Hysteria Film Festival

"One of the most eagerly anticipated film festivals" – Horror Movies Uncut

"A festival made for filmmakers and fans" – Bloody Flicks

"One of the coolest up and coming genre fests featuring great films from filmmakers across the world" – Devanny Pinn, director of The Black Mass

"Paul's communication and organization is unmatched." – Jackie Kelly, Director, HAG

"What a gem of a fest; I totally see this one growing into one of the premiere genre fests!" – Troy Escamilla, Director, Hollow Lake & Founder, Houston Horror Film Festival

"Hysteria Fest... becomes mightier and more vital to the city of St. Louis with each passing year." – Eric Stanze, legendary underground filmmaker

Hysteria Fest returns in 2027 for its sixth year, bringing another celebration of independent horror cinema, repertory screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and unforgettable genre filmmaking to St. Louis, Missouri.

Taking place at Arkadin Cinema and The Heavy Anchor, two intimate venues in the historic Bevo Mill neighborhood, Hysteria Fest has become known for feeling less like a traditional film festival and more like a nonstop party for horror fans and filmmakers. Whether you're attending in person or submitting your film from across the world, your work will screen for an enthusiastic audience in one of the most welcoming environments on the festival circuit.

Throughout the year, Hysteria Fest also hosts seasonal events including Hysteria Halloween, Hysteria Cabin Fever, and Hysteria Charity Screenings, giving filmmakers additional opportunities to connect with audiences beyond the main festival.

Submission Eligibility

Films already released online (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) are not eligible for the main festival. However, they may still be considered for one of our seasonal events if the online release occurs after that event. Please note this in your cover letter. All other submissions will automatically be considered for the main festival.

About Hysteria Fest

Hysteria Fest began in 2022 as a one-night experiment at Arkadin Cinema to see whether St. Louis was ready for a dedicated horror film festival. The response exceeded every expectation. Screenings sold out, filmmakers embraced the festival's unique atmosphere, and audiences quickly made Hysteria one of the city's most anticipated annual genre events.

Since then, Hysteria Fest has grown into a multi-day celebration of independent horror, welcoming filmmakers from around the world while remaining committed to the intimate, filmmaker-first atmosphere that defined the festival from the very beginning.

More than anything, Hysteria Fest is about community. Every year, filmmakers return to reconnect with old friends while meeting new ones. Collaborations have been born here, lifelong friendships have been formed here, and one of our greatest points of pride is seeing filmmakers return year after year—not just because they love the festival, but because of the people they've met through it.

Hysteria Fest is run by film lovers who genuinely understand and appreciate cinema. We believe every film deserves more than simply being placed on a schedule. Every selection is thoughtfully promoted, properly contextualized, and presented with the same passion and care that went into making it. We take pride in celebrating each filmmaker's work and giving it the audience and presentation it deserves.

We welcome horror in all its forms—from slashers and supernatural horror to psychological thrillers, experimental films, horror-comedies, and everything in between. We champion bold voices, original ideas, and filmmakers willing to take creative risks. If your film pushes boundaries, challenges expectations, or simply reminds us why we love horror, we'd love to see it.