We're an online-only film festival that runs once a year in October with a screenplay competition as well. Since we're online, you have a much better chance of getting selected vs. a regular festival that has to reject most entries because of time and space constraints. We celebrate ALL budgets, and we've got plenty of awards to give out! Shorts, features, web series, music videos, documentaries, animation, scripts, etc. can all be submitted. Creepy physical venues are inviting for ghosts but they limit how many people can actually see your work (not to mention with traditional festivals, you usually have to go there to promote your screening to get people to actually show up even at bigger ones). Would you rather ten people see it or hundreds? Possibly even thousands? To err on the safe side, we just put TRAILERS for our shorts and features on our website unless you don't mind us embedding the whole thing for the short duration of the festival (it doesn't affect judging since our judges see your full film via FilmFreeway so it's completely ok if you don't want your full film online... we only put trailers unless you specifically give us permission otherwise and we only embed, never re-upload, so you keep full control of your content). This way you won't piss off potential distributors. Scripts, of course, are not put online. This is a festival to celebrate YOUR pride and joy so we want you to be happy.

Anything vaguely related to horror is welcome! Sci-fi horror, drama horror, fantasy horror, etc. You can see the list of our official selections from previous years on our site!

Our coveted Carnage Awards including:
* Best Feature
* Best Short
* Best Web Series
* Best Music Video
* Best Animation
* Best Documentary
* Best Actor
* Best Actress
* Best Supporting Actor
* Best Supporting Actress
* Best Director
* Best Cinematography
* Best Editing
* Best Special Effects
* Best Sound
* Best Score

Plus, Best Short Script and Best Feature Script are available for the submitted screenplays. Certain awards may be eliminated if not enough entries received.

By sending in your film and/or script to the Diabolical Horror Film Festival, you accept all of these Terms and Conditions in their entirety without any changes; of course, you must be legally authorized to represent the work. You hereby authorize the Diabolical Horror Film Festival to exhibit trailers for the submitted film online and for promotional reasons to promote the Diabolical Horror Film Festival in perpetuity (you can also give us permission to show the whole short or feature if you'd like but we only embed trailers unless you say otherwise). The individual(s) or company submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening while understanding and accepting these requirements and regulations. Scripts, of course, will NOT be put online.

Your film doesn't need to be made by a certain year or be any kind of premiere status in order to be eligible. It's alright if you already have distribution. All are welcome even if your film is ancient and has already played everywhere. We're glad to see all budgets.

Regardless of whether your script has been produced or not will have no bearing on our selection decisions, but you must be legally authorized to represent the work. The Diabolical Horror Film Festival will consider scripts that are works-in-progress but the script MUST be copyrighted with the Library of Congress or registered with the Writers Guild of America, or equivalent overseas entity, before submitting it to us.

We won't make any claims of ownership to your film or script in any part nor will we take a percent of your deal if your project is optioned thanks to being in our festival or winning awards from us. You keep your rights but by submitting your film and/or script, you grant the Diabolical Horror Film Festival a non-exclusive license to use, display, exploit and exhibit your name, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, still images, moving images, audio sounds, portions of your submitted film and/or script, material, information, and/or any other things received by the Diabolical Horror Film Festival pertaining to your submitted film and/or script (but again, we won't put your whole short or feature online unless you allow us to and we can't put your whole project online anyway since we only embed... we never reupload any filmmakers' work), whether delivered by physical or electronic delivery (including material(s) referenced here, and above and below herein but keep in mind we only accept electronic delivery), publicly, at the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's sole discretion, in the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's promotional efforts and materials, to promote, market and advertise the festival, and to be exhibited online during the actual Diabolical Horror Film Festival run in perpetuity (again though, only trailers are shown for features and shorts unless you give us permission to show the whole thing). You also authorize that the Diabolical Horror Film Festival may use portions from any movie trailers of your submitted film(s) for promotion, and that the Diabolical Horror Film Festival may place your images, film trailer, film and script information, project information, production company information, and project synopsis on our website, as well as, hyperlinks to your social media website(s) and your website(s).

The company or individual(s) submitting the film shall indemnify and hold harmless the Diabolical Horror Film Festival and its agents and associates 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 any projects and/or materials submitted to the Diabolical Horror Film Festival. The individual(s) or company submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

Non-performance of any party shall be excused to the extent that performance is rendered impossible by strike, fire, flood, earthquakes, war, governmental acts or orders or restrictions, acts of God, physically defective product/equipment, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond reasonable control of, and not caused by the negligence of, the non-performing party.

Neither party shall owe any liability to the other party arising under this agreement for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages, including, without limitation, loss of profit or business opportunities, except as expressly set forth herein. Neither party makes (and each party hereby specifically disclaims) any, representations or warrantees, express or implied, regarding the services contemplated by this agreement, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, implied warranties arising from a course of dealing or course of performance or any warranties relating to title or non-infringement of intellectual property. Neither party makes any representation, warranty or assurance concerning any minimum or maximum number of viewers or attendees or screenings or celebrities or special guests or events or seminars. Except for payments due collected by the Diabolical Horror Film Festival as stated herein or on the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's website(s), the Diabolical Horror Film Festival liability for any damages caused to you as a result of performance or non-performance or damage under, or not under, this agreement shall be limited in all circumstances to an amount no greater than one U.S. dollar ($1.00).

The Diabolical Horror Film Festival attempts to remain servicing 24/7. However, acts of God do happen. In any situation, if anything negative or unwanted happens involving the Diabolical Horror Film Festival, the Diabolical Horror Film Festival will not be expected by you to be liable or responsible for the damage in anyway whatsoever, regardless of how severe the damage. Further, the Diabolical Horror Film Festival will not be expected by you to be liable or responsible in anyway whatsoever should the Diabolical Horror Film Festival or its website not be accessible to you. Furthermore, the Diabolical Horror Film Festival will not be expected by you to be liable or responsible in anyway whatsoever for any person(s), or personal or professional items, that are stolen or damaged while either in, or not in, the possession of the Diabolical Horror Film Festival, in perpetuity. However, the Diabolical Horror Film Festival promises to treat every unfortunate incident with concern, and a commercially reasonable effort will be made to remedy the situation at the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's sole discretion.

By sending a project to the Diabolical Horror Film Festival, all entrants agree to the complete contents of the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's Terms of Services, the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's Terms and Conditions, the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's General Rules, and the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's General Festival Rules, as they are outlined on the official Diabolical Horror Film Festival website at diabolicalhorrorfilmfestival.com. All entrants release and agree to hold the Diabolical Horror Film Festival and/or all other Diabolical Horror Film Festival related entities harmless from and against any and all injuries, rights, damages, losses, claims and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the Diabolical Horror Film Festival or participation in the Diabolical Horror Film Festival and any Diabolical Horror Film Festival related activity, in perpetuity. All entrants release and waive any claims with regard to the Diabolical Horror Film Festival and agree to hold harmless the Diabolical Horror Film Festival and/or all Diabolical Horror Film Festival related entities from and against any and all claims of any kind that are or could be asserted with respect to any matter whatsoever, in perpetuity. All entrants further agree to indemnify, defend against and agree to hold harmless the Diabolical Horror Film Festival and/or all other Diabolical Horror Film Festival related entities from any and all liabilities, damage, costs and/or fees incurred in defending against any third party claim(s) or threat(s) of claim(s) asserted against the Diabolical Horror Film Festival and/or all other Diabolical Horror Film Festival related entities arising from any entrant(s) participation in or conduct associated with the Diabolical Horror Film Festival, in perpetuity. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and/or any other damages, including attorney fees, other than participant(s) actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e.- costs associated with participating in the festival competition), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased, in perpetuity. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All taxes on or connected with any prize and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of respective winners.

The Diabolical Horror Film Festival only accepts entries online via FilmFreeway.com. If your film is not in English, it must be subtitled in English or dubbed in English. Scripts must be in English. The Diabolical Horror Film Festival does not return submitted materials.

No physical awards are given and feedback is not provided. All communications with or about the Diabolical Horror Film Festival must be kept professional and courteous or your entry may be disqualified including the nullification of nominations or wins. Questions asked after submission may or may not receive a reply. We will only communicate with the individual who submitted the film, and it is your responsibility to make sure the email address provided on FilmFreeway.com is correct. User accepts all risk and responsibility associated with using any submission platforms, Paypal, each submission platform’s transaction processor, social media, our website, and any other methods of communication with the Diabolical Horror Film Festival.

Film and script selections will be posted on the Diabolical Horror Film Festival's website before the festival, and any further needed materials will be requested at that time.

All information by the Diabolical Horror Film Festival, whether publicly available or not, is subject to change without prior notice. All festival and screening decisions will be made by the Diabolical Horror Film Festival. All decisions are final.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • James Wicks

    Thank you Diabolical Horror Film Festival for this platform to display so many fantastic projects! To be selected for my short script was an excellent experience.

    January 2024
  • Kenny BERNARD

    Thank you for having selected my little short, it's always a joy to see our work rewarded. I hope you'll enjoy my next projects. Thank you again !

    January 2024
  • James Ferda

    Honored to have my short script Demon win best short script and to have my short scripts Legacy and Let's Go Kill God as runners up for best short script.

    November 2023
  • An exceptionally good film festival to be recognised at. Thank you for awarding Nominee - Best Feature Script to SACRED SUN.

    November 2023
  • Great communication from the festival and fun to be part of it. Especially proud to have won a Carnage Award for my dark comedy pilot, Loser Island!

    November 2023