"The Old Ones were, the Old Ones are, and the Old Ones shall be..."

Welcome to The Dunwich Horror Fest! We are passionate about uplifting and supporting independent filmmakers and artists! Be it short films, features, screenplays, photography, music/score, makeup FX or poetry. If you have a love for it, then we want to see it!

Don't let the name fool you, we accept projects of all kinds! Whether it’s comedy, drama, action, thriller, romance, fantasy, experimental, horror, science fiction, documentary or anything else you can dream up, we're ready for it! No restrictions on rating, length, or year it was produced; there is a place for you all! We proudly support creators across all walks of life, and will always be a safe and inclusive experience!

We hold a special black spot in our hearts for independent films with passion. Where you can feel the love for the craft from the filmmakers, no matter the size and scope of the project. The human element is what makes art worth creating. We do not accept AI projects.

Each month we hold an award ceremony where we announce the best projects in each category, and all winners will be given a custom certificate for their excellent work! One overall project who we feel truly embodies the essence of STRANGE will win Best of the Fest!

"...Not in the spaces we know, but between them. They walk serene and primal, undimensioned and to us unseen."

Share your creations and JOIN US!

Awards & Prizes

—JUNE 2026 WINNERS—

BEST BITE SIZED HORROR
Dinner - Dixie Gers

BEST MICRO SHORT FILM
Late Night At Video-Smart - Dustin Tidwell

BEST SHORT FILM
Rise Of The Succubus Part 2 - Jason Hough

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
Don’t Let Him Hear You Breathe - Venkatesh Balasubramanian

Best Short Film
(Under 15 minutes)
Summoned - Joshua Jossey

Best Short Film
(Under 10 minutes)
VESSEL - Jacob McCaw

BEST EXTENDED SHORT FILM
The Accomplice - Miguel García Bernal

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
Intrusive Thoughts - Jake Mikeal

BEST MICRO SHORT SCREENPLAY
Operation Solstice: Day Walker Protocol - Bhojraj Harry

BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY
Dark Hydra - Kyle Grogan

BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY
(Under 20 Pages)
Malicia - Ricardo Fleshman

BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY
(Under 15 Pages)
Out Of Sync - David Francischelli & Emma Shorthall

BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY
The Midnight Well - Donovan Santiago

BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY
(Under 100 Pages)
Black Sequence - Michael Ferrara

BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY
(Under 90 Pages)
The Night Visitor - Christine Bush

BEST OF THE FEST
The Attack Of The Astroharvesters - Xander Phillips

AWARD CATEGORIES:
Best Bite Sized Horror
Best Micro Short Film
Best Short Film
Best Extended Short
Best Feature Film
Best Photography
Best Music/Score
Best Art/Painting/Poetry/Makeup FX
Best Short Screenplay
Best Feature Screenplay

*Sub categories may be added*

Rules & Terms

We only accept submissions through FilmFreeway

Submissions are open to the US and international entries.

You own the rights to your submitted works.

You don't hold The Dunwich Horror Fest responsible for claims of liability, losses, copyright, trademarks, infringement, or credits from your submission.

You give permission for us to promote and share your work on social media, including Instagram and YouTube.

There are no restrictions on when or where your film was produced.

We do not accept projects created with AI.

Submission and trophy fees are non-refundable.
111 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dixie Gers

    One of my fave fests to submit to! Great communication and fun promotions!

    July 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We're always so excited to get to see your work Dixie! We love ya!

  • Michael Ferrara

    I first noticed Dunwich Horror Fest after seeing their laurels on several films at a local festival. People seemed to enjoy working with them, so I decided to give it a try.

    It’s a fun little genre festival with a clear love for horror. I especially like the way they present their awards, and it gave me a good test bed for a couple of my screenplays.

    July 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your kind words and support Michael! We really appreciate you joining our weird little fest, and we hope to see you again!

  • Phil Longden

    Thank you for recognizing my short film, Still Water, as well as my short screenplay, Bountiful, over the past few months! I’m looking forward to sharing more work with Dunwich!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We really enjoy your work Phil! We can't wait to see any of your creations!

  • Gregory Funaro

    Thank you to the Dunwich Horror Fest for my award for Goldy. Such an honor, and what a pleasure to part of such an amazing festival--great communication and social media presence, and just a cool bunch of folks all around. This was my first ever win, and this festival will always hold a special place in my heart. Thanks again!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We really appreciate your support Gregory! Goldy is a fantastic script and we had a ton of fun reading it! We are honored to be your first win, and we know you have so many more ahead of you! Come on back any time!

  • Mićo Ivanović

    Thank you Dunwich Horror Fest Team for all the awards from this year and last year. It’s a really cool Horror Fest, and it’s been a pleasure being part of it. The stories and posters by the other artists sound—and look—fantastic as well. The winner announcements are awesome, too—very exciting!
    I think I’ve probably scared you enough with my stories for a while, but I’ll be back to haunt you again.
    Halloween seems like the perfect time for that, doesn't it?!
    See you then, and all the best! : )

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your continued support Mićo! You could never haunt us TOO much! We love your work, and are always so excited when we see your name come up!