INTERNATIONAL HORROR FESTIVAL ~ We accept films from around the world!!

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The rumors are true, the Northern Frights Festival will return for a FIFTH year!! That's cause for one scary celebration, and we intend to bring the fear like never before. Stay tuned for all the updates.

Once again, we're bringing the world's scariest films to Northern Ontario, and we're throwing this down on October 19, 2019 at the Sudbury Theatre Centre in beautiful downtown Sudbury, Ontario. It's a great venue with great people, so we've decided to settle in. We're kicking it phantom of the paradise style, hoping to gain squatters rights to the place.

This is Northern Ontario's PREMIERE horror festival, and we're gearing up to bring you another heavy hit of horror!

We love horror movies, and we love those who make them, so we want to screen your films! We're looking for all types of horror flicks...monsters, psychos, killer plants, demon dogs, supernatural, super serious, hilarious, dreadful, creepy clowns, possessed machines, ghost horror, found footage, we want them all!!

Anything goes, as long as it's horror! As for format, we're focusing this year on shorts, no longer than 30 minutes. We're also down with documentaries, animation, claymation, puppetry, wizardry, and we love trailers!!

Submit today, and showcase your work to a new audience of horror fans! Help us celebrate our fourth Northern Frights Festival!

We've been part of the "Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals" on FilmFreeway five times, in Nov. 2016, and February, April, May and June 2017! Thanks to everyone for their kind reviews!

Awards & Prizes

Awards and Prizes:
Yes there will be awards...the soon-to-be-coveted NFA's...the Northern Frights Awards! We'll have a jury this year to select the winners.

Awards will be presented to:

Favourite Short
Scariest Film
Best Soundtrack
Most Original Story
Best Actor (both male and female leads)
Best Visual Effects
Best Makeup
Best Gore
Favourite Director

Rules & Terms

Rules and Terms:
We will accept films from any country, however, if they are not in English, please subtitle or dub them.
There is no "film made by" date. If it's good, we want to see it, doesn't matter if it was produced in '86. That's how we roll.
We'll accept submissions that have been previously screened elsewhere. After all, they will be new to Northern Frights.
We will also accept films that are currently available for public viewing on a video platform such as YouTube of Vimeo. However, if that film is accepted, you must make it inaccessible (i.e. not viewable) to the public on those platforms from the time you receive notice of acceptance to the Festival's conclusion.

Those submitting must be authorized to submit the film, and hold the rights to the film. Any violations of copyright will not be tolerated. Those INTERPOL warnings weren't just to scare you, stealing is not cool.

Submitting your film does not guarantee a spot in the Northern Frights Festival lineup. However, we will get back to everyone who does submit to let them know the outcome of our decision.

If your film is accepted, you will gladly send us some digital promo material, and let us use this material to promote your film as part of our festival lineup.
We only accept digital screeners, via FilmFreeway. That is all.
We will not accept works in progress. All entry fees paid are non-refundable. Please be sure to submit under the correct category.
Upon submission, the Northern Frights Festival is granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the Northern Frights Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
Thanks for taking the time to read the rules. We appreciate it!!
One last thing, please do not contact the venue directly, as we'll only be there on the festival's date, and we'll be busy!

But contact us at distantfield@hotmail.com or through our site, www.northernfrightsfestival.com

25 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Charles Doran

    What a great fest. Unfortunately we were not able to attend but the communication was excellent and I was very impressed by the lineup of films the fest organizers put together. If we are lucky enough to be selected next time we will find a way to attend. Thanks for everything!

    December 2018
    Helpful
  • Laurel Vail

    I wasn't able to attend, but they are really great with communication and have good social media. It seemed like a great event!

    December 2018
    Helpful
  • Ariel Hansen

    While I couldn't make it in person this festival had great communication and excellent social media presence. This was my second year screening at it and I'll definitely submit again in the future.

    November 2018
    Helpful
    Northern frights distant field productions (8)
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Ariel! And we certainly look forward to seeing what you get up to in the future. Nepenthes is so awesome, it really went over well with the crowd. Keep it scary out West for us!

  • Kyle Martellacci

    Over the last 4 years Northern Frights has given my films a home, and David really gives the festival and films a push through social media, and advertising. This was the first year I finally attended and I have to say I'm impressed as hell. The venue is awesome, the seats are comfortable, the screen is clear, the sound is perfect, and the crowd that attends is impressive.
    David has all kinds of little souvenirs to give out for the festival, and is an all around great guy. Super friendly and personable and passionate about the fest. It's not a massive festival, but it's run professionally and attracts some good attention from not just filmmakers, but film-goers. I can assure you this is a festival worthy of submitting to, your film will be treated and screened with care, a sizable audience will see it and David will make you feel welcome whether you are attending or not. Submit submit submit! I never miss out on sending my shorts to this one.

    November 2018
    Helpful
    Northern frights distant field productions (8)
    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the kind words, Kyle! I'm glad you had a great time at the fest, and it was so nice to have you there. It's been a thrill being able to include your works in the fest (every fest, actually!), and I definitely appreciate you always sharing your work with us. You bring the fear! Thanks again, and talk with you soon!

  • Matthew Vinaja

    Love this festival! 2 Years in a row we have a film involved and couldn't be happier!

    November 2018
    Helpful