Sin City Horror Fest was founded in 2016 by friends and fellow filmmakers Mike Lenzini, Drew Marvick, Darren Flores, Justin Bergonzoni, and Clay Lake. The quintet have a passion for film and the horror genre and wanted to create an outlet for independent horror filmmakers to showcase and celebrate their work.

Awards & Prizes

2020 Award Winners!

Feature Films

Best Feature - Sister Tempest
Best Director - Joe Badon, Sister Tempest
Best Screenplay - Jeff Wedding, Tennessee Gothic
Best Cinematography - Eric Stanze, Tennessee Gothic
Best Editing - Joseph Estrade, Sister Tempest
Best Actor - Simon Phillips, The Nights Before Christmas
Best Actress - Cordula Zielonka, Marlene
Best Special FX - The Curse of Valburga
Best Score - Greg Bennett, Tennessee Gothic
Best Sound Design -Jeff Wedding, Tennessee Gothic
Best Kill - Table Scene, The Curse of Valburga
Best Killer - Artik

Short Films

Best Short - Malakout
Best Director - Presley Paras, Buffalo & Trout
Best Screenplay - Samuel Gonzalez Jr., The Springfield Three
Best Cinematography - Tom Meredith, The History of Monsters
Best Editing - Ryan Buckley, Possessions
Best Actor - John Ennis, This Is Not Acting, This Is Hell
Best Actress - Christine Woods, Possessions
Best Special FX - Rachel Wagner, $trip
Best Score - Tonya Ballman, Night of the Witch
Best Sound Design - Soroush Abedi, Malakout
Best Kill - Face Peel, Sonrisas
Best Killer - Eyeball Monster, Backward Creep

Rules & Terms

- SIN CITY HORROR FEST is open to all short and feature films that fall under the horror genre.
- All entries must be submitted via Private Link through FilmFreeway for review purposes.
- Must own all rights to the work that you're submitting or have permission which you must show proof of.
- The main contact submitting must be authorized to do so and must have permission from any sales agents or distributors involved.
- When completing the submission process you agree to have the necessary rights for screening the film at SIN CITY HORROR FEST.
- Submissions fees are non-refundable and final.
- 
Foreign language films are welcomed however, we must insist that non-English dialogue movies be subtitled in English. We prefer not to have them dubbed.
- Only one film per entry however, you may submit as many films and shorts as you want.
- There are NO Specified Dates required for Production.
- Entrants will permit Sin City Horror Fest to use the title of the work submitted, log-line, names, contact information and/ or likeness & publicity stills in pre & post publicity & promotional efforts.
- Please let us know if the screening will be a Premiere of any kind. World/ US/ Nevada/ etc.
-Dates for the festival are subject to change
34 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Zeke Farrow

    You guys... They did it. They went through hell and back to make a seamless transition to an online event. I hope that their future is filled with a robust hybrid event to a growing crowd. They did everything right. They partnered with Kings of Horror YouTube channel which brought existing traffic and community naturally right into the festival screenings. They held the screenings live and filmmakers, fans, programmers, and hosts all jumped into the YouTube chat for super fun, funny, friendly, welcoming screenings with live commentary and Q&As. They showed a large selection of horror of all sub-genres and their taste was amazing. There were so many incredible films with unique stories and inspiring filmmaking. If they were stressed (I'm sure they were), they didn't let it show. Everyone with a genre film should submit. It's a great place to hang with awesome filmmakers, make new friends, meet future collaborators, and watch some seriously well curated horror programs. Bravo and thank you.

    October 2020
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  • Bryon Evans

    I was thrilled to have my short film selected for Sin City Horror fest. They put on an amazing virtual event with incredible programming. The communication was excellent, and you can tell that the organizers have a true love for horror and genre films. Highly recommended!

    October 2020
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  • Melissa Del Rosario

    Sin City Horror Fest was a fantastic film festival to be apart of! Hope to be able to submit & screen at this festival every year going forward. The organizers behind the festival are on it; very accommodating, helpful, and responsive. The horror content is great and we were able to enjoy every day at the festival. Most if, not all screening's were sold out and our film's reception was so great, sold out to the point of some people standing to watch our block. Networking opportunities and great spotlight on filmmakers at Q&A. Lucky enough to say my team won a few awards; and they were the best trophies I have ever gotten from a film festival so far. Highly recommend submitting!

    October 2019
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  • Ethan Blum

    Awesome fest! Organizers are super responsive and passionate about the work they are screening. Great films in a great theater, hope I can submit again soon.

    October 2019
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  • Francis Galluppi

    The festival was extremely well organized and everyone working there was very friendly. I'll definitley submit again next year!

    October 2019
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