The transgressive nature of horror has always skewed queer. Queer Fear's mission is to fling open the closet door and spotlight the rainbow end of the horror and genre film spectrum. Gays lost in the woods? We're into it. Lesbian vampires? We want them (really, call us). Trans Final Girls? Send them in. Experimental animation through a queer lens? Yes, thank you, more please. Like sexuality, our definition of horror is pretty fluid. Sci-fi, thrillers, dark fantasy, harrowing documentary, and cinematic experiments are all welcome. If your story faces down the darkness in the world or within, we probably want to see it.

Be part of the South's only exclusively queer horror and dark genre film festival! We set ourselves apart by building a community dedicated to queer creators and queer stories, from the campy to the truly skin-crawling. Horror has always embraced The Other, and queer folx around the world know a thing or two about being Othered. But we're not alone.

Our fourth annual event will be in-person at a/perture cinema in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina. All accepted filmmakers will receive a screening fee and two all-access festival passes.

Our judge's top picks for Best Short, Best Feature, and Best Student Film, as well as our Audience Choice film, will all receive cash prizes and a coveted Golden Unicorn statue.

Awards & Prizes

Best Feature Film | Prize: $250
Best Short Film | Prize: $250
Audience Choice Film | Prize: $250
Best Student Film | Prize: $250

Rules & Terms

Films should be made by LGBTQ+ and queer creators, and/or center LGBT+ and queer characters and stories. Films do not need explicitly queer content to be considered, as long as key creatives involved identify as queer.

LGBTQ+ includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, nonbinary, pansexual, asexual, genderfluid, and other identities. Queer is an umbrella term that encompasses all of these identities, and identities that fall between or outside these labels.

We accept films of all styles and modes: narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, and hybrid.

Rules:
- Films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2022.
- By submitting, you agree that you are the owner or have the permission of the owner of the film submitted and all contents within. We love fan films, but we can't screen them.
- Films must be either in English or subtitled in English.
- We are unable to screen pornography.
- Filmmakers may submit multiple projects, but an individual entry must be submitted for each project.
- Submitted films are considered the final finished versions of those films by the Festival (no “in progress” projects).
- Participants agree that clips from their film and other material related to their project may be used and/or published in the event program, on the Festival website, and for any promotional purposes in print, broadcast, or online.
- All film submission fees are non-refundable.
- There is no guarantee that films submitted will be selected for Festival screening.

Premiere status is not required.
16 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nicole Tegelaar

    Lovely organisation and festival! Thank you for selecting my short!

    November 2024
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  • Rachel Kerry

    I had a truly wonderful time screening my horror comedy short at the Queer Fear Film Festival. They treated our team exceptionally well, arranged pickups from the airport, and threw one hell of an event! It was deeply inspiring to meet so many other queer filmmakers making horror and then get to see their work. Plus Winston-Salem is a very cool city to visit. 10/10 would recommend. Queer Fear is a very special event and I hope to attend again in the future.

    November 2024
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  • Emma Underwood

    I had an amazing time at this film festival! The work is inspiring, and the people are wonderful. If you love queer horror, definitely, definitely check this out.

    October 2024
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  • Neil Willoughby

    Hands down one of my favorite festivals I've attended. 100% worth the entry fee- Tiffany and her team curated a thoughtful and fun event that our team will definitely be submitting future projects to. Stellar communication from the team and resources for filmmakers akin to much larger festivals.

    October 2024
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  • Michelle Mary Schaefer

    As a Deaf Filmmaker, Queer Fear Film Festival has been so welcoming and opened it's mind, eyes, and heart on authentic representation unlike most Festivals. Tiffany has been so friendly, and embraced me and my project. They even provided an ASL interpreter for the Q and A of my film, with no issues--- which I wish the society would follow their lead. This is the first time they are opening their eyes to accessibility- thank you. Unfortunately a lot of films are not captioned/subtitled even the Feature which is the tendency of ableist Filmmaker who did not consider to include majority of us who uses captions/subtitles--- not just the Deaf, ADHD, English Second Language, Elder with Hearing Loss, Folks with Hearing Loss, etc--- all use captions/subtitles--- it is an ongoing educational/advocacy non-stop within our daily lives and even Film Festivals. Hopefully all Film Festivals would be open to inclusive, and accessibility and even to accept projects from Deaf/Disabled Filmmakers! ---_ So thank you Queer Fear Film Festival for taking the step forward!

    October 2024
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