NEWS
We’d like to inform you that, due to circumstances beyond our control, the festival event in Gran Canaria will be postponed to a date after March.
This decision comes as a result of a venue change. While unexpected, this transition will ultimately allow us to host the event in a space that better reflects the vision and atmosphere we want to create for your work.
We truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Our commitment to showcasing your films with the attention and quality they deserve remains unchanged.
The new date and full details will be announced shortly. Thank you for being part of our community and for trusting us with your work.
We’re thrilled to announce that KINEMALAND (www.kinemaland.com/es) is now officially our Internet Media Partner, joining forces with the prestigious e-zine GRIMOIRE OF HORROR, whose founder Jim Cox is also part of the 2025 Jury.
This means all new selections and film reviews from this year’s edition will be featured also on www.grimoireofhorror.com
Our home base is TENERIFE, where the festival takes place thanks to our ongoing collaboration with EQUIPO PARA, the coolest cultural center in Santa Cruz.
The '25 festival expands into two events:
January 17th – TENERIFE (EQUIPO PARA, Santa Cruz)
PALMARÉS / PREMIADOS
IN THE NAME OF…
Dirección: Marcos Muñoz Flores
País: México
Duración: 10:00
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
BLOOD MOON ORANGE
Dirección: MaShae Alderman
Mención de Honor
So get ready for this DOUBLE BILL TO HELL!
Full details and film lists will be available on our website and Facebook page.
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.
JURY 2025
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 – 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).
_________________
HORROR ISLAND WINNERS 2024:
NAP
Director Javier Chavanel
in SHORT/MEDIUM/VIDEOCLIP
Spain
best SHOR FILM
Suicide for Beginners
Director Craig Thieman
in FEATURE
United States
best FEATURE FILM
FISTER
Director Anthony Moran
in SHORT/MEDIUM/VIDEOCLIP
United Kingdom
best actor: Laurence R. Harvey
Sincopat
Director Pol Diggler
in SHORT/MEDIUM/VIDEOCLIP
Spain
best actress: Núria Florensa
MOULD
Director Gilbert Robert
in SHORT/MEDIUM/VIDEOCLIP
United Kingdom
best FX make Up
HONORABLE MENTIONS 2024:
THE VILLAGE OF SIX
Director GERARD Bertomeu
in FEATURE
Spain
Ace of Spades
Submitter Alessio Leombruni
in SHORT/MEDIUM/VIDEOCLIP
Italy
The Tourists. A Season in Hell.
Director Gaby Smiths
in FEATURE
Argentina
WINNERS of the previous editions: https://horrorisland.wixsite.com/horrorislandfestival/
🎬 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.
-
Cole Williams
January 2026 -
Alessio Leombruni
January 2025 -
January 2025
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Anthony Moran
January 2025 -
January 2024
