New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival!
It's New Jersey's first true Independent Horror Film Festival!
We will host a number of amazing film premieres and screenings. Some films will be presented with introductions by the filmmakers. New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival will be at the Showboat Hotel Atlantic City, NJ. We had special guests in the past such as John Waters, Elvira, Danielle Harris, Lloyd Kaufman, Crispin Glover, Adam Green, Kevin Tenney, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Mick Garris and more!!! Who will come this year????

Our mission is to inspire and promote talented New Jersey and the Tri-state area independant filmmakers & artists. The New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival provides opportunities for you to mingle with celebrities, networking, exhibition, and screenings. We provide a unique experience for the public to experience films often with the filmmakers available to answer questions and share experiences with the audiences.

NJHCAFF was created by filmmaker Ryan Scott Weber to support independent film and filmmakers in the independent community. The film festival is surrounded by a convention atmosphere with celebrates and vendors to create a perfect networking and movie fan and filmmakers event.

The festivals creator, Ryan Scott Weber has worked as director, writer, producer, actor, cinematographer and editor on 4 feature films, Mary Horror, Sheriff Tom VS. The Zombies, Witches Blood and his more recent Pretty Fine Things (best actor at Horror Hound Film Festival) and also his TV series 'ZOMBIES INCORPORATED' which is in its 4th season.

The festival is calling for: Feature films, shorts, that have dark or horror or Sci-fi themes. We also hope local New Jersey filmmakers submit. Winning films will be chosen by a jury of leading film and media professionals:

Disclaimer:

Due to the high cost of making the awards and mailing them. You must be present to receive an actual award. You will not receive a psychical award if not present.

There is no refunds on any submission for any reason whatsoever. All sales are final. If you do not get selected you do not get your submission fee back.

Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor Performance, Best Actress Performance, Best Short Film, Best New Jersey Film, Best New Jersey Short, Best Cinematographer, Best Editing, Best Screenplay (for film), Audience Award, more TBA.

Disclaimer:

Due to the high cost of making the awards and mailing them. You must be present to receive an actual award. You will not receive a psychical award if not present.

There is no refunds on any submission for any reason whatsoever. All sales are final. If you do not get selected you do not get your submission fee back.

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

In submitting your film or video to New Jersey Horror Con and 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. Films must be completed in 2014 or later.

If your film is selected to screen at the festival, you must supply us with a copy of your film in one of the following formats: Blu-Ray, digital media file, DCP, or DVD.

While care will be taken, we are unable to guarantee the safety of your DVD, Blu-ray, hard drive, or film while in our possession, or in transit. If selected to screen at the festival, please do not send us a master copy, or your only copy of the film.

We do not pay for shipping of Blu-Ray, digital media file, DCP, or DVD. If selected to screen at the festival, filmmaker agrees to arrange for and pay for shipping of film or DCP to the festival in New Jersey.

Additional publicity materials (stills, posters etc.) are encouraged if your film is selected to screen at the festival (although not required).

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

1. Horror Feature Films: Any feature length film (45 to 140 minutes in duration) that deals with horror or sci-fi themes.

2. Horror Short Films: Any live action film (45 minutes or under in duration) that deals with horror or sci-fi themes. Your film can be narrative fiction, experimental, or even a documentary about horror or sci-fi.

3. Horror Music Videos

4. Horror Series Episode

A panel of judges, selected by the New Jersey Horror Con, will decide the winners of each of the above categories. The winners of each category will be announced at the festival's awards night. In all cases, the judges' decisions are final. Audience award is decided by audience vote.

Entrants whose films are chosen for screening at the festival will be notified by the notification date. Entrants whose films are selected will be given two free ticket to the screening of their film at New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival.

If you decide to attend the festival and require accommodation while in New Jersey we are able to recommend you stay at the Showboat Atlantic City, NJ, but 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 New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival to screen the film or video listed above, upon the film or video's acceptance in New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival. For the purpose of the screenings I authorize New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival to market the film or video in whatever manner they see fit. I acknowledge that New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival holds the screening rights of the above listed film or video for New Jersey Horror Con and 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 New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival, and that the film and the screening of the film by New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival, 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 New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival, and that nobody representing New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival has guaranteed my acceptance into the festival prior to this submission. I have read and agree to the general rules, terms and conditions of The New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival. I have also read and agree to any specific rules relating to the category that I am entering my film, video."

The entrant agrees that he or she will never assert against Broken Graves 1 or New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival 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 New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival, and the entrant understands that NJ HORROR CON 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 Atomic Kid Productions, New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival 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 Atomic Kid Productions or New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival of every kind whatsoever, now and in the future, in connection with the entrant's submission.

Disclaimer:

Due to the high cost of making the awards and mailing them. You must be present to receive an actual award. You will not receive a psychical award if not present.

There is no refunds on any submission for any reason whatsoever. All sales are final. If you do not get selected you do not get your submission fee back.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • We have attended NJHCFF in previous years and absolutely adored it, but this year was an unexpected disappointment from the film festival portion. The screening room was poorly labeled and difficult to find - there were many people sitting on the floor or standing as there were not nearly enough seats, and there was no one from the event running the screenings, so when technical errors occurred, we could find no one to assist us. It appears a pre-show technical check on the screenings was not done after download, so our music video submission was partially corrupted and unwatchable. The volunteers we could locate were very kind but did not have any information for us.

    We immediately emailed the main email address provided in all prior communications about the issues with the screening, but as of over a week later we still haven't received any reply. It's unclear whether they have anyone actively communicating with filmmakers during the weekend.

    The awards ceremony was not announced, and when we did arrive to it, it consisted of one gentleman reading names and titles off of his phone - the panel room also didn't have enough chairs, so folks were standing and sitting on the floor as well. Awards were not given out at the ceremony, the attending filmmakers who had won were required to go find someone with a box of trophies somewhere in the guest hall (who was openly providing envelopes of cash to the guests as their payment for participation in the weekend). It was so unlike previous years and the sheer lack of care towards attendees and professionalism was startling.

    They did not take credit cards for general entry, and the ATMs had no money left by Sunday, leaving people unable to even get into the Con, but there was no communication regarding this on any of their social media.

    I do hope things improve in the future, and it can return to having the care and attention to the filmmakers that we experienced in previous years, but this August was a very, very disappointing weekend for our creative team.

    August 2023
  • Joseph Sernio

    Great festival and Horror Con!! Thank you for making LOVED and MALICIOUS an official selection! Congrats to all of the official selections, nominees, and award winners!!

    August 2023
  • Heather Turman

    Five stars all the way around! The entire team was so kind and hospitable, and they honored me with a "Best Director" award which came in the form of a super sick handmade trophy that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you for a truly wonderful experience, New Jersey Horror Con! 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

    August 2023
  • Thank you for the honor to show "Bye Bye Daddy", this year. It was a great experience. I got some good feedback.

    September 2022
  • Thanks for including Last Bite!

    September 2022