Cleveland Horror Fest

All films/screenplays must be genres of horror (we do want to scare people)--this is including but not limited to slasher, haunted house/location, android/robot, asylum/insanity, sci-fi horror, B-movie, psychic powers, cannibalism, supernatural, escape room, horror with kids, dark comedy horror, cult, found footage, mad scientist, funhouse/freaks, serial killer, Lovecraftian, phobia/isolation, cursed toy/object, home invasion, mummy/werewolf, psychological horror, virus, monster/creature feature, zombie, body horror, witchcraft, clown, gore/splatter, revenge, mystery/thriller, fantasy horror and dark mystery thriller.

Filmmakers must own or have licensed the rights to music, characters, stories, and any other elements that are part of the film.

By submitting, you are agreeing to having your film screened theatrically during the festival, and online via Sparqfest (for a limited time only/for paid festival attendees/secure online platform)

Submit any playable file format for consideration. If accepted, we will play the highest resolution/best version of your film you have available.

We may use short clips, trailers, photos, and other marketing materials you provide to help promote your film and the overall festival.

If accepted into the festival, we may also screen your film locally (greater Cleveland area) at different free or paid screenings and events for a period of one year after the festival.

While there are no screening fees for films that play during the festival, we will pay filmmakers a small screening fee if their film is screened during a paid event after the festival. Half of the profit from any paid screenings/events (post-festival) will be divided amongst the films screening and paid out to those filmmakers. More details will be provided to filmmakers if/when those sorts of events come up.

If you are accepted into the festival, we will do our best to promote your film/screenplay and work during the festival and throughout the year. Any marketing materials that you can provide will help, including press releases, images, trailers, posters/graphics, and links to websites/bios/social media, etc.

While our preference is to screen as many new and/or undistributed films as possible, we are accepting films that have been screened at other festivals, currently have distribution deals, etc.

If you cannot afford to pay the full submission fee, please contact info@clevelandhorror.com to let us know what you can afford to pay. While submission fees are an important part of revenue for the festival, we are sensitive to the many costs involved in filmmaking. Our goal is to get the best quality films, and to produce a great event. By paying the full submission fee or even a portion of it, you are helping us to promote you and the the work of other independent filmmakers from around the world.