"20 Coolest Film Festivals" | MovieMaker Magazine
“5 Halloween Film Festivals Worth Traveling For” | The New York Times

The Telluride Horror Show, Colorado's first-ever horror film festival, returns for its 17th edition October 16-18, 2026. One of the highest-attended genre film fests in the world, the Horror Show attracts the latest & best genre films from around the globe and attendees from all over the country for an incredible gathering of diehard horror fans in the world-famous mountain resort town of Telluride, Colorado. For three packed days, experience an exciting mix of horror, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy & sci-fi and dark comedy in Telluride’s unique theaters, with most of the films having one of their first U.S. showings. The festival showcases feature films & short films from new and established talent, in theaters ranging from 120 to 587 seats. Special events take place throughout the historic town of Telluride.

We appreciate your interest in the Telluride Horror Show and we hope to share your film with our dedicated audiences!

SHORT FILMS (Please Read):

In addition to being considered for this year’s festival, short films submitted to the Telluride Horror Show are also eligible for review by Aengus McLoone of Antihero Entertainment:

Aengus McLoone, producer at Antihero Entertainment, is the former director of development at Vertigo Entertainment (IT, Barbarian, Lego Movie). He’s packaged and sold in both film and television. He is currently producing television projects at Amazon, FOX, and NBC, and has features in development with CJ Entertainment and Vertigo Entertainment, BoulderLight, about:blank, along with several other projects in active development, two of which are the product of relationships formed through Telluride Horror Show short films. His focus is in horror, grounded sci-fi, and thrillers.

While there is no guarantee that short filmmakers will land a development deal or be considered for one, Antihero Entertainment and the Telluride Horror Show are excited to provide this opportunity for short films to truly serve as calling cards for genre filmmakers.

TECHNICAL PRESENTATION:

If a film is selected to screen at the Telluride Horror Show, it is the responsibility of the filmmaker to provide the festival with DCP as the exhibition format. The Telluride Horror Show has a deep understanding of how the presentation of a film can affect the way the audience connects with the film. Our technical staff has many years of experience at festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, AFI Fest, and many more. We go to great lengths to ensure all our theaters are DCI compliant with meticulous color calibration, audio calibration, and highly trained projectionists.

TESTIMONIALS:

"Such a wonderfully unique festival" - Joe Bob Briggs

"The Telluride Horror Show is paradise for horror fans. You get to watch an incredible slate of short and feature films and hang out with horror filmmakers and writers all while in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Every horror fan should book this trip.” -Paul Tremblay, Guest Author (A Head Full of Ghosts, The Cabin at the End of the World)

"Telluride Horror Show is one of the most exciting fests operating today. The scenery is unmatched and the passion of the programmers is obvious with the killer lineup each year.” - Mickey Keating, Director (Offseason, Psychopaths, Darling)

"I had a fantastic time! The films were great, the location was fabulous, and the people were the best." - Stephen Chiodo, Director, (Killer Klowns from Outer Space)

"Those are people who know what they're doing running a film festival." - Phil Tippett

“The festival was very well organized, and the response from the audiences at the screenings was a wonderful experience. Telluride itself was absolutely beautiful, and the organizers treated us extremely well.” -Tom Holland, Director (Fright Night, Child's Play)

PRESS:

"20 Coolest Film Festivals"
"50 Best Genre Festivals"
-MovieMaker Magazine

“5 Halloween Film Festivals Worth Traveling For” -The New York Times

"A smorgasbord of horror goodness" -Bloody Disgusting

"Mixes its unique small-town setting with some of the most highly anticipated horror" -Fangoria

"Dedicated to scouting out the next generation of horror talent" -WestWord

"One of the most prestigious and anticipated horror film festivals of the year" -Modern Horrors

"Want a killer time at a film festival? Then we recommend you check out this year’s Telluride Horror Show.” -Entertainment Weekly

"...Telluride Horror Show was an absolute blast in a gorgeous location that is ideally suited for a horror festival. If you have the chance to go, make it happen. I promise you that you won’t regret it." -Dread Central

"...the Telluride Horror Show was one of the best film festival experiences I’ve had in my life. The films the team at this festival were able to pull together made for one of the most satisfying film lineups around.” -Horror Society

"Telluride Horror Show is one of the best damn weekends of the year and one of the best niche community events in Colorado. It’s worshiped like a holiday.” -303 Magazine

"Kinky thrills are provided knowing that nestled deep within the humbling, operatic grandeur that is Telluride, horrific, taboo-smashing entertainments of every sort are unspooling across screens in front of the wide eyes of bolder cinema fans seeking to be scared. There's no other dichotomy like this at work in any other horror festival I've attended or am aware of. It's a thing of twisted beauty.” -Chris Alexander, Fangoria

Rules & Terms

Thank you for your interest in submitting your film to the 17th Telluride Horror Show in Telluride, Colorado, October 16-18, 2026. We consider horror, thriller, suspense, as well as dark fantasy, dark sci-fi, dark comedy and off-the-wall films (on the darker side). Documentaries are also considered if they fall under the horror genre. We prefer films completed in 2025 and 2026, but will consider earlier works.

PREMIERE REQUIREMENTS:
We do not require a specific premiere status. However, for feature film submissions, they must not be released to the general public yet. For short film submissions, we prefer shorts that haven't been released online yet.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Submissions may be of any length, from any country. Submitted films should be in English or include English subtitles. If the film is chosen as an official selection at the Telluride Horror Show, it is the responsibility of the submitter to provide the festival with DCP as the exhibition format.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS (Please Read Carefully):
I represent and warrant that I have full legal right and authority to submit the mentioned film for consideration by the Telluride Horror Show (THS), and that all necessary consents, licensing, and approvals have been obtained. I understand that my submission is in no way a guarantee of acceptance into THS, nor has any employee from THS guaranteed my acceptance into THS prior to submission.

Excerpts of accepted films and all promotional materials may be used for various THS promotional purposes, including but not limited to local, national and international press and electronic media. For films selected in the festival, THS reserves the right to screen the entry at the festival. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The submitter(s) shall indemnify and hold harmless THS 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 exhibition formats entered.

TELLURIDE HORROR SHOW DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES FOR FILMS.
ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS:
info@telluridehorrorshow.com
http://www.telluridehorrorshow.com
50 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Barrett Lesly Shuler

    It was amazing. Beautiful place, packed venues, Ted and his amazing crew took care of us for a whole four days. Saw some incredible films and can't wait to make the trip again!

    October 2025
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  • Alexandra Hayden

    Telluride Horror Show is an incredible festival. Our short film was given great treatment screening in the 600+ seat Palm Theater and the fans were some of the best we have encountered all festival run. The team that runs things is so kind and communicative, I was so thrilled with my experience here.

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • Patrick Guera

    I am absolutely honored to be part of The Telluride Horror Show ranks. The curation tells the world that you are something special. I couldn't believe the quality of films I was playing with. It gave me the credibility I have been craving in this industry.

    The director, Ted, and head of programming, Brady, took time out of the festival to have long and meaningful conversations with me. They approached me, asked questions of me, and gave advice to me to for future festivals. For the caliber of festival I was at, I didn't expect that level of personal touch.

    But it turns out that's exactly what Telluride Horror show offers: an intimate experience that is still somehow grand.

    The entire town is invested, and even though I was in a shorts block for smaller productions, everywhere I went in town people recognized me and complimented my film. I was on cloud nine.

    The networking was great because of the small town environment. The backdrop of Telluride is unmatched, truly beautiful.

    The quality of the screenings were top tier, everyone's films looked great in every venue. The staff were warm and welcoming.

    I can't wait to return, whether as a filmmaker or a spectator.

    Simply one of the best.

    October 2025
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  • Hoku Uchiyama

    I'm stoked to have had our film be a part of this festival. It's a huge honor. Thank you Telluride Horror Show team!

    October 2025
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  • Aman Johnson

    It doesn’t get better than the Telluride Horror Show. The quality of films, the networking opportunities, the location. I’d give it 6 stars if I could. The best experience at a festival we have ever had.

    October 2025
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