It’s Alive! Horror Film Festival is the very first truly dedicated, undoubtedly horrifying and artistically chilling genre film festival in Bulgaria. We are passionate about cinema and in love with horror. We welcome filmmakers who share the same sentiments. We embrace works palpitating with intensity and fright.

For the second year in a row It’s Alive! is planned to start on Halloween night - 31 October 2024.

Last year, we intertwined German classics with folk horror, we brought together works from the Balkans and the Americas, by established film geniuses and bold young experimenters, so what's next? Surely, in 2024 we once again insist on presenting films that are independent, courageous, politically charged, underground, from marginal corners of the globe, from the darkest depths of imagination!

Our Open Call for Short Horror and Feature Fright is now here and very much alive. We are thirsty for your macabre works. The selected ones will be screened in the city of Sofia at the second edition of It’s Alive! Horror Film Festival.

Our 2023 trailer:
https://www.facebook.com/ItsAliveHorrorFF/videos/1508195669956679

Awards & Prizes

Best Short Horror
Best Feature Fright
Special mention awards!

Awards are determined by the finest film critic - the audience!

The organisers reserve the right to determine new winners categories, depending on the nature of the film submissions.

Rules & Terms

Non English-language films must be subtitled in English.

All submissions must be made through the FilmFreeway platform. This ensures that your film will receive the right time and attention by the Selection Committee.

The applicant(s) must have full authority to submit their film to It’s Alive! Horror Film Festival and to own the copyright of the work, including all rights to the music used. It’s Alive! Horror Film Festival is not responsible for any claims made by a third party regarding copyright and related rights.

Running times for the films of the festival are:
- Feature Films: minimum running time, 60 minutes;
- Short Films: maximum running time, 30 minutes.

Submission fees are not refundable.

After a film is selected to be part of the official festival programme, the organiser will contact each author in order to determine the exact technical requirements regarding the screening of their film.

The authors of films selected in the competition programme must send video and photo material (such as trailer, poster, film stills, other appropriate material, photos of the creators - director, cast, others if applicable), short bio(s) of the filmmaker(s) and a full list of the production team (credits). The festival is allowed to use this information for publicity and advertising purposes.

4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Saumya Chandra

    We are humbled our Short - "Batshit Crazy" was selected to be a part of the first edition of the festival.
    The Short being a genre film, the festival gave us the best platform for showcasing our work and reaching to the right audience. We look forward to getting selected again in coming years and collaborating with Its Alive! Thank you Team!

    November 2023
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  • Brian Sepanzyk

    Communication was excellent and had a great social media presence. Looked like an amazing event - wish I could have attended! Would highly recommend

    November 2023
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  • Antonio Rotunno

    It was really cool to be part of the festival with our micro-short "A Taco", and be able to be seen in Bulgaria!

    Genre film festivals with a live audience are needed everywhere and this is a good opportunity to expand the experience in Bulgaria. Thank you for selecting our work!

    November 2023
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  • Michael Dorfman

    An incredible festival filled with fantastic films and filmmakers! Although we weren't able to attend, we were honored that our short film DORFENSTEIN'S MONSTER was selected to screen. Great communication and an awesome social media presence! Highly recommend!!

    November 2023
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