The 18th Edition of the Sacramento Horror Film Festival has been scheduled for Saturday, January 25th, 2025.

The Sacramento Horror Film Festival was created in 2007 with many purposes. The festival founder desired the festival to be a platform for the horror filmmaker while providing a satisfying and valued movie going experience to the film patron.

The SHFF screens more films over fewer days than any other horror film festival thus providing a greater chance for exposure for the horror filmmaker. We have a profound dedication to the horror genre. The festival screens all things horror including features, shorts, documentaries, music videos, trailers, and animations.

We do more than screen a series of films. We enhance the film going experience between film programs by inserting live music, performance art, interactive games, costume contests, and comedy all hosted by horror host personalities. The Sacramento Horror Film Festival is more than a festival- it is multi-faceted arts and entertainment event.

We provoke filmmaker creativity by issuing annual film challenges open to all filmmakers across the world. The festival hosts educational workshops in various elements of the filmmaking process in order to educate the novice and experienced filmmakers alike.

It is our mission to promote the independent filmmaker, his/her/their projects and talent therein, while offering an unique and entertaining cinematic experience to fans of the horror genre while further establishing Sacramento as a city of the arts.

The SHFF was acclaimed for being "The Best Place for a Real Horror Show" in the "2008 Best of: Unauthorized" issue of the Sacramento News & Review.

In 2013, SHFF received acclaim for being one of the "Coolest Film Festivals" according to MovieMaker Magazine.

The festival chooses to utilize the Historic Colonial Theatre in Sacramento, CA. The Colonial Theatre doors first opened in 1939.

The festival director operates the festival with the support of its fellowship of horror fanatics and filmmakers.

Founded in 2007 by Tim Meunier.

SHFF ATTITUDE AND MANTRA - "LOVE HORROR."

Champion of Horror Award.

Entries must be original works. Entrant must have legal rights to film including licensing for music. Entrant gives permission to SHFF to exhibit film during the 2025 festival with no royalties expected. Films must be of a horror/ thriller/ slasher/ movie maniac/ science fiction nature. Documentaries are allowed if they document horror/thriller. Entry does not guarantee a spot in the final program. Film should not include any edits that can induce epileptic seizures. Each film will be reviewed and each filmmaker will receive feedback if requested. Short films will be reviewed in their entirety. Films entered shall not be positioned live to the public via youtube or vimeo websites. Feature films will be given a minimum of 30 minutes review time. If our judges feel your feature film is not right for our market after reviewing 50% of the runtime, the judge will cease the review process and reject the film. Prefer compressed MP4 formats for screening. We are not a DCP capable festival as of yet. Entry fees are NON REFUNDABLE. With entry you agree to this policy. Additionally, selected films must acknowledge their selection and submit their screening file within 7 days of the notification date. While we give a best effort to combine as many short films, music videos, and features into programming, it may be completely possible for the festival to become a shorts fest, music video fest, or features only fest dependent on content review, jury selection, and other issues outside of the control of the festival organizers, such as, but not limited to, filmmakers not acknowledging acceptance and missing our deadline, filmmaker withdrawl of their film, and films being withdrawn due to distribution deals. SHFF is hereby 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 SHFF 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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • An amazing fest, so many excellent films, amazing and friendly organizers and a beautiful large theater filled with the best horror fans and creators!

    February 2024
  • Marlon Royal Reid

    My first horror film festival and I had a great time. The staff was helpful and I just had a lot of fun. As I told the audience during the Q & A session, "I'll come back as much as you want." I will submit all of my horror projects to the Sacramento Horror Film Festival.

    January 2024
  • I had such a great time at this festival! There was a great turnout and the crowd was amazing. The programmers chose high quality films that kept the crowd pumped the entire time. There was also a lineup of horror themed performers that enhanced the experience. It was truly unique.

    We had the honor of having our film Get Away screened at the fest and also receiving the Best Of Fest Award for 2023. It was such a memorable experience and I can't wait to return next year.

    January 2023
  • Russell Emanuel

    Great film festival that treated us well! Thank you so much!

    January 2023
  • This is a great festival. I was unable to attend but our actor/producer went and he had nothing but great things to say about it. The theatre was amazing and there was a real sense of community with all the filmmakers in attendance.

    November 2021