Scumdance is now a multi-day film festival celebrating the best of underground film. We do our best to curate those films made by the true artist… those who speak with a voice and vision outside the realm of standard faire. We specialize in horror, avant-garde, music based, and experimental films.

Awards & Prizes

Best Short (as voted by festival judges) and Audience Favorite Short.
Best Feature (as voted by festival judges) and Audience Favorite Feature.

Best Score/Soundtrack
Best Acting (non-gender specific)
Best Animation/stop-motion
Best Directing
Best Cinematography

2022 Winners:
Judges Favorite Feature: The Secret of Cuck Island
Judges Favorite Short: Living Room
Audience Favorite Feature: Zero Budget Heroes
Audience Favorite Short: Don't Walk Alone in the Dark

Best Score/Soundtrack -Barry Paul Clark - Bid Hope Farewell
Best Acting (non-gender specific) - John Burgio - The Secret of Cuck Island
Best Animation/stop-motion - Lynn Kristmanson - Secret Santa
Best Directing - Oz Stremel Overshiner - Sanctus
Best Cinematography - Elwin Rijken - Living Room

Rules & Terms

Please send us your most entertaining live action, stop motion, and animated shorts and features, but 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
25 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rives Elliot

    Great festival with films you're never gonna see anywhere else! Unfortunately was unable to attend 2022 festival due to Airline issues but am extremely proud that my film The Secret of Cuck Island won Judges' Favorite Feature and Best Acting for our lead. Even got two awesome trophies for it and a Scumdance t-shirt. Very cool festival, highly recommend

    January 2023
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  • Alexandre Aymard

    Fantastic team and brilliant selection ! Very happy and honored that my short got selected. I'd also like to thank the festival for the internet release, it was a pleasure to watch the shorts from across the atlantic.

    October 2021
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  • Scott Bekisz

    Working with Travis and the team at Scumdance was great. Unfortunately I could not make the festival in person this year but there will be a virtual festival so that is great. Communication was great from the festival and they really care about the filmmaker so that is absolutely great to see. Would definitely recommend Scumdance to other filmmakers out there.

    September 2021
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  • Mr. Nalivadi

    Grah Grah Grah! Grah!

    (He said: was an incredible experience. Telematics, but cool. Thanks for the attention you pay for the submitters. I’ve felt good vibes in all parts of this festival, and then…Infinite things; thanks, with all of my heart.)

    You have switched on again something I’ve lost a little bit. Something like hope!
    It was an honor, thanks again!

    September 2021
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  • Reuben Guberek

    Scumdance was an absolute pleasure to attend. Travis and George (programmers/judges) were welcoming and friendly. The film lineup was full of funny, artistic, honest films that were a riot to watch. One of the most down to earth festival's I've ever attended. I would definitely go again.

    September 2021
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