storytelling.
Together, they created this festival to celebrate the most exciting, shocking, and underground sides of cinema — horror and sci-fi — set against the mysterious backdrop of the island of Tenerife, where the festival takes place thanks to our ongoing collaboration with EQUIPO PARA, the coolest cultural center in Santa Cruz.
JURY 2026:
Jim Cox – Writer and Managing Director at Grimoire of Horror. A lifelong devotee of the genre, he specializes in world cinema, manga, graphic novels, and video games — always exploring the dark and the unknown.
Jon Devlin – Director, Distributor, Former professional wrestler (ring name Devlin Valek) turned actor and stunt performer. His credits include Amazon Hot Box, Joe Stryker, and Mother Noose’s Once Upon a Nightmare, along with starring roles in multiple short horror films including DJ Slay, The Hiker, Icons of Horror 3, and Ritual.
Previous editions featured legendary jurors such as Lynn Lowry (The Crazies, Shivers), Mirella D’Angelo (Tenebrae, Caligula), and Antonio Tentori (screenwriter for Fulci, Argento, and Mattei).
🎬 AWARDS & PRIZES
Main Categories:
🏆 Best Feature
🏆 Best Short / Medium
🏆 Best FX
🏆 Best Actress
🏆 Best Actor
💀 Honorable Mention of the Year
HOW IT WORKS
Semi-Finalist:
The film has received positive feedback and advanced to the next round of judging, but is not yet among the finalists.
Finalist:
The film has successfully passed all previous rounds and is now being considered for an award or official screening at the festival.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Let’s be honest — many festivals today throw everything into their “Official Selection,” blurring the line between amateur, independent, and underground cinema.
Why? Simple marketing. If 100 people get selected, 100 people share it online, giving free promotion and artificial visibility.
At HORROR ISLAND, we go in the opposite direction: quality over quantity.
Even very good films might not make it — because there are others that are simply better.
And isn’t that the real point of a festival and competition?
To struggle, compete, and confront each other in pursuit of artistic and technical excellence.
THE PRIZE
Winners receive the exclusive HORROR ISLAND T-Shirt, custom-made by SHOP 1984.
Available from XS to 4XL, 100% organic cotton, heavyweight (170–180 g/m²), unisex, side-seamed, and top quality.
(See the photogallery for details.)
Only the main categories — Best Feature and Best Short — receive a physical prize.
Please note: the festival does not cover hospitality, accommodation, or travel costs.
⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTES
If you submit a TRAILER in the Trailer Section, you are competing for Best Trailer — this does not mean the short film itself is automatically selected.
We’re proudly old school — films featuring practical special effects and blood always get priority!
If your film is selected for screening, you must provide Spanish subtitles, or at least English subtitles.
