CALLING ALL CREEPS!

You are cordially invited to take part in The Thing In The Basement Horror Fest! The aim is to celebrate independent artists within the horror community, whether they be filmmakers, photographers, screenwriters, animators, painters, or musicians, you have found a home with us!

THE HORROR!
**Chapter 10**

Chapter 10 has arrived! Are you brave enough to push through those cobwebs? Make the horrifying decent down those creaky stairs? Ohh good! You've come to the right place then. You could potentially help us shape and write it. Submissions are now open as we turn the page and begin Chapter 10 down here. JOIN US! If you dare…

SHRIEK!

Aside from live screenings (when it's possible) of fantastic indie genre films, there will be multiple raffles throughout the event, merch booths, filmmaker and artist meet and greets, and an award ceremony to conclude each event. Until then we're streaming on Apple Tv and Roku, with audience choice voting for Best of the Fest.

GASP!

Accepting films of any length that fall anywhere within the realm of Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Comedy, and anything in between. Don't be afraid to expand the spectrum of any of these genres! Scary, bloody, crude, animated, experimental, arthouse, or straight up bizarre; whatever you feel like sharing, We want to see it! We don't care about budget, We care about passion, so don't hold anything back!

THE TERROR!

Winning photography and art submissions may be printed and displayed at the venue, where guests may admire your work at the beginning and end of the event, as well as during any intermissions.

COVER YOUR EYES!

Any film that receives an official selection will remain in consideration for future live screenings, so even if your film isn’t screened for the event that you submitted to due to time constraints, we will keep them on standby so that we may work them into future screening slots at no extra cost, as well as promote them across our social medias.

JOIN US!

Awards & Prizes

-All Official Selections will receive a custom digital laurel created by the amazing Dave Dick, for promotional use on your social media, film posters, photography, or anything else you can think of!

-All Award Winners will be presented a personalized horror themed certificate at the award ceremony!

***OVERALL CATEGORIES ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS***

Best Micro Short
Best Short
Best Extended Short
Best Feature
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Performance
Best Score/Sound Design
Best Photography
Best Digital Art
Best Screenplay
Best Film Trailer
Best Music Video
Best Horror
Best Science Fiction
Best Comedy
Best Animated
Best Gore
Best Mystery
Best Thriller
Best Drama
Best International

***ODDITIES AND CURIOSITIES***
Multiple raffles will be held throughout each event, giving everyone a chance to walk away with strange and unique prizes!

Rules & Terms

THE THING IN THE BASEMENT HORROR FEST SUBMISSION RULES & TERMS

1. Submission categories are open to the United States as well as international entries. Everyone is welcome!

2. We are currently only accepting submissions through FilmFreeway. All entries must have an online screener. We are not currently accepting DVD's or Blu-Ray screeners.

3. Foreign language entries must have English subtitles, but are more than welcome!

4. Applicants may submit as many entries as they wish, as long as each submission has a separate entry form and fee.

5. Entries must include contact information, with both an email address and phone number if possible.

6. Please make sure each project has the complete cast and crew listing (in case your project wins a certificate in specialized categories.)

7. You agree that you own the necessary rights to any and all materials featured within your project.

8. Your consent to print and display your photography or artwork in the theater lobby so the guests may admire your work at the beginning and end of the event, as well as during any intermissions.

9. You do not hold The Thing In The Basement Horror Fest, the owners of the theater, or any other staff, judges or personnel associated with the festival, responsible for any claims of liability, losses, copyright infringement, trademarks, or credits resulting from your entry.

10. You give full permission to the festival to use still, titles, and/or other information from your film for promotional purposes online via social media.

11. There are no restrictions on when or where your film was produced, send us whatever you would like to share!

12. All films will be considered regardless of budget. Judging is based on creativity, writing, directing, cinematography, and acting performances, as well as passion for the craft of filmmaking, and art as a whole. We will never dismiss a project based on budget or production value.

13. Submission fees are not refundable.
113 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Juan Manuel Gonzalez

    Such a fun festival, being able to see the other submissions videos. Thank you for showing my music video in your festival. Love the creative laurel and certificates.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Appreciate the love Juan! Thank you so much. Loved your video and seeing Brett Wagner and Jeff Castro's cameos. Phenomenal cast and crew you assembled.

  • JP Bradham

    Thank you so much for including "Consumed" at this year's festival! What a great selection of films and the communication about the festival and sharing it on social media was all really great. Would absolutely enter a future film!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the nice review! Might do some shopping to celebrate. It is Black Friday and all now. 🖤

  • Jesse Womack

    Thanks for selecting two of my screenplays to your fest this year. I hope submit the films I produce out of them in the future!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the kind review Jesse!! Loved reading your work and can't wait to see it transition to the screen in Yolks.

  • Anthony Cross

    What a fun festival. Loved and appreciated all the effort and presentation they did to display everyone’s work. Very personable with emails in helping me set up my work on their site. Thank you The Thing in the Basement for making my script, “CARNEVIL” apart of your festival!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Anthony!! Appreciate the kind words.

  • Marcel Barsotti

    Wonderful Trophy, thank you for all, best Horror Festival in Town, Marcel Barsotti film composer

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much Marcel. Keep up the great work.