Scumdance is a celebration of the best of underground film. ​We champion punks, weirdos, mutants, misfits, metalheads & maniacs from around the globe.

We specialize in horror, comedy, horror-comedy, sci-fi, avant-garde, music based, and experimental films. Though really, we're just looking for good, weird movies.

Awards & Prizes

Awards Categories:
Best Short
Best Feature
Best Score/Soundtrack
Best Performance
Best Animation/stop-motion
Best Directing
Best Cinematography
Audience Favorite Short
Audience Favorite Feature
The Travis Calvert Scumdancitarian Award (for the film that truly embrace the ethos of Scumdance)

2023 Winners:
Best Performance: Micheline Chartier - Red Tiles
Best Cinematography: Jakob Bilinski - Real Cool Time
Best Music/Sound: Logan Felber - Annihilator
Best Animated Film: Duban Pinzon - Lete
Best Director: Dustin Shea - Untitled.mov
Best Short: Now Is Not The Time
Best Feature: INTO THE SHED
Audience Award Best Short: Annihilator
Audience Award Best Feature: Kim's Video
The Travis Calvert Scumdancitarian Award: (TIE)
Microdosing directed by Patrick Adam Peña
and
Motomarine directed by Gabriel Auclair-Doucet

Rules & Terms

Send us your most entertaining live action, stop motion, and animated movies. Any submissions that are deemed to be overtly racist, sexist, homophobic, featuring animal or child abuse, or otherwise just plain outside the bounds of bad taste will be flatly rejected.
Shorts - 30 min or less
Features - 30 min or more

Please note: selection into Scumdance does not guarantee that your film will be screened at our live event.
37 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Eric Morgret

    This is an amazing festival filled with carefully curated films and a passionate dedicated team working to deliver unforgettable screenings. This event is absolutely worth your time and money!

    October 2024
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  • Bernardo Alejandro LORENZO

    Thanks for the oficial selection and projection of the shortmovie CNX'S. Greetings from Argentina

    October 2024
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  • Bob Moricz

    One of the best festivals to submit to if you make truly weird movies. Daring programming and a first class affair. Proud to be associated with Scumdance.

    October 2024
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  • Vitale Materi Video & Movie Production

    A serious and high-quality Festival. It was a pleasure to receive an honorable mention for our multi-award winning feature film "Lesbian Psycho?"!

    October 2024
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  • Andrew Dimitrov

    George was super communicative and great to work with. I was disappointed to be unable to attend in person. Next time :)

    October 2024
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