CALLING ALL CREEPS!
It's Horror for the Holidays time!!
📽️ 🖤 🎅🏻 🥛 🍿

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 11**

Chapter 11 has arrived! Can you believe it?! 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 11 down here. JOIN US! If you dare…

SHRIEK!

Aside from live screenings (when 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, anything with the internet really. Those are just the cool apps we are on. 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 all 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.
124 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tony Carpinelli

    Was extremely honored to have my first short film One Last Favor accepted into this festival for 2024! Great communication from the festival and can't wait to submit to this festival again!

    September 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the love Tony! Hope to see you back down here in the future. All the best my friend and keep creating! 🖤

  • Michael Rognlie

    All around awesome fest. You always wonder if anyone actually sees your film in some of these online festivals but I had someone reach out to me after seeing my film in this festival. This is a good one!

    September 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the kind review and reassurance Michael. Hope to see you down those stairs again!! 🖤

  • Jamila Jackson

    The communication was top tier and I loved how they provided a space for screenwriters on their platform.

    August 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Jamila for the nice words. Truly appreciate you. Still finding some of your little spider friends hanging out down here.

  • Marlon Royal Reid

    I pretty much respected the fact the staff reached out and kept me informed on things. I am honored to be a selection and quarterfinalist for an award. I will submit agin in the future but my only snag would be - Make a custom Quarterfinalist Laurel and make sure nominees know what their projects are nominated for.

    August 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Marlon! Thank you for taking the time to write a review, appreciate the love. Your notes will be taken into consideration, great feedback.

  • Dylan LaRay

    There is such passion behind this festival and the festival team was quick to respond when I had technical difficulties. They seemed very excited to have me and I was so thrilled to show my film with them.

    August 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Dylan! Man Onychophagia was truly freaky! Thank you so much for the nice review man, you're welcome back down here anytime my friend. 🖤