Register Early – Space Is Limited!

The festival will close registration once we reach the maximum number of teams allowed.

The Buried Alive 13 Day Sinema Challenge is Atlanta’s wildest horror filmmaking competition, designed to give filmmakers more than just a weekend to conjure up something truly terrifying, 13 days. Why 13 because it's spooky thats why. And because we want to see what you’re really capable of with no excuses and a little extra time.

THIRTEEN DAYS to write, shoot, and edit your short horror masterpiece. With today's technology this may seem easy well... there is a twist!

At the Launch party you’ll draw a random horror subgenre and a "Card Against Humanity" subject card to incorporate into your story.

Then it’s up to you: grab your crew, call in favors, track down strange locations, collaborate with local bands, and bring your vision to life. Whether it’s a blood-soaked monster flick or a haunting psychological slow burn, we want something bold, weird, original, and fun.

All films submitted on time will premiere at the opening night block at the 19th Annual Buried Alive Film Festival in Atlanta, GA.

Winners from each category will move on as BAFF nominations.

There are a couple of rules. Please pay attention to those rules so you do not get disqualified.

** Be prepared to create a DCP of your film to screen at The Plaza Theatre. (After you submit your film in time.)

Awards & Prizes

13 Awards (Trophies)
- Overall Sinema Challenge
- Audience Choice
- Best Director
- Killer Story (Your Creativity From your Cards)
- Acting Performance
- Score
- WTF Award
- Production Design
- Practical FX
- Best Villain
- VFX

Specialty Awards
- The Romero Award - Graciously credit by Tina Romero herself. This award recognizes films that boldly tackle challenging topics, using the horror genre to raise awareness, inspire change, or motivate audiences to strive for a better world.

- Atlanta Horror Society Award – Selected by AHS members who live, breathe, and possibly sleep inside a coffin of pure horror love. The winner of this award will screen again at the Plaza at our next on screen event. Scheduled for a later date.

Rules & Terms

RULES, FILM FORMATS, MORE INFO AND DOWNLOADs AVAILABLE HERE: https://sinemachallenge.com

Dates: November 5th, 2026
Launch Party: The Tara September 2nd 8 PM
Deadline: September 15th at 11:59 PM

*** HOW TO REGISTER ***
1. Create a BLANK project in FilmFreeway. Call the film your team name. This can be changed. (You will upload your film here later.
- - - Click on "My Projects" and then "Add A Project".
- - - Name the project your team name. (Can be Changed later.)

2. Go back to this Festival Page, sign up, and pay the registration fee, and click the submit film to FilmFreeway.

3. Register your team on our website here: https://www.sinemachallenge.com

4. Sign up for our Private Group to find Cast and Crew to join your team.

5. Attend the Launch Party in September 2026. Watch for an email on notifications.

6. Team Leader attends the Launch Party, or visit the online Launch party the Day After.

- All you have to do is upload your project when the film is finished no later than September 15th, (in Person & Online) by 11:59 PM EST. (We will know if this is updated after.)

- A link will be sent to you from us to fill out the release form, and to download other important forms.

*** SINEMA CHALLENGE LAUNCH PARTY (IN PERSON) ***
Teams attending the launch party in person will receive a unique advantage. You must be present in person to claim it.

- A team rep must sign a release form which will be emailed once you register.

- Teams will pick a number to draw from a hat to see who goes first at 7:30 PM, teams will pick a subject card and card against humanity.

- Teams are allowed to return the subject and The Card against Humanity only 1 time, after that you are stuck with whatever you get.

- You must step to the side, to consult with your team.

- All Films Uploaded on time will premiere at The Plaza Theatre before BAFF (Subject to Change) and winners will move on to The 19th Buried Alive Film Festival.

*** SINEMA CHALLENGE LAUNCH PARTY (ONLINE) ***
Teams who are not present for the launch party at The Tara will NOT RECEIVE the advantage.

- An email will be sent to you 1 week before the launch party. You must confirm that you have received this email with a response. The email will contain a link and a time to join us for 5 mins online meeting with a BAFF representative. At least 1 member from your team must be present.

- A team rep must sign a release form which will be emailed once you register.

- The representative will pick the subject card and the Humanity card for you.

- Teams are allow to return the subject and The Card against Humanity only 1 time.

- You must upload your film with in 13 days from the launch party at 11:59 PM.

*** FILM RULES ***

- Do not include Genre or Subject cards in the credits only.
- No pre-screening distribution, this leads to disqualification.
- AI as a tool, can only be used for editing or sound "correction", not for creating ANY CONTENT.
- Submit your film on time, through your project on FilmFreeway by 11:59 pm . We will be available for help.
- Do not use Creative Commons licenses that are Non-Commercial or Sharealike.
- Film must be 5–13 minutes (including credits).
- Only pre-film work allowed is organizing cast, crew, equipment, and locations.
- You must incorporate the Subject and The Card Against Humanity into your story.
- Once your film has premiered at the Sinema Challenge you can enter your film into other film festivals you must keep the BAFF Information in your credits.
- Once your film is uploaded and you have been notified you are screening at The Sinema Challenge please prepare a DCP export of your film for the theater.
-- Prepare a DCP file of your film to play in the Theater.

DCP EXPORT INFO:
Setting Recommendation
Resolution 2K (2048×1080) or 4K (4096×2160)
Frame Rate 24 fps (or 48 fps if your project is HFR, rare)
Audio 48 kHz, 24-bit, PCM, stereo or 5.1
Encryption Usually none for festival/theater submission
Load your master video (ProRes or DNxHR) into DCP software
Convert colorspace from Rec.709 to XYZ
Encode audio to 48 kHz PCM
Package into DCP folder (with CPL, PKL, ASSETMAP, etc.)
Test in a DCP Player like DCP-o-Matic, EasyDCP Player, or NeoDCP

You’ll need DCP creation software:
-- DCP-o-Matic
-- DaVinci Resolve Studio (has built-in DCP export)
-- FinalDCP (Mac)

*** FILM SLATES REQUIRED ***
- Required slates must be in a specific order:
----- 5 seconds of black
----- A title card with: team name, title, genre, card against Humanity, and year.
----- The official BAFF Sinema Challenge title card. (Emailed and available for download online) -OR- a title card with: This film was made for the 2025 BAFF Sinema Challenge www.buriedalivefilmfest.com.
----- 2 seconds of black
----- Then your film.
----- End Credits
- Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 30 seconds. The 30 seconds is considered included in the length of the film.
- The end credits must include the words: “This film was made for the 2026 BAFF Sinema Challenge.