"One of the country's best film festivals." — Fangoria

"Bloody hell! We love the Overlook Film Festival! There's nowhere else in the world that could make our strange band of vampires feel so welcome. We send our undying respect to everyone from the organizers to the fans who make this festival the coolest place on this or any planet." — Jim Jarmusch

"One of the 25 Bloody Best Genre Festivals in the World." — MovieMaker Magazine

"The best time I’ve ever had at a film festival. Full stop." — Bloody Disgusting

"Literally the best fest experience I had ever been a part of." — Collider

"One of our absolute favorite festivals" — Screen Anarchy

The Overlook Film Festival is a four day celebration of horror held in America's most haunted city, New Orleans.

Presenting superior film programming with an expanded focus on experiential events, the festival showcases exciting new work in new and classic independent horror cinema alongside the latest in interactive and live shows for a fully immersive weekend. As a summer camp for genre fans, The Overlook is a community event bringing the best of horror in all its forms to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience within an intimate and inspirational environment.

Past honorees include Roger Corman, Mike Flanagan, Jason Blum, and Leigh Whannell, and guests include Nicolas Cage, Jim Jarmusch, Joe Dante, John Goodman, Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth, Taika Waititi, Ari Aster, Ana Lily Amirpour, Paul Williams, John Cameron Mitchell, Paul Scheer, Roxanne Benjamin, Darren Lyn Bousman, and more.

Past screenings include closing night presentations of EVIL DEAD RISE, HEREDITARY, the world premiere of ABIGAIL, and THE BLACK PHONE and the world premiere of RENFIELD with Nicolas Cage in person. Advisors of the festival include Elijah Wood (LORD OF THE RINGS, SpectreVision), Joe Dante (GREMLINS, THE HOWLING), Leigh Whannell (SAW, INSIDIOUS), Karyn Kusama (THE INVITATION, GIRLFIGHT), and industry luminaries from organizations such as LucasFilm, Sundance, and Blumhouse.

More Testimonials from Previous Filmmakers:

“I had an absolute blast at the Overlook Film Festival. The audience, the festival staff, and the fantastic New Orleans locations are just brimming with spirit, and I loved being so swept away. The anniversary screening of OCULUS will remain one of the most surreal and satisfying screenings of my career, and I just can’t wait to find my way back for more.” — Mike Flanagan (OCULUS, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE)

“Being back at Overlook to feel the incredible, one-of-a-kind energy of the genre fans and to interact with all of the LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL fans was an unforgettable experience. Helping present CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (in 3D no less!!!) was the spooky cherry on top of one of the best film fests around.” — David Dastmalchian (LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL)

"A truly unforgettable experience. Overlook showcases an incredibly diverse body of films that reflect the entire spectrum of horror. The festival staff were great partners and took such good care of us.” — Chris Mckay (RENFIELD, THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE)

"There isn't really another festival like the Overlook Film Festival. It's such a beautifully curated good time, for filmmakers and fans and everyone in between. I get why people travel from across America to attend this festival — it feels like a community, and that community gets to gather and share what they love most: Horror films that make you think, laugh, and jump." — David Farrier (MISTER ORGAN, TICKLED)

"Overlook was a perfect festival experience. There was such thoughtful programming and so much audience engagement, and the quality of the venue was superb. I found myself attending so many other films just as a fan — the festival introduced me to amazing horror premieres of films I hadn't heard of as well as movies I was already desperate to see. Their special events were great bonding experiences and good old-fashioned morbid fun. It definitely lived up to the spirit of its host city, the most haunted and celebratory place on earth." — Laura Moss (BIRTH/REBIRTH)

"I had the best experience at Overlook. I met so many amazing filmmakers from around the world. There were experiences, meet-ups and parties galore. The food was *chef's kiss*. And best of all, the programmed films celebrated the diversity and breadth of horror. Other film festivals could take a cue from the creativity and excellence of Overlook." — Michael Schwartz (SNATCHED)

"The Overlook Film Festival continues to raise the bar for genre fests. Its cunning programming, unique live experiences, and devoted curators, organizers, and jury make it a thrilling event for horror makers and our rabid fans…" — Zeke Farrow (POSSESSIONS)

"There's not enough space to write just how much I love this festival! The organizers are absolutely fantastic, and they treat their filmmakers amazingly! Even going online because of the pandemic, it was an absolute blast. I will be coming back every year to this one!" — Angel Hernandez Suarez (NOM)

"Overlook is a blast of a film festival! It was an honor to be included in such a top notch lineup. Even beyond the films, the events programmed were some of the best and most informative I've seen. I'm looking forward to be back!" — Jorge Lucas (BAKEMONO)

Awards & Prizes

Feature Film Audience Award
Short Film Audience Award
Jury Prize for Best Short Film
Jury Prize for Scariest Short Film

Rules & Terms

All films must have been completed after January 2024.

Feature films must not have screened on U.S. television, in commercial release, or on the internet/streaming prior to the dates of the festival

All films not in English must be subtitled in English for presentation.

If selected, films must be prepared to send the festival a DCP, as this is our only accepted exhibition format.

Any physical entry materials will not be returned.

The Overlook Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt or stills from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival and in perpetuity thereafter 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 submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless The Overlook Film Festival and The Brooklyn Film Center Inc 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.

Only secure online screeners will be accepted as a submission format. Please do not send DVDs.
21 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Luke Zwanziger

    Overlook was a goal of mine when I made my film and am so honored to have screened screened VINES, an eco body horror. This was best run fest I've been to and I've been to a lot of festivals. The caliber of films here is off the hook. This year I screened along side Kurosawa, Cronenburg, Flying Lotus, Eli Craig, Joe Hill and more. This is a place where up and coming talent is seen. I met more producers here than at any other fest I've been to thus far. Panels. Film Selected. Social Events.

    The communication and ease of the festival experience was top tier. This is a fest I would go to whether or not I had a film here because it is just that awesome.

    The audience and filmmakers are all so generous, open and welcoming. Someone else mentioned that by end of the weekend, they felt like old friends. Can't wait to return to Camp Overlook.

    April 2025
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  • Benedict Chiu

    Overlook is fantastic! A horror festival passionately made with the audience in mind. From crowd pleasing slashers to existential independent horror, this was an especially fun experience in New Orleans. My film BOY BAND played in the shorts program, and by the end of the weekend my fellow shorts filmmakers really felt like old friends.

    April 2025
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  • Justine Beed

    The warm fest community and reactive audiences! All the killer films! The spooky events! New Orleans!

    April 2025
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  • Mike Williamson

    Easily one of the best festival experiences I’ve had on the circuit. Excellent film curation, wonderful staff, and a real emphasis on socializing and having fun with filmmaker and attendee events and gatherings every day. I had an absolute BLAST. Thanks Overlook!

    April 2025
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  • Zeke Farrow

    There are not enough stars. This is not only the greatest genre festival, it’s one of the all-time great festivals. I’ve played here twice and I just can’t encourage you enough to submit your films. The programmers are great - the films they play are varied and all wonderful. The films are all wonderful. The films are all wonderful. Wonderful. The festival is packed all day and night with shorts, features, docs, panels, and live experiences. Mostly the films play twice at one cineplex with great sound and projection, so it’s convenient to see anything and everything. The festival directors and programmers are all there, hosting happy hours, brunches, and parties into the wee hours of the morning. There are tons of opportunities to meet the other filmmakers and talk about their films. And the filmmakers are all the cool people who made all the wonderful films. It’s simply the greatest time. This is a festival run by lots of volunteers who live the horror genre and who really choose the films they love and they are incredibly welcoming. Oh yeah, and beignets.

    April 2025
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