Romford Film Festival has spawned a horrific child, after years of running a successful festival we have launched The Romford Horror Film Festival.

Listed by Screen Daily as one of the 50 UK Film Festivals you need to know, and Dread Central as one of the best genre festivals, our 6th festival will run from Thursday 19th February to Sunday 22nd of March 2026, at Romford's New events venue Lumiere. Films will be shown simultaneously over several screens the event begins on the Thursday running through to Sunday from 11am in the morning until late at night. As well as horror films we'll be accepting other genre areas such as sci-fi, fantasy and thrillers.

Romford is in London's fourth largest retail area and has a plethora of shops and restaurants close at hand, as well as a variety of hotels.

Since the festival launched in 2021 we have screened over 200 world premieres, showing approximately 120-250 shorts and features each year.

Filmmakers in attendance will experience their film on a large screen in a purpose build multiplex, at the end of the screenings there will be a Q&A session with the audience followed by an interview with either Spencer, Kevin or Peter, all interviews will be filmed and unleashed onto our social media channels. Our team KNOW horror and you'll appreciate the output we provide to your films. There will be red carpet interviews with our audience and reviews on a number of websites. In addition we offer stylised photoshoots for our filmmakers and guests, you can check this out in our photo library. These are provided for free. We have sessions of horror roulette, Nerdly livestreams with Kevin Haldon and a bar with themed cocktails.

Romford Film Festival and Romford Horror Film Festival are festivals ran by filmmakers and people who actively work within the industry, so we understand all the things you've been through, we'll screen your accepted film and part as lifelong friends, we'll support you long after the festival finish. Which is probably why in our festival history over 650 filmmakers have returned with their projects after having an amazing first outing with us.

In our 2024 season we exceeded our expectations with over 1400 attendees arrive on the Saturday alone, to not just watch films, but purchase goods from stands and get autographs with famous faces from horror.

Awards & Prizes

We will have 13 main awards:

Including:
Best Film
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Score

Other awards based on similar themes such as "Best Kill" or "Best Vacuum Cleaner Death" these awards will change yearly.

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

The festival operates a no waiver policy unless you have been a previous exhibitor.

Incomplete films can be submitted for consideration, however any content submitted must be supplied by 1st January 2025 in its completed form or films will be removed from schedules.

Any film not presented in English must come with English subtitles.

There is no exclusion for films that have been featured at other film festivals, films currently available on streaming services may also be included. However should a filmmaker agree to screen a film they cannot withdraw once an agreement to screen has been met.

Filmmakers travelling from oversees are not paid for attending, Romford Horror Film Festival prides itself on its Not For Profit status. However if filmmakers choose to attend, they will receive free festival tickets, be considered for awards (as will any submission) and will be part of a Q&A at the end of their film which is recorded, displayed on social media channels and sent to associated press.

Any film submitted cannot withdraw for any circumstances once the film has reached us and been publicly announced.
85 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lawrie Brewster

    Had the best time at the Romford Horror Film Festival! Amazing festival, lovely people and great atmosphere. Also, so grateful to them for screening 'The Reign of Queen Ginnarra' and that it won 'Best SFX'! Highly recommend!

    March 2025
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  • Simon Darkman

    Many, many thanks to Spencer, Kevin, Peter and the whole team for putting on their biggest event ever - I've never been to a festival where there were 6 screens running all weekend!
    It was an incredible undertaking and achievement, all down to a lot of hard work by everyone involved.
    Really enjoyed seeing the eclectic mix of films, and especially meeting so many filmmakers at the networking between screenings.
    Can't wait till next year!

    March 2025
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  • Rita Osei

    The festival was amazing at communicating everything leading up to, during and after the event. I also had emails from friends who watched our film at the festival expressing how much they had enjoyed their time there.

    March 2025
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  • Geoff Harmer

    WOW! What can I say!? This is such a fantastic event! Loved every aspect of this event, it really is growing year on year! Fantastic communication, amazing staff, and incredible screenings. I mean, who doesn't want to see their film projected in a cinema, with a great crowd?!?!?! Easily one of the best Genre festivals in the UK. Thank you Spencer and team!

    March 2025
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  • BRADLEY JONES

    Romford Horror was a such a great festival. The organizers are so communicative and friendly throughout the entire process. In addition to the festival being extremely well run, there were more press opportunities from this festival then almost any of the other festivals that my film has screened thus far.

    The organizers really help facilitate connecting filmmakers with many different press outlets to help get the word out about your film. Really enjoyed partaking in the podcast that was affiliated with the festival as well. Would highly recommend submitting to.

    March 2025
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