The Dead of Night Film Festival is brought to you by Two-Headed Snake Entertainment and The Liverpool Horror Club and is part of the ever growing International horror film festival circuit.

Dead Of Night is Merseyside’s only film festival dedicated to horror.

The objective of our festival is to bring new independent horror short and feature length films to the genre loving public of Merseyside.

We understand how hard it can be for Independent filmmakers to get theatrical releases for their movies and we want to help find them the audience they deserve.

Film festivals are such an important part of independent horror cinema and are the best way to get their movies seen around the globe.

This year we will screen 6 feature films and 15 short films in a cinema auditorium with 75 comfortable seats and an Optoma 8000-lumens projector, plus 5.1 Surround Sound to present an immersive cinematic experience.

Featured in DREAD Central’s The Best Horror Festivals 2022 list.

We hope you can join us for some horrific movie fun this October.

Awards & Prizes

Best Feature

Best Short 

Best SFX
Best Score
Best Poster

Rules & Terms

Rules & Terms
DETAILS and ELIGIBILITY 
Dead of Night is open to short and feature films that come under the genre umbrella, whether that be dark thrillers, fantasy, exploitation, comedy etc. But there must be horror/dark themes.

Please let us know if the screening will be a UK and or World Premiere.

Short Films - Under 50 Minutes 

Feature Films - Over 50 Minutes

Film format must be either Download link, Blu-Ray or DVD

The main contact submitting must be authorised 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 The Dead of Night Film Festival.

SUBMISSIONS 
Submissions can ONLY be made through the FilmFreeway website. There is no other way.

FEES 
Submissions are subject to fees and these are non-refundable and final.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
Foreign language films are welcomed, we must insist that non English dialogue movies must be subtitled in English. We prefer not to have them dubbed.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES 
You may submit as many films and shorts as you want.

NOTIFICATION 
All applicants will receive an email shortly after the closing date whether they have been successful or not.

SELECTION PROCEDURE 
Each film submitted will be viewed by at least two members of The Dead of Night Film Festival selection committee. All decisions on are final .

SELECTION 
If selected the screening copy of the film must be with us by no later than 1st October and once selected you guarantee that the film cannot be withdrawn from the festival .

PUBLICITY AND PRESS 
By submitting to Dead of Night you agree to the use of stills in press and publicity for the festival. These may be included in our official programme, press releases, on our website plus all social media platforms.

39 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • The Creeping Film

    A wonderful festival. We were proud to have THE CREEPING screen at Dead of Night.

    Unfortunately we couldn't attend the festival itself but the communication and support from Stu was excellent. We won Best Score and we were honoured to be part of the lineup.

    November 2022
    Helpful
  • Robbie Banfitch

    The crew at Dead of Night was fantastic and enthusiastic. Genuine humans.

    November 2022
    Helpful
  • Michael Jones

    Awesome festival, great communication and a fantastic lineup of films.

    November 2022
    Helpful
  • Alix Austin

    Fantastically organised fest with a fun spirit! Stu and his team really looked after the filmmakers - 100% recommend!

    October 2022
    Helpful
  • Callum Hilditch-Crimes

    I loved The Dead of Night Film Festival - from the start, Stu and the team were quick to communicate with lots of warmth and passion. There is no doubt that they love this festival and horror cinema - both before the event and during.

    I loved experiencing the event as a filmmaker - seeing my project 'For the love of the craft' alongside other shorts in a professional theatre with excellent image and sound - surrounded by an audience - was an opportunity I would not miss - ever.

    But I also found it fascinating to see what other filmmakers had been working on - and the festival program had a brilliant variety of short and feature films, so you could see a whole spectrum of horror.

    Seeing QnA's and meeting other filmmakers helped me remember that this truly is a community of brilliant people. Festivals like this remind you that even as you work those late hours alone on the latest screenplay or that last-minute colour change there is a community of people that have nothing but love and support for the craft.

    Beyond that, in the age of streaming, this festival is perfect if you want to support the art of cinema and feel a need to experience it in the purest form. You just can't beat the big screen.

    I hope to return in the future but until next time, stay spooky.

    October 2022
    Helpful