Bleedingham Horror Film Festival

Bleedingham Horror Film Festival is an indie film festival that showcases a weekend of terror in the heart of the scenic city of Bellingham, WA.

Bleedingham was created by a few passionate independent filmmakers and horror fans and began as a festival that solely showcased WA state indie filmmakers, but now includes selected horror films and features from all over the world. The festival is held the weekend before Halloween and is a popular horror filmmaking competition and destination for indie horror loving fans and filmmakers.

Now in it's 15th year, Bleedingham supports filmmakers of all levels by providing a fun, competitive venue where filmmakers can receive accolades from their peers, as well as critical feedback from our panel of judges. Bleedingham carefully selects a panel of non-participating judges who are professionals in the film, writing and horror industries to judge, score and also give local and student filmmakers feedback on the films.

Bleedingham "Bloodies" are our coveted signature handmade trophies, designed by one of Bleedingham's founders and special effects artist Langley West. The Bloodies are awarded to first place winners in each of our categories. Bleedingham Official Award Certificates are sent to International Winners who cannot attend the festival.

*Selected films are screened at downtown Bellingham's popular art house theater, the Pickford Film Center over a three day weekend. Friday night we screen the festival opening block: Friday Nightmares at the Pickford Film Center, as well as host our signature kickoff party event, The Night Gallery. Saturday screens 2 blocks of films and filmmakers are invited to a meet and greet reception between blocks to talk film and network with other filmmakers, as well as meet the judges and curators of Bleedingham. This event is a great way to get know other filmmakers and make new connections! Following the reception, Saturday night plays the finalists selection of WA state films and concludes with the awards ceremony. Sunday, filmmakers are invited to join us for brunch before heading back to the Pickford for the final 2 film blocks. Bleedingham hosts several meetups, filmmaking workshops and local art collaborations throughout the weekend as well, stay tuned to our social media for announcements!

For visitors of the festival, downtown Bellingham is a fantastic city to stay for a weekend. There's always stuff to do, amazing food everywhere and more breweries than you can try in a weekend! If you are staying for the whole weekend, you'll find many fun places to explore and lots of additional spooky fun. Whatcom County boasts several pumpkin patches and fall orchards you can tour, plus a bustling Saturday morning farmers market in the heart of downtown Bellingham. Get extra spooky and join up with a Bellingham Ghost Hunt Tour or a Good Time Girls Gore and Lore tour and learn about some of the dark history of the town. Looking for more scary fun? Check out the Whatcom Frightmare haunted house in Ferndale!
Local businesses support Bleedingham by gifting donations to the festival, and gift cards and products as prizes for attendees, so be sure to thank them when you check them out. The city is nestled between Bellingham Bay and surrounded by mountains and forests, which creates a superbly eerie setting in the Autumn evenings, a perfect backdrop for a weekend of horror stories.

Don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay up to date with Bleedingham news and events, plus check out Bleedingham TV on our YouTube channel!