A horror film contest. Prizes include promotion on the Hollywood Investigator website and award plaques (which are FREE -- we do not charge winners for their plaques). Screenings at fan conventions. Past winning films have screened at the World Horror Convention (New York City, Winnipeg, Salt Lake City), Loscon (Los Angeles), Tuscon (Tucson), and various theaters in Santa Monica, CA.

Tabloid Witch founder Thomas M. Sipos is the author of Horror Film Festivals and Awards (McFarland 2012) and Horror Film Aesthetics (McFarland 2010), available on Amazon.com.

Awards & Prizes

Winners receive promotion and plaques. Award categories include:

* Best Horror Feature Film
* Best Animated Horror Film
* Best Dramatic Horror Short Film
* Best Comedic Horror Short Film
* Best Avant-Garde Horror Film
* Best Horror Documentary
* Best Trash Horror Film
* Best Horror TV/Web Series
* Best Horror Music Video
* Best Dramatic Actress
* Best Dramatic Actor
* Best Comedic Actress
* Best Comedic Actor
* Best Cinematography
* Best Sound Design
* Best Editing
* Best Production Design
* Best Visual Effects
* Best Make-Up Effects
* Best Music Soundtrack
* Honorable Mention

Rules & Terms

Horror films only. Any length. Live action, animation, avant-garde, or music video. Okay if it's been screened elsewhere.

22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joe Dearman

    Excellent festival, well run and lots of useful communications.

    December 2022
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  • Erin Hill

    What a great festival! And thank you for the amazing, physical, actual award!! I love it so much, I've put it up in my studio, it's the coolest!!

    December 2022
    Helpful
  • Josh Funk

    Great communication and hospitality. When our film won an award we received a nice write up that lead to other screenings of our film. Tabloid Witch Awards exceeded my expectations.

    December 2021
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  • Baz Black

    Amazing Festival to be a part of and an Honour to pick up an Award for my film 'Merrow'. The trophy is beautiful and kindly posted out all the way to Ireland. Also a beautiful review was written and posted on the Hollywood Investigator website. Communication was excellent throughout. If you are thinking of submitting I highly recommend you do it.

    December 2021
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  • Mark J. Parker

    I was lucky enough to receive Best Short from the Tabloid Witch Awards this year for my short film Family History. It was a beautiful plaque sent in the mail, and a wonderful writeup on their website. Thomas was clear, communicative, and so nice to chat with. Highly recommend submitting to this great competition!

    December 2021
    Helpful