Jersey City Horror Film Festival (Formerly Jersey City Popup Film Festival) (JCHFF) is designed to be a fun relaxed film festival, offering quality independent films and networking opportunities.
We strive to create opportunities for networking with fellow filmmakers and actors before and after the screenings.
Each festival will have an after party and awards.
The films, selected by a committee, include features, shorts, music videos, webisodes, and documentaries.

The festival will be hosted in the screening room at the Brightside Tavern in Jersey City. Before the screenings will be opportunity for networking and meeting fellow filmmakers and actors, with an after party to follow the screenings.

Trophies will be given to Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Unproduced Screenplay.

Winners and nominees will also be listed on our website.

JERSEY CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (JCHFF) SUBMISSION RULES

1. JCHFF competition categories are open to the United States and International entries.

2. Films must submit preview screeners through online via secure screener, youtube or vimeo. Any other method must receive prior approval from the festival.

3. Foreign language entries must have English language subtitles.

4. Entries must have been completed in the past 5 years.

5. Applicants may submit as many entries as they wish, as long as each entry has a separate entry form and fee.

6. JCHFF has the right to screen any film or projects submitted to the Jersey City Horror Film Festival.

7. In order to receive an award, the project's producer, director, or representative must be present, unless a physical festival is not held.

8. If officially selected, it is the responsibility of the submitter to send the festival their film for digital download.

9. Items mailed to the festival will not be returned to the submitter, unless a pre-paid return mailer is included.

10. All decisions made by the festival are final and at their discretion.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Castaldo

    Really fun festival! It was well run and there was great communication throughout. Thank you for a chance to screen! We will absolutely be submitting again.

    September 2023
  • Great festival. The communication was excellent. Despite being 3000 miles away from New Jersey, it was like being there. We felt really supported throughout the process of being selected and finally winning. Larry even sent us a picture of our film on the big screen when it was shown. Many thanks. We highly recommend the Jersey City Horror Film Festival.

    September 2023
  • Great festival. Thank you for selecting one of my projects for an award.

    September 2023
  • What made this festival cool is the screening room was well packed with film makers, actors and true horror enthusiasts. There was a good range of films, and they were all short, so everything moved along well. It was great meeting and talking to other filmmakers.
    As someone pointed out, occasionally we would hear the noise from the party and bar downstairs, which of course was annoying, but the good vibes of the festival and attendees balanced it out.
    I would submit and attend again if given the opportunity. -- Pete Jacelone filmmaker.

    November 2022
  • Adam Clark

    Everything about this festival seemed great until we arrived. It's in the small upstairs room of a tavern, which seemed cool because we could take food or drink up with us. It was not cool. The tavern below was so loud that hearing the films was impossible. Music was blasting and people were yelling. I can't believe they thought this was a good environment for a film festival.

    The projection of the films was also botched, as it appeared they didn't know how to make a video file full screen. There were icons and arrows overlaid on everyone's hard work. Baffling.

    The good? The awards seemed fitting for their respective categories. The films selected for the festival seemed well-made from what I could hear. The other filmmakers were kind and supportive.

    November 2022