Sam Raimi took a tiny budget and dreams of demonic possession and made the “Evil Dead” mega-franchise. Jennifer Kent turned her festival darling, the short film “Monster,” into the crowdfunded cult classic “The Babadook.” Jordan Peele parlayed his background in comedy into creating the Oscar-winning “Get Out.” Hollywood history is teeming with filmmakers who initially proved themselves in the horror genre, where ambitious creatives with shoestring budgets and wild imaginations can frighten audiences into taking notice.
It should come as no jump scare–level surprise, then, that numerous film festivals across the globe cater to horror audiences, screening the scariest, goriest, most supernatural and experimental new films for their depraved enjoyment. If you’re a horror filmmaker looking to terrify viewers with your work, here are four horror film festivals worth considering.
1. Chicago Horror Film Festival
Final deadline: Aug. 24
Now entering its 26th year, this film festival has grown from being an afternoon’s worth of local horror shorts to a three-day event that brings people from across the world to the Windy City. Its popularity only continues to grow, with more people attending its quarter-century anniversary than any previous incarnation.
The fest has garnered a reputation for helping horror films find distribution and for aiding the careers of filmmakers, particularly due to networking events that are specifically organized to connect filmmakers with the horror community. These include the Networking Fast Pass, a digital badge system designed to instantly share contact details, and a VIP lounge that’s exclusive to filmmakers, crew, producers, and distributors.
Most importantly, though, this event is the perfect place for fans and filmmakers to devour and be inspired by over 220 indie horror films from all different corners of the planet. The malevolent magic all unfolds inside the historic Logan Theatre, which is over 110 years old.
The Chicago Horror Film Festival’s next run will take place Oct. 3–5, 2025.
2. Horror Underground Film & Screenplay Festival
Next deadline: Aug. 14
Final deadline: Sept. 14
2025 marks the ninth year of this film festival. Since its debut, this multi-city event has dedicated itself to showcasing independent horror movies that don’t just frighten, but also push the boundaries of the genre by exploring unconventional and subversive themes.
Held several times a year, this is a hybrid festival that screens accepted films in front of a large audience. Afterwards, a professional industry moderator discusses the work with those in attendance, and this feedback is given to the filmmaker. There’s also the option for virtual screenings so that the worldwide horror community can continue to grow. Even if a film isn’t accepted, programmers still provide feedback. Horror Underground is designed to get these projects in front of the right people and unleash the next wave of horror film voices on eager viewers.
The next Horror Underground Film & Screenplay Festival takes place on Nov. 11, 2025.
3. Telluride Horror Show
Next deadline: Aug. 15
Final deadline: Sept. 16
Lauded by MovieMaker Magazine, the New York Times, and Fangoria, this event might be overshadowed by the more renowned Telluride Film Festival that’s held a month earlier—but it’s a must for horror fans.
Since its beginnings 16 years ago as Colorado’s first-ever horror film festival, the Telluride Horror Show has become one of the highest-attended genre fests in the world. Every October, thousands of devoted horror fans descend on the picturesque mountain town of Telluride to gorge on an international mixture of horror, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and thriller films. The festival also provides industry opportunities for burgeoning filmmakers: Accepted short films are screened for Antihero Entertainment producer Aengus McLoone and 18Hz creative executive Nick Romano.
In addition to screening more than 20 feature films and 50 short films in packed theaters, the Telluride Horror Show often surprises attendees with guest appearances and themed parties that help to make the event even more memorable.
The Telluride Horror Show’s next run will take place Oct. 10–12, 2025.
4. Buried Alive Film Festival
Next deadline: Aug. 16
Final deadline: Sept. 22
With a delightfully macabre name, this Atlanta film festival has a lot to live up to. Now entering its 18th year, the event brings bold and innovative storytelling from the horror, sci-fi, and thriller genres to the Southeast U.S.
Festival founders Blake Myers and Luke Godfrey—who also founded the horror-orientated film company Gorehound Productions—started the Buried Alive Film Festival to celebrate independent movies from across the area. That’s also why they created Buried Alive’s Sinema Challenge, which gives filmmakers 13 days to make a 13-minute horror film. The results are screened at the Buried Alive Film Festival, all with the hope of challenging local artists while bringing them closer together so they can work on future collaborations.
The Buried Alive Film Festival’s next run takes place Nov. 6–9, 2025.
