The Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute presents the
Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival. The festival is held annually at the Historic Central Theater located in downtown Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.

Our mission is to inspire & promote talented filmmakers & artists from around the world. Hot Springs Arts and Film Institute provides opportunities for networking, exhibition, education, and screenings. We provide a unique venue for the public to experience films on the “Big Screen” often with the filmmakers available to answer questions and share their insights with the audiences. Industry professionals and celebrities are on hand to give seminars and meet filmmakers. Genres accepted include Horror, Thriller Sci-Fi & Fantasy.
(www.hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com)

HSHFF strives to support independent film and filmmakers. Many of the feature films selected each year get help acquireing distribution deals often before the festival ends. The Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute sponsors festival winners and some runners up by offering independent screenings and tracking filmmakers to diverse distribution options.

HSHFF is noted for being one of the best festivals to attend, filmmakers will find a personal connection with the festival staff and crew. It's a great place for "Students" and "Independent Filmmakers" to rub shoulders with "Horror Icons" and "Hollywood Producers".

Hot Springs is surrounded by 7 lakes and 43 hot springs, it hosts museums, bathhouses, art galleries, spas and many well-known festivals. Rich in history it is a popular tourist destination for most of the year, but it will soon be host to insidious indie films, blood spattered scream queens, movie monsters, and amazing guests…

The festival's director Bill Volland is an international award-winning producer who has worked his way up through the different film departments in the TV and Motion Picture industry. His credits include movies, television series, documentaries, commercials...

Some past special guests have included the likes of Actors; Tyler Mane, known for his roles as Michael Myers in Rob Zombieʼs “HALLOWEEN” films, Eileen Dietz "EXCORCIST" and Leslie Easterbrook. Directors like; Jeff Burr, CHAINSAW MASSACRE," "PUMPKINHEAD" and David Schmoeller "PUPPET MASTER,” Sound Design and Audio Effects Wizard Alan Howarth "STAR TREK", "ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK" Michael Berryman "The Hills Have Eyes" "STAR TREK" plus industry professionals like Ted Hatfield Special Projects Marketing at Regal Entertainment Group (Regal Cinemas, Edwards Theaters, and United Artists Cinemas) and many more.

www.hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com or find us on Facebook for more information.

What guests and filmmakers have to say about HSHFF:

"What a great weekend of networking and screenings and sharing our love of filmmaking! We came away from the Hot Springs Horror Film Festival feeling like we suddenly had a much larger family. Can't wait to get back!!"

- Tyler Mane –
Michael Meyers, Mane Entertainment.

“I have been a guest speaker at many, many film festivals and I gotta tell you all, The Hot Springs Horror Film Festival 2013 was !!@!$&!!ing fantastic. I had such an awesome time. Every short film and feature were of the utmost quality and so much fun as were the Filmmakers with whom I made lasting friendships. I can't say enough about the fantastic hosts. the incomparable Tamara Glynn and the always gracious and organized Bill Volland. I cannot wait for October to see everyone again.”

-Eileen Dietz-
Actress
Exorcist/Constantine/Planet of the Apes

“Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival (HSHFF) is a celebration of genre cinema by filmmakers for filmmakers. Located in one of Arkansas' most treasured historic regions, HSHFF places special emphasis on education, in addition to showcasing quality independent motion pictures.”

Justin Beahm
Fangoria Magazine
Filmmaker / Producer

“Hot Springs Horror was one of the festival highlights for “An American Terror”. Although we screened at many festivals, very few reached out to us in the personal way that HSHFF did. It was a refreshing dose of humanity in year of often impersonal interactions. They had a great line up in a fantastic environment.”
“An American Terror has amassed 13 awards from 9 different festivals, plus another dozen nominations. Although we are still fielding distribution offers, the film’s success has opened numerous doors for future productions. The future looks very bright for our team.”

Thanks for everything!
Jim Brennan
American Horror Film, LLC

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http://www.hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com/.
www.hotspringscentraltheater.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HotSpringsHorror/.

Awards & Prizes

Prizes range from “4 wall screenings” to sponsored prizes from film industry names. Awards can include trophies, promotional items and swag. Category winners, and some runners up get complementary fast-tracked into “FILMCOM” where they get a chance to pitch their film to a finance and distribution panel.

Rules & Terms

CATEGORY RULES Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival
Guidelines, rules, and regulations of our festival/competition:

Not meeting eligibility requirements may be cause for disqualification.

Criteria:
Each film will be judged solely on its own merits. We only accept original productions of a horror, suspense, thriller or science fiction/fantasy nature. Documentaries, comedies, animation and works of non-fiction related to the horror genre ARE acceptable for submission. We will not accept any hard core XXX adult material, any films that feature actual human/animal cruelty. ( and/or any depictions of actual human/animal torture, cruelty or death). Festival directors, members of the program and industry professionals are designated judges. Festival volunteers and special guests may also be appointed judges in some cases.

GENERAL RULES:

1. Hot Springs Horror Film Festival and HSAFI will hold your submitted film for 1 year, after which, if you would like to resubmit, you can. All screening copies submitted to the festival, are kept by the Hot Springs Horror Film Festival and HSAFI for reuse at future festivals or screenings. Any exceptions must be pre-agreed upon by both parties.
2. Entrants must submit two DVD or Blu-ray viewing/preview copies for consideration. Please test the DVD's or Blu-ray's on a standard DVD/Blu-ray player. (Region 0 or 1)
3. Entry forms and payments will not be processed without accompanying DVD's/Blu-ray's. Please make checks payable to: Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute
4. All entries must be in English or contain English subtitles (unless special arrangements have been made with festival).
5. All entries must attach the FilmFreeway four-digit code and the (RT) running time on the DVD's or Blu-ray's.
6. We encourage submitting as much publicity material as is available. These additional materials cannot be returned.
7. Any materials that entrants wish to be seen by the programming committee should be submitted in duplicate with this application.
8. Exceptions to the festival regulations must be pre authorized by the festival director.
9. We reserve the right to combine categories and or awards.
10. If your film/video is selected for screening, you may be asked to provide another copy for projection purposes. This copy would be in addition to the online secure screener, DVD's and or Blu-ray's already submitted.
11. We reserve the right to cancel a screening of any film submitted and or officially selected at anytime without notice.
12. We may use all or part of your film for promotions.
13. Films submitted into the "Short Film" category agree to give the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival the right to use and to include the film it in it's yearly Short Film compilation entitled The Best Short Films of the Hot Springs International Horror Thriller & Sci Fi Film Festival. Each Volume will be released world wide on all platforms every year. Proceeds from the sales of the short film compilation go to help the film festival.
14.Submitting your short film gives the festival the right to include your short film in our annual Short Film Compilation entitled "Best of the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival". It is distributed world wide on DVD VOD and other streaming platforms. This does not give the festival the right to use the short film individually, only in the compilation of short films submitted to the festival.

SHIPPING
1. Please use a large envelope for shipping, do not send your entries in a box (no boxes).
2. The cost of shipping an entry to the festival must be paid by the entrant. Collect or C.O.D. shipment will not be accepted.
3. All film submission mailings MUST be marked with the quote "no signature required" on the delivery option.*
4. Please be sure you have clearly marked on your DVD's or Blu-ray's:
A. the title of your film.
B. the RT (or running time)
C. the FilmFreeway four digit code (you will get this when you submit through FilmFreeway).

Ship To:
The Central Theater
The Hot Springs Horror Film Festival
1008 Central Ave.
Hot Springs, AR.
71901

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Certification of Entrant
I/We, the undersigned, acknowledge and agree:

1. I/We have read, understated and fully comply with all submission eligibility information, Submission Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of Entry and Entry Eligibility Requirements.
2. To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true;
3. This film or video is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation;
4. I/We am duly authorized to submit this film to the festival;
5. I/We hold the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival and Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute (hereafter known as HSAFI) harmless from any damage to the print(s) or tape(s) en route or otherwise during the course of the festival’s possession of the film;
6 I/We hold the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival and HSAFI, its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, volunteers and etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry.
7. I/We certify that I have full rights to the use of the music in the entered work.
8.. I/We give permission for the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival and HSAFI to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the film for promotional purposes
9. I/We give permission for the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival, HSAFI and its agents to screen the film at the Festival as well as any Festival presentations, programs, and/or events including our short film compilation distributed world wide. The festival's yearly world wide release entitled the "Best Short Films of the Hot Springs International Horror Thriller and Sci fi Film Festival" a compilation of hand picked short films submitted to the festival.
10. I/We also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and I/we fully indemnify the Festival against any claim made for such violations of law.
11 . I/We understand that failure to adhere to the Festival rules or Terms and Conditions will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.
12. I/We agree to hold the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival and HSAFI harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any film submitted to the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival.
13. These terms and conditions must be printed and signed by all submitting parties before they will be eligible for competition or screening.

By submitting your film to the festival you are agreeing to these term and conditions.

hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com
hotspringscentraltheater.com

13 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Bartolomeo

    Hot Springs IHFF did an incredible job adapting to the 2020 COVID-affected festival era and we can't thank them enough for selecting our film and being amazing communicators and overall fans of the genre. Will submit our next one here for sure.

    October 2020
    Helpful
  • Nichelle S. Montgomery

    Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your festival.

    October 2020
    Helpful
  • Morgan Howard

    Bill and his team are committed to creating a unique and welcoming atmosphere for both filmmakers and fans of the horror/thriller genre and they have gone above and beyond in doing so with this festival. This was a truly memorable experience! Thank you so much for including Caliche Run in the festival, it was an honor to be selected!

    October 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Morgan we hope to see you next year!

  • Jason Zink

    I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Hot Springs Horror Film Festival. The organizers are passionate and you can tell that they're trying their best to take good care of their filmmakers. From the rides on Hitchcock's Crane to the Haunted House behind the screen, the fest was a one-of-a-kind experience. The only downfall I see to HSFF was that not enough filmmakers made the trek to the fest. It was a small crowd which was discouraging because the filmmakers and the organizers deserved a huge turnout. I hope that in future years, they can get the crowd that they deserve because it was a wonderful fest in a rad theater that's also in the center of a super cool little town. I'll definitely be submitting in the future.

    October 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Jason, so glad you and your team enjoyed the festival, thank you for your kind words. Hope to see you again soon!

  • Marcus Slabine

    We just got back from a week at Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival from our world premiere of our film THE LAST CALL and we couldn't have had a better experience.

    The festival was a ton of fun and Bill and his team truly created a very special experience for filmmakers that truly resonated. The entire team was extremely welcoming and sweet to us, and all filmmakers at the festival. The theatre itself has so much history and the set up truly was great and being able to ride Hitchcock's crane is something I'll never forget.

    We will definitely be entering in next year and it was totally worth traveling from New York to Hot Springs for this festival. You really don't want to miss out on something this special, thank you again for having us and looking forward to next years festival already!

    October 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Marcus, its filmmakers like yourself that make the festival so special. We enjoyed having you here and look forward to seeing more great films from you!