NAMED ONE OF THE BEST GENRE FEST IN THE WORLD BY MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE IN 2019, 2020 and 2021!

Our 2021 Event will be some sort of limited hybrid in person theater experience along with a virtual online festival. More details on capacity regarding theaters in the coming weeks due to COVID restrictions. In person events will require social distancing and masks.

Join us as we bring the Panic! to Kansas City. Held in the historic Screenland Armour theater our film festival features horror, thriller and sci-fi films.

Some of the films we debuted in previous festivals include Elijah Wood’s Maniac remake, What We Do in the Shadows (North American Debut), Dark Was the Night and many more.

In addition to our feature film lineup we also host a short film showcases that attendees vote for the best of fest. Our festival features live podcast shows (Last Podcast on the Left, Movie Crypt, Generation Why and Cult Podcast.) and Q&A sessions after select films.

Take a break from the action and check out some of our amazing vendors or vintage arcade games.

All of this brought to you by Screenland Theaters in collaboration with DownrightCreepy.com

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS:
Short Film Showcase - Best of Show*
Best Director - Feature Film
Best Film - Feature Film
Audience Choice - Feature Film*
Best Actress - Feature Film
Best Actor - Feature Film

*Voted By Festival Goers at the Festival

Other Awards Will Be Voted by A Selection of Festival Judges.

Rules & Terms

Short films must be from 2020 - 2021 without regular release date. Films do not need to be in finished state to submit, please mark these as WIP (Work in Progress) Submission.

Only one short may be submitted per filmmaker, per year.

Non-English language films must have subtitles burned.

By submitting your film you agree to supply a screener for approved members of the press

Short Film Running Time: 16 minutes (max)
Feature Film Running Time: 120 minutes (max)

Submission does not guarantee entry into festival. Filmmakers will be notified no later than April 12, 2021 if their film has be accepted into the festival.

24 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jason Daly

    Top Tier, no doubt about it!

    December 2020
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  • Presley Paras

    Panic Fest backs up ALL the high praise. Programming & Venue were dope. The staff, other filmmakers, and the local KC were absolutely welcoming. They market your film AND I got baseball cards of my short. Tim & Co absolutely Mahomesed it in every facet. A1. A1. A1.

    February 2020
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  • Scott Lyus

    One of the very best genre festivals on the circuit. I can not express enough how much I LOVED Panicfest. Without doubt in my top 2 or 3 genre festivals I have ever attended, let alone screened at.
    I will be submitting every film I make from here on out and will of course be back to attend year on year if my budget allows.

    February 2020
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  • Andrew Bell

    Had a great time at Panic Fest with my short film, LET ME PLAY. They really treated us short filmmakers right and we were lucky to get to play on their biggest screen at a very cool venue alongside some really well curated films. Would definitely recommend and plan on submitting again. Definitely worth submitting to and keeping on your radar!

    February 2020
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  • Zachary Eglinton

    Though I didn't get to go, I can't help but feel completely amazed at how awesome Panic Fest is. With podcasts being uploaded that took place at the festival, constant updates from Tim, and filmmakers reaching out to tell me they dug my short film (Allergic Overreaction) it felt like I was there. And I'm super excited to try and get over there with something new!

    February 2020
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