MidWest WeirdFest is a unique cinematic celebration of all things fantastic, frightening, underground, paranormal, off-beat, and just plain weird!

It's also one of the most filmmaker friendly festivals on the planet.

The fest's dedication to the exhibition and promotion of independent films submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway, is one of the reasons the festival is a constant in the Top 100 Best Filmmaker Reviewed Festivals on FilmFreeway. Indeed, MidWest WeirdFest is usually the top 50 or higher. And that's out of over 12,000 festivals on the FilmFreeway platform!

The Midwest is filled with dark and mysterious byways, strange critters, and mythical beasties. And the great state of Wisconsin has more than its share: from the very real historical monsters Ed Gein and Jeffery Dahmer, through legendary cryptids like the Beast of Bray Road and the Hodag, to strange and wonderful places such as the Forevertron, a UFO landing port, and the mythical town of killer midgets known as Haunchyville.... It's the perfect territory for a festival that focuses on weird cinema from all around the world.

The festival team wants MidWest WeirdFest to evoke the awe and chills of the sideshow alley of a dark carnival, a place filled with wonders, terrors, and forbidden surprises. The cinematic equivalent of a collection of pulp magazines and underground comix. A film festival that not only celebrates and showcases independent genre cinema - horror, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller - but one that welcomes all types of underground film. From experimental and avant-garde to offbeat and paranormal documentaries. The festival's seasoned programmers can't wait to see what cinematic wonders await in MidWest WeirdFest's 9th season of festival submissions!

MidWest WeirdFest's main venue is the Micon Downtown Cinema, located in the welcoming college town of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Filmmaker feedback (also check out the plethora of positive reviews below):

Nicholas Costa (NEIL STRYKER AND THE TYRANT OF TIME): "I can't believe this was the first year of this festival. Midwest WeirdFest was run like a fest celebrating its 30th anniversary. No surprise as Dean Bertram is master & commander of the biggest genre fest in Australia; not just anybody gets to go around saying that they run the best ANYTHING for an entire continent, folks. And Dean Bertram shows you why he hosts one of the premiere genre fests in the world as he dedicates himself to promoting your film even after the fest has run, and, all the while making you feel like you're one of the family. We had our rust belt premiere of Neil Stryker and the Tyrant of Time in March 2017, having previously screened at A Night of Horror and Fantastic Planet Film Festival in Sydney, Australia in November 2016. The Wisconsin premiere was a huge success. Dean connected us with some great press and even helped churn out some of the best podcasts we've heard promoting our film. Who knew Eau Claire, Wisconsin, would be such a wonderful hub for indie film? You will not be disappointed."

Zachary Lona (WE CAME TO WRECK EVERYTHING): "I never expected our film to be conventionally programmable, so the moment I saw MidWest WeirdFest I knew it might have a home in this utterly mind-bending ride of a festival. Dr. Dean Bertram and the gang have a concise vision for screening only the best of genre and underground cinema. And amidst the chaos is the camaraderie and hospitality that's integral to the midwest as much as its oddities. It was an honor to be a part of the inaugural year, and here's to many more."

Benjamin Capps (IT GROWS DARK) My time at MidWest WeirdFest 2017 was a singular delight, beginning from the time that organizers Dean Bertram and Maddie Holiday Von Stark picked me up at the airport. When our conversation quickly evolved to a discussion about the 1950s UFO contactees, I knew I was in for a magical weekend. I saw such a breadth of great work and met several filmmakers whose visions have continued to inspire me. All of the film selections were uniquely different, and my only regret was that I had to return to Chicago before the final day of screenings. Finally, I was bestowed with the award for Best Animation for the stop-motion sequence of It Grows Dark, an unexpected and humbling accolade which has me all the more motivated about my new Sci-Fi project, CIVET. Eau Claire and the Micon Cinema were beautiful settings for the inauguration of a deliciously-eclectic film festival of which I again hope to be part!"

Awards & Prizes

Palmer d'Or, Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Short, Best Animated Short, Best Music Video, Best TV/New Media, Independent Spirit Award, Feature Screenplay Competition Winner, Feature Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Finalist, Short Screenplay Competition Winner, Short Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition Finalist.

Rules & Terms

We require films initially be submitted via online screeners, i.e. private Youtube or Vimeo links. We do not accept physical preview copies (i.e. DVDs).

In submitting your film or video to MidWest WeirdFest film festival you guarantee that you have all the relevant permissions, licenses and releases for your film or video to be screened in a public exhibition. You must have in your possession the permissions, licenses and releases for the submitted film or video's music, script, actors etc.

If your film is selected to screen at the festival, neither you, nor any sales agent, nor distributor, nor other entity attached to, or associated with, the film, will require a screening fee from MidWest WeirdFest.

There is no restriction as to the year that the film was made.

If your film is selected to screen at the festival, you must supply us with a copy of your film in digital format. We prefer you to upload a digital file to the festival's Dropbox, according specs that you will be given upon acceptance into the festival. We produce our own DCPs to screen at the festival from these files. We can also screen from a DCP that you provide us. However, WE PREFER NOT TO, due to issues with filmmaker made DCPs in the past. Even DCPs made by supposed professional post houses have failed on more than one occasion. All digital media files or DCPs MUST be received by the festival admin no later than one (1) week after notification.

We do not accept any DCPs that are hosted on Google Drive. There are no exceptions to this rule. Your DCP should be hosted on stable and secure file exchange application, such as FileMail.

We do not accept physical delivery of any film files or DCPs on hard drives, or any other physical media.

Filmmaker also agrees to provide necessary KDM for any DCP sent to the festival at no expense to the festival.

Additional publicity materials (jpg stills etc.) are required if your film is selected to screen at the festival.

Please select the most relevant category for your film. You may choose between:

1. Feature films: Narrative length feature film (45 to 145 minutes in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental and any feature film one might consider weird.

2. Documentary films: Feature length documentary films (45 to 145 minutes in duration). Ideally dealing with off-beat, strange, dark, divergent, and/or peculiar, topics, places, people, and/or themes, or any documentary topic or theme one might consider weird.

3. Short Films: Any live action film, narrative or documentary (45 minutes or under in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental and any short film one might consider weird. Narrative and documentary films are accepted in this category.

4. Short Documentaries: Short length documentary films (under 45 minutes in duration). Ideally dealing with off-beat, strange, dark, divergent, and/or peculiar, topics, places, people, and/or themes, or any documentary topic or theme one might consider weird.

5. Short Animations: Any animated short film (45 minutes or under in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, and experimental animations or anything one might consider weird.

6. Music Videos: Any music video that deals with horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or thriller themes or tropes, or those that are experimental or underground in style. Or any music video portraying subject matter that one might consider weird.

7. Web or TV: Single episodes of web series or television series, and/or short films and/or videos, made primarily for exhibition or distribution on television or the internet (46 minutes and under in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental and anything one might consider weird. Narrative as well as documentary content is accepted in this category.

8. Feature Screenplay Competition: Competition for feature length screenplays. We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental, off-beat, and any feature screenplay that one might consider weird.

9. Short Screenplay Competition: Competition for short film screenplays. We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental, off-beat and any short film screenplay one might consider weird.

Judges, selected by Lovecraft 21C Productions LLC, will decide the winners of each of the above categories. In all cases, the judges' decisions are final.

Entrants whose films are chosen for screening at the festival will be notified by mid February 2027.

If you decide to attend the festival we are unable to cover any costs that your travel or accommodation might incur.

By submitting to the festival you agree to abide by and commit to the following statement: "I authorize Lovecraft 21C Productions LLC to screen the film or video listed above, upon the film or video's acceptance in MidWest WeirdFest. For the purpose of the screenings I authorize Lovecraft 21C Productions to market the film or video in whatever manner they see fit. I acknowledge that Lovecraft 21C Productions holds the screening rights of the film that I submitted to MidWest WeirdFest for the purposes of screening the film at the 2027 MidWest WeirdFest film festival. I confirm that all other rights remain the sole property of myself and/or my nominated production company. I hereby confirm that all material used in the production of the film or video is the original work of myself or my nominated production company, or is work for which I or my nominated production company have obtained with releases, including but not limited to actors, performances and the musical score. I guarantee that I have obtained all the necessary permissions, licenses and clearances to enter this film or video into MidWest WeirdFest film festival, and that the film and the screening of the film by Lovecraft 21C Productions, does not infringe the moral and ethical rights including copyright of any third party. I understand that my submission is in no way a guarantee of acceptance into MidWest WeirdFest, and that nobody representing Lovecraft 21C Productions or MidWest WeirdFest has guaranteed my acceptance into the festival prior to this submission. I have read and agree to the general rules, terms and conditions of MidWest WeirdFest. I have also read and agree to any specific rules relating to the category that I am entering my film or video."

RULES AND CONDITIONS FOR SCREENPLAY COMPETITIONS

There is no restriction to the year that the screenplay was written.

Screenplays must be submitted electronically online.

All screenplays should be formatted in accord with industry standards.

All Screenplays must be submitted in PDF format (no Word format, or Txt, or FDS Final formatted submissions will be accepted).

Please include a paragraph synopsis, and logline.

No rewritten/corrected pages, or newer drafts will be accepted once entry is received.

Screenplay must be in English.

Screenplay must not have been previously optioned, purchased, in production or produced.

Screenplays written as adaptations of other works must have secured rights before being submitted.

The entrant retains copyright to their screenplay.

Finalists and winners of the screenplay competition will be notified and announced at the same time as winning films of the 2026 MidWest WeirdFest: in the week following the completion of the festival.

The entrant agrees that he or she will never assert against Lovecraft 21C Productions or MidWest WeirdFest any claim or action based on plagiarism, infringement, confidential or fiduciary relationship, implied contract, idea theft, unfair competition or any other theory arising in connection with their submission to MidWest WeirdFest, and the entrant understands that Lovecraft 21C Productions accepts no liability of any kind for the unauthorized use of all or part of such submissions by any person. In this regard, the entrant hereby absolutely releases and forever discharges Lovecraft 21C Productions, MidWest WeirdFest and its officers, employees, volunteers, judges, readers, affiliates, and associates, individually and collectively, of or from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, legal fees, expenses, debts, actions, and causes of action against Lovecraft 21C Productions or MidWest WeirdFest of every kind whatsoever, now and in the future, in connection with the entrant's submission.
155 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Justin Miller

    Top notch genre festival. Excellent communication. Super happy we got to be a part of this weird film festival.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Jeff Ferrell

    Our co-writer/co-director Aurelio Voltaire was able to attend this festival and this is what he had to say. “I have been to a lot of film festivals but this one really stood out! The moment I walked into the theater I was introduced to Dean, the film festival director. Beyond being a really friendly and welcoming guy, he made it a point to introduce all of the filmmakers to each other. Within moments, I felt I knew most of the filmmakers whose films I was about to watch and screen with! After seeing a wonderfully curated selection of very unique films, we all gathered at the bar next door. Unlike many festivals I’ve attended where it’s up to you to make friends, connections and try to network, Dean’s gracious and friendly manner and gesture of introducing everyone made for very easy conversation and talks of possible collaborations with other filmmakers present. The level of camaraderie at this festival was unrivaled!!! I have no doubt I’ll be keeping in touch with folks I met at this festival and that’s directly due to the fact that the festival director at this one really knows how to make the filmmakers feel welcomed!

    Finding out our film The Demonatrix won a couple of awards a couple of weeks later when awards were announced was just the cherry on top of an already amazing experience. I can’t recommend this festival enough!

    April 2026
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  • Anthony Ruptak

    Our video was selected to screen at Midwest Weirdfest in 2026. We traveled from Colorado to Eau Claire to experience the event. I have nothing but good things to say about this festival, the artists involved and Dean. Dean is an incredible host, super gracious, passionate about the art he curates, makes everyone feel valued and welcome. Viva La Weirdfest!!

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Steven Schloss

    Amazing festival with excellent communication, programming and great following with a lively audience of genre fans who sell out screenings. Highly recommend submitting and attending if able. Will be submitting all future projects to MWWF!

    March 2026
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  • Rachel Johnson

    Thank you Dean and the rest of the Midwest Weirdfest team! We weren't able to attend in person but heard nothing about great things about the screenings and the theater looked so cute! We were grateful for the selection and we're honored to win Best Fantasy for our short, Margaret the Brave! Can't wait to submit again in the future!

    March 2026
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