2025 will see the 21st annual edition of the South African HorrorFest, the original all-encompassing Halloween-season Horror event on the African continent. The Horrorfest includes its main film festival component with feature films and short films from around the world (featuring many premieres); plus a literature chapter, short story competition (resulting in best-of anthologies published) as well as author readings; Halloween dress-up; live movie soundtrack performance to classic silent films and more.
Join our Horrorfest YouTube channel for video updates, trailers, awards clips, reviews and more: https://www.youtube.com/TheHorrorfest?sub_confirmation=1

The SA Horrorfest has been included in prestigious lists of Best Horror Festivals In The World, including Movie Maker Magazine and Dread Central.

2024 didn't have an on-line streaming chapter, just cinema screenings, but we're looking at reinstating that part of the festival in 2025 - stay tuned for updates (following our social media would be the best way to stay up to date - access all at this link and do subscribe / like / follow etc. : https://linktr.ee/SAhorrorfest 

With an on-line component, a selection of movies will receive cinema screenings, the rest will be on-line (filmmakers deciding whether they want their movies to be geo-blocked for Africa only, or whether they'd like it to be accessible all over the world as part of the festival's Global Horrorfest).
All genre variants accepted, as long as it contains Horror elements.

Join us at all our social media locations to stay in the loop on all festival developments, news and more, and subscribe at our new YouTube channel The Horrorfest where we feature all selected movie trailers, as well as filmmaker interviews and all manner of Horror culture.
All links accessible at https://linktr.ee/SAhorrorfest

When submitting, please ensure all our e-mail addresses are on your safe / white list to avoid it landing in spam and missing any notifications - They include:
contact@horrorfest.info
SAhorrorfest@gmail.com
info@flamedrop.com

The highest quality movies are acknowledged with award certificates across a wide range of categories.

After the pandemic the Horrorfest was forced on-line. This component was excluded in 2024, but we're looking at bringing it back for 2025 as a hybrid event with both cinema and on-line shows.
(With the niche nature of the event and all budget going into promotion of the festival and selected movies, unfortunately screening fees cannot be offered)

Please ensure all our e-mail addresses are on your white list as confirmation messages and other festival updates & communication can often land in spam. Our mails include: contact@horrorfest.info / SAhorrorfest@gmail.com / info@flamedrop.com
And please like / subscribe / follow all our social media accounts where you'll get instant festival updates, news and access our Horror community. You'll find all links here: https://linktr.ee/SAhorrorfest

There are no restrictions for the production's country of origin.
All languages allowed, but need (hardcoded) English subtitles if in another language.

Flamedrop Productions / Shadow Realm inc., and the South African HorrorFest cannot guarantee that the short- or feature films submitted will be selected and shown in public / on-line, as the festival selection members / committee will be the final arbiters.

If selected, your movie will be included in the virtual on-line chapter of the festival with select productions getting physical cinema shows as well (cinema slots are limited and we cannot include all selected titles for in person screenings).
You also agree to grant the Horrorfest non-exclusive permission to prospectively screen your feature film / short film after the official festival date as part of an Encore Best-Of replay program (including a selection of nominees and category winners).

Permission must be granted from the relevant rights holders (where applicable) of any copyrighted material used in your production (eg. music, film, video, news, audio, clips from other sources etc.), and the organizers of the South African HorrorFest cannot be held liable for the unlawful use of such material in submitted works.

It is preferred that your production is not streaming on any platform or run in any South African cinemas prior to, or during the Horrorfest period (late-October / earl-November). Please notify us if this will be the case.

Real pornography, human or animal abuse will not be tolerated and such entries will be discarded, and if necessary, reported.

If additional physical materials are supplied to the SA HorrorFest (discs, flash drives, external drives), these are non-returnable.

Information supplied on your production will be used in various Flamedrop Productions / Shadow Realm inc. / SA HorrorFest online and print publications as promotion.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • We were nominated for the Best Screenplay award at South Africa Horrorfest, one of the world's best genre film festivals. Although we didn't win, it was an honor because the other nominees' works were so excellent. It's meaningful to be with winners of prestigious genre film festivals around the world such as Sitges, Fantasia, Screamfest, Nevermore, Nightmare, Panicfest, and Vancouver Horror Show. I would like to thank all the actors and staff who participated in our film <Will You Come Up?>. Our film journey continues. Please watch over us!

    December 2024
  • Bekim Vanbosche

    I wasn't able to attend the festival, but the communication was excellent. The lineup featured a lot of great movies. I had the chance to see some of them at other festivals, so I can confirm their selection is outstanding. The festival looks amazing, and I truly wish I could have been there. It’s definitely worth submitting your work and spending your time attending. Next time, I’ll make sure to be there for sure!

    November 2024
  • Michael Stasko

    Many thanks for including "Vampire Zombies...from Space!" at this year's festival! Nice to have been nominated for 12 awards too, and win Best Picture! So awesome to have screened in South Africa! Many thanks!

    November 2024
  • Julien Allen

    Wonderful festival with an amazing programme. Excellent communication from the team too.

    December 2023
  • Robyn Roux

    Being part of SA Horrorfest was a great experience. Can't wait for next year.

    November 2023