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 second event on SEPT 5-7th, 2025. 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 & Feature)
Fest Directors Choice Award

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

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 make the expiration date of 30 days plus.

We are not accepting DVD/BluRay/Hardcopy submissions. Only films with MP4 files will be played live at the theatre.

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.
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lorenzo Manetti

    We were unfortunately not able to attend the fest in person, but had an incredible experience with the festival’s team. Their communication and enthusiasm leading up to the event was excellent. We are honored to have had our short film, ESCAPE, be a part of the fest. As we embark on our next project, I really hope we are able to participate again, and experience the Milwaukee Horror Film Festival in person! Thank you again for including us!

    April 2025
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  • Richard Louprasong

    Was not able to attend but it was an honor to be part of the film festival! Overall, great communication!

    March 2025
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  • Travis Long

    CJ and the group did a fantastic job with the debut of MHFF. I was beyond honored to have my script “Blood Sugar” awarded best screenplay. Horror fans should absolutely add this stop to their list of great U.S. festivals. Can’t wait to return!

    March 2025
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  • Harry Waldman

    Thanks for awarding "Bay For Blood" for Best Horror Short Film Over 15 Minutes!!! The turnout was great for a first year fest, the venue was nice, the films were awesome and I met some really cool filmmakers. I had a very good experience overall and will definitely be submitting future projects to the Milwaukee Horror Film Festival.

    March 2025
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  • Bekim Vanbosche

    I couldn’t make it to attend in person, but the communication from the festival team was excellent. They shared lots of pictures and stayed in touch, always available to answer any questions I had.

    Some of the movies they selected I had already seen, and they were truly great — so their taste in films is spot on and definitely worth watching.

    I was nominated alongside other amazing films, and honestly, I couldn’t tell who would win because all of them deserved an award. The quality was that high.

    Also, since it’s a convention-style festival, I can say from past experience that one of the best parts is the audience. Many of them aren’t just filmmakers, but real horror fans. Hearing their thoughts and reactions is always such a rewarding experience.

    This festival is absolutely worth submitting to — if only for the chance to share your work with a passionate and genuine audience of film and horror lovers.

    March 2025
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