Wench Film Festival is India's first international festival dedicated to horror, science fiction, fantasy, and the bizarre. Founded in 2021, Wench celebrates bold storytelling, fearless filmmakers, and cinema that exists beyond the mainstream.

Now entering its 7th edition, Wench has grown from a single-city event into one of South Asia's leading destinations for genre cinema, with screenings across multiple venues and year-round programming. The festival showcases feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation, experimental work, and emerging forms of storytelling from around the world, while championing independent voices and underrepresented perspectives.

Beyond the festival, Wench has become a year-round platform for genre culture through Cinema de l'Étrange, its monthly screening series with Alliance Française Bombay; Pitch It Till You Make It, India's only horror-focused project market; Terror Talkies, India's first publication dedicated to horror, science fiction, and fantasy; and collaborations with internationally renowned genre festivals including Fantasia International Film Festival (Canada) and Imagine Fantastic Film Festival (Netherlands).

Wench is a proud Official Member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation and has been recognised by Dread Central as one of the 90 Best Genre Film Festivals on Earth.

More than a film festival, Wench is a gathering for the curious. Alongside screenings, audiences can expect filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, workshops, networking events, exhibitions, live experiences, and conversations that explore the craft, business, and future of genre filmmaking.

If your work pushes boundaries, questions convention, embraces the uncanny, or simply tells an unforgettable story, we want to see it.

Please Note

Wench gives preference to films directed by women and non-binary filmmakers. However, we also have a dedicated category for male filmmakers whose films feature a central female protagonist or have women in key Head of Department (HOD) roles. So please don't hesitate to submit your work.

We hope for the day when women receive the same opportunities, visibility, and support across the industry that men have long enjoyed and when initiatives like this are no longer necessary.

Join us in Mumbai for a celebration of the strange, the subversive, and the spectacular.

more info here -
https://www.wenchfilmfestival.com/

Blood Thirsty (Feature Film > 60 mins)
The Blood Thirsty Award is our top honour for feature films that leave a lasting mark; bold, visceral, and unapologetically genre.

Dwarves (Shorts 10-40 mins)
The Dwarves Award celebrates mighty stories in compact forms that punch above their weight

Elves (Shorts < 10 mins)
The Elves Award is dedicated to short-form sorcery

Méliès d’argent (short films):
As a member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, we will nominate European shorts to compete for the Méliès d’argent. The winning film will be chosen by a jury and will then be in the running for the Méliès d'or. More info can be found here https://melies.org/

Pixels & Possession:
The Pixels & Possession Award honours the most innovative use of Artificial Intelligence in genre storytelling.

WFF IS A FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL- ONLY FANTASY, SCI-FI AND HORROR FILMS WILL BE ACCEPTED (Documentaries, Narratives and Hybrids)

Should the submitted film not adhere to this eligibility requirement or to the following rules and terms, WFF retains the right to disqualify said film and is under no obligation to contact the submitting party and/or refund the submission fee.

Please carefully read the following terms and rules, including Selection and Notification, Submission Rules, and Terms and Conditions.

- Any work produced and completed in the past 18 months prior to our upcoming edition is eligible for consideration.

- Any work made available worldwide for an online public viewing before or during our dates will be ineligible.

- If you are unsure if your film qualifies for our Festival, please contact the WFF Submissions Team at submissions@wenchfilmfestival.com before submitting.

- Submission fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.

- If selected, all commercial/private property including all trademark/copyrighted materials shown or recorded on the project is the responsibility of the filmmaker.

- By submitting an entry, the filmmaker states that they are responsible as an agent to promote the film and that the film is an original work.

- Participants agree that clips and images from their film may be used and/or published in the WFF program guide, on the WFF website and for any promotional purposes which WFF deems appropriate.

- By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights of the film, including the rights to the music in the film. WFF is not responsible and will not be held responsible in case of any dispute. Your film may be disqualified without a notice or refund.

- We Welcome Narrative, Animated, Experimental, and Documentary.

- All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway with a secure Online Screener.

- There is no minimum / maximum running time.

- Filmmakers may submit multiple entries as long as each film is submitted with its own Entry Form, Online Screener and paid Entry Fee.

- Submitted films that are not eligible will be withdrawn. Please check eligibility before submitting. Questions may be sent to submissions@wenchfilmfestival.com

- You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Wench Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

- The entrant expressly agrees that the film may be shown at the festival and used for promotional purposes in connection with the festival. This includes, among other things, the distribution of the film to all jury members, the use of excerpts for advertising clips and other uses within the framework of the festival. In addition, the submitter agrees that the film may be shown at events after the festival.

- Submitted films must not have undergone commercial exploitation – for example, an official theatrical release and a DVD and Blu-ray release – by the time of the festival. "Private“ screenings such as premieres, festival participations, and self-distributed DVDs and Blu-rays are exempt from this restriction.

Premiere Status Requirements
At the very least, the film must be a Mumbai premiere although we give preference to India Premieres.

Premiere Status Definitions:
- World Premiere: The film will not have a public presentation before its scheduled presentation at the Festival.
- International Premiere: The film will not have a public presentation anywhere outside its country of origin before its scheduled presentation at the Festival.
- Indian Premiere: The film will not have a public presentation anywhere in India before its scheduled presentation at the Festival.

- ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

Please check our FAQ: https://www.wenchfilmfestival.com/about

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Pat Tremblay

    Great fest with awesome dedicated director! Thanks alot Sapna for the opportunity!

    May 2026
  • Alexandra Hayden

    Wench is an incredible, rapidly growing festival that we were so lucky to be a part of. I was unable to attend in-person, but I met festival founder Sapna previously and her passion is unmatched. Communication throughout the process was terrific and I really felt like part of the Wench community!

    March 2026
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Alexandra ...

  • Margarida Saramago

    Wench was such a great experience! Everyone involved, from organisers to the fellow filmmakers to the audience, were so amazing, it will remain as a fantastic memory in my heart. Thank you to Sapna for fighting hard and creating this community and festival, it's really a special thing :)

    March 2026
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Margarida and it was so wonderful to have you with us. Can't wait to see what you make next!

  • Dave Bekerman

    The Wench Film Festival has put its stamp on the genre world in a major way. Sapna is a fearless force of nature fighting for indie horror cinema, and her team programs work that's equally entertaining, challenging, and provocative. Our team was proud to be a part of the epic event they created with its bold vision and righteous mission. Long live Wench!

    March 2026
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Dave .. we loved your film.

  • Yash Saraf

    Wench is an excellent genre film festival, the only one of its kind in India. Sapna Bhavnani is a genuine community builder, she loves filmmakers and she is obsessed with genre. Thrilled we got to screen our short 'Moti' and meet others of our ilk.

    March 2026
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Yash - can't wait to see what you make next!