You are invited to the Milwaukee Horror Film Festival hosted by award-winning filmmaker and international film judge CJ Vecchio!

UPDATE: We just teamed up with The Milwaukee Horror Con!!!!

This thrilling event is the perfect opportunity for indie horror filmmakers to showcase their spine-chilling shorts. With an array of terrifying films, engaging panels, and special guest appearances, it's a weekend you won't want to miss.

Join us on for our next big event on MAY 13-15th, 2027. This iconic venue provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend of horror and cinematic creativity.

Submit your horror short now and be part of the frightful fun! Don't miss the chance to have your work seen by industry professionals and horror enthusiasts alike.

Secure your spot and get ready to scare!

Awards & Prizes


CERTIFICATE AWARDS
Best Horror Short
Best Horror 1st Time Director
Best Horror Director
Best Horror International Short
Best Wisconsin Horror Short
Best Wisconsin Horror Director
Best Wisconsin Horror Actor
Best Wisconsin Horror Editing

More Information On The Milwaukee Horror Film Festival Awards:

*Certificate winners not present will be emailed PDFs at no cost to the winner 4 days after the live event.

** Our Selection / Awards Procedure: Festival Director / Producers make official selections for the festival by vote. Official Selections are then screened/graded by 5 different judges anonymously and given an overall grade on a 5-point scale for each of the qualifying award categories (with the exception of the “Fest Directors Choice Award”). All judges' points are then added together to give it a grade. The top 5 films by grade in each category are then considered an award nominee and listed on this page. The film with the highest grade in each category is considered and announced as that category’s award winner at the festival. In the event of a tie for the highest grade, the festival director, festival producer, and festival founder will each vote on the tied films, giving the majority vote the award. In the event that one of the production staff is involved in one of the films involving a tie, a 3rd party will be selected to vote in place of the production staff member involved.

**** The Festival Directors Choice Award nominees are the Film Festival Director's top 5 choice films of the festival. The Directors Choice Award is presented at the festival to the Director's favorite film of the festival. (Any film that the festival director is personally involved in at any level is not eligible for this award.)

Award Winners will be announced LIVE at The Milwaukee Horror Film Festival! www.milwaukeehorrorfest.com

Rules & Terms

The Festival is open to any film that might be considered a horror film, or anything of a disturbing nature, dark art, and/or frightening. This includes Horror Sci-Fi, Horror Thriller, Animated Horror, Found-Footage Horror, Fan-Film Horror, and more.

NO NUDE/ADULT CONTENT

Subtitles:
We require all foreign-language films to have English subtitles. If your film has non-English dialogue, English subtitles must be burned into the film before submitting your files. Subtitles must be accurate and properly timed to match the dialogue.

We are only accepting submissions via online screener (here on filmfreeway.com), and exhibition films will need to be sent via MOV or MP4 file if selected. If sending by a file-sharing service, make the expiration date of 30 days plus.

Submissions Policy:
DVD, Blu-ray and other physical media will not be accepted. Only MP4 files are eligible for screening at the theater. No DCP. Please note that the festival does not alter or edit films. Minor adjustments may be made solely for presentation purposes, such as trimming the start or end, or shortening credits that exceed one minute.

There is NO 'Film Made By' date. Please feel free to submit your early work as well as your current work.

Rules for Submissions

The rules are basic but necessary. Please take a quick look at the info below before you submit.

I, the undersigned, acknowledge and agree:

I have read, understood, and fully comply with all submission eligibility information, Submission Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of Entry, and Entry Eligibility requirements.
To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this submission are true.
This film or video is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
I am duly authorized to submit this film to the festival.
I hold The Milwaukee Horror Film Festival harmless from any damage to the print(s) or media materials(s) en route or otherwise during the course of the festival’s possession of the film.
I hold The Milwaukee Horror Film Festival, its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc., harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry.
I certify that I have full rights to the use of the music in the entered work.
I give permission for The Milwaukee Horror Film Festival to use stills, trailers, titles, copy, and/or information for promotional purposes.
Physical awards and paper certificates will only be distributed to winners who are present at the event, and their availability is limited. After the event, all winners will receive a downloadable PDF of the certificate via email. Additionally, participants will have the option to purchase a physical trophy for an additional cost, which includes shipping and handling.
I give permission for The Milwaukee Horror Film Festival to screen the film at the Festival live and online for which it was submitted.
If selected, I will provide The Milwaukee Horror Film Festival with a digital copy of my film's movie poster (in vertical format) for use on the festival website.
27 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Matt Ronzani

    Milwaukee Horror Con was an amazing experience and I have so much gratitude for our film being accepted, showcased, and rewarded Best Wisconsin Director. The screenings were a blast with some outstanding films and the venues were a treat. I met terrific filmmakers, did some invaluable networking, hung out with American Horror Story’s Naomi Grossman, and got to experience my film with an enthusiastic horror crowd.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Raymond Cara

    Thanks so much for selecting 'Simon Says So' to screen and for the 'best foreign horror' award which we were honoured to receive. Great festival!

    March 2026
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  • Jack Kudas

    Thank you so much to the Milwaukee Horror Film Fest. This was truly one of the best experiences of my life. It was incredible connecting with so many passionate horror fans, programmers, filmmakers, and iconic guests who were all so kind and supportive.

    A huge thank you to CJ Vecchio, Ashley Hefner, and the entire Milwaukee Horror Con and film fest team for putting together such an amazing, well-run event. Everything from the programming to the atmosphere felt authentic, welcoming, and genuinely built for filmmakers and fans alike.

    It was an absolute honor not only to be part of this festival, but to win Best Horror Short for my film The Celebration. I’m beyond grateful for the recognition and support.

    This is easily one of the best festivals I’ve attended, and I highly recommend it to any filmmaker looking for a passionate audience and a truly memorable experience. This was a dream come true!

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Brianna Lee

    Milwaukee Horror Film Fest was one of the greatest weekends of my filmmaking career. CJ Vecchio and the entire team put together such an incredible event—it’s the perfect space for horror filmmakers and fans to connect and fully immerse in the genre.

    The festival showcased so many innovative, inspiring films, and it was amazing connecting with other filmmakers. Beyond the screenings, the experience is next level—iconic celebrity guests, unique vendors, and events like the “Gathering of the Jasons” that make the whole weekend feel really special. Meeting legends like CJ Graham, Jon Abrahams, Ari Lehman, and Tyler Mane was a dream come true.

    This festival is something special and quickly becoming a major force in the horror community.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Breanna Taylor

    Truly enjoyed myself at the MHFF this year. It was my first time and the atmosphere was filled with horror lovers and appreciators that felt good to be around. Looking forward to next year!

    March 2026
    Helpful