Sin City Horror Fest was founded in 2016 by friends and fellow filmmakers Mike Lenzini, Darren Flores, Justin Bergonzoni, Drew Marvick 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 in their home town the City of Sin!

Awards & Prizes

A New Era of Celebration at Sin City Horror Fest

After eight incredible seasons, Sin City Horror Fest is evolving the way we honor our filmmakers.

From the beginning, our festival has been driven by one purpose: to celebrate storytelling, creativity, and the courage it takes to make a film and share it with the world. Being selected for this festival is incredibly difficult and highly competitive and that achievement already carries meaning.

Over time, we realized that selecting “winners” among the chosen films didn’t reflect our values. Each film in our lineup comes from a different voice, a different journey, and a different artistic heartbeat. Asking them to compete against each other has always felt at odds with the spirit of what we love most about filmmaking and this community.

So, starting this season and moving forward, Sin City Horror Fest will no longer give competitive awards.

Instead, every film selected to screen and in attendance will be honored for the excellence and artistry that earned its place.

This is not a participation award.

This is a recognition of the blood, sweat, and fears it takes to make a film happen.

To be selected means your work met a high standard of craft, intent, execution, and impact. We want our festival weekend to end in unity, inspiration, and celebration - not comparison or hierarchy.

Sin City Horror Fest exists to champion filmmaking, not to rank it.

We are proud to introduce our new honor for every selected film

The Sin City Horror Blood, Sweat & Fears Award

For Excellence in Independent Filmmaking

A tribute to the passion, sacrifice, heart, and risk it takes to create something and share it with the world.

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 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.
- 
Foreign language films are welcomed however, we must insist that non-English dialogue movies be subtitled in English.
- 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.
- Submissions fees are non-refundable and final.
-Dates for the festival are subject to change
82 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Connor England

    Awesome festival! Great communication and responsiveness. Thanks for including my work in your line up for 2025!

    November 2025
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  • P. Patrick Hogan

    Sadly I wasn't able to attend, but the communications from the festival were very clear and they responded quickly to questions and I really hope to be able to attend in person with future films.

    November 2025
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  • Kenz Benmosbah

    It is clear the team of Sin City puts an immense amount of care in curating their program as well as welcoming the filmmakers behind it

    November 2025
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  • Vance Mellen

    This is a very fun and relaxing film festival. Everyone that attended was very kind, nice, supportive, even though they were big horror fans. Very interesting sort of crowd showed up to support us. Also filmmaker had a nice chance to discuss their work with a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd. They especially seemed to appreciate the movies which are my favorites too. I would go back in a minute. The audiences were not always huge, maybe about 50 people per most screenings. Local screenings got a lot more. Anyway, well worth the submission fee.

    November 2025
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  • Timo Puolitaipale

    Thank you Mike and team for a great festival and for having MISTER SANDMAN be a part of it! Great location at Brenden Theaters, and a fantastic lineup of films. Enjoyed meeting other filmmakers and the Sin City team. An all around great fest!

    November 2025
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