Grimmfest 2024 is scheduled for 3rd to 6th October, teaming up with our regular venue partner Odeon Great Northern, for a live event.

Submissions will open from 1st November 2023 and all awards still apply.

Grimmfest has fast become one of the ‘go to’ genre film festivals in the World, now in its 16th year, the festival will see thousands of fans attend in early October at the Odeon Great Northern in Manchester UK. Hosting a plethora of horror, dark fantasy and sci-fi movie premieres alongside Q&As from many of the film makers and stars of the films; Grimmfest 2024 will be a massive celebration of genre cinema on the big screen.

The festival seeks the very best cutting edge and exciting new horror and genre movies to premiere in the north of the UK. Every selected film will benefit from extensive press coverage and will also be in the running for one of our prestigious Reaper awards. This year, films will be competing for these categories: BEST FEATURE, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST SCORE, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST SHORT, BEST SFX, BEST SCARE and the Converted AUDIENCE AWARD. The winners will be announced just after the festival in mid October.

GRIMMFEST continues to draw a huge community of genre film fans, press and guests to Manchester (UK) and was recently named as one of the best genre festivals in the world' by MovieMaker magazine.

Submissions for short and feature films open in November 2023.

Selected films will be viewed and voted on by a special Jury of genre experts.

This year’s Jury will be selected and announced before the festival.

Previous award winners have included: PIGGY, THE PASSENGER, MIDNIGHT, THE SADNESS, SLAPFACE, WERE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD'S FAIR, THE DEEP HOUSE, THE RIGHTEOUS, BLAST, RENT-A-PAL, ROPES, TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID, WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIE, ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, HARPOON, EXTRA ORDINARY and many more.

previous guests have included: Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers), Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers), Alice Krige (She Wiil, Startrek), Reece Shearsmith (Inside No.9), Barbara Crampton (Re-animator), Dee Wallace (E.T.), Brian Yuzna (From Beyond), AJ Bowen (The Sacrament), Mick Garris (The Stand), Pollyanna McIntosh (The Walking Dead), Johnny Vegas, Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin, The Soska Sisters (Rabid), Steve Oram (Sightseers), Ross Noble (QI), Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Patrick Mower (The Devil Rides out), Dominic Brunt (Wolf Manor, Before Dawn, Emmerdale), Robin Hardy (The Wicker Man), Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace), Alice Lowe (Sightseers), Shaun Evans (Endeavour, Boy A), The cast of Clive Barker’s HELLRAISER, Myanna Buring (Ripper Street, The Decent, Kill List) and many many more.

TESTIMONIALS:

“Fast becoming one of the most prominent genre festivals in the UK, attracting premieres, special guests and plenty of media attention.” – Bloody-Disgusting.com

“We had a great reception from a wonderfully enthusiastic crowd of genre fans. Can’t wait to visit Grimmfest again.” – Paul Hyett, Director - Howl & The Seasoning House; SFX - The Woman in Black, The Descent

“Grimmfest’s reputation as a premiere genre festival was only surpassed by its buzzing attendees... They’ve really fostered a fantastic culture.” – Chris Peckover, Director – Better Watch Out, Undocumented

“I loved everything about Grimmfest. I very much look forward to screening another film there.” – Matt Stuertz, Director – Tonight She Comes, RWD

“I applaud the programmers at Grimmfest for their bold film selections, which not only create unique opportunities for moviemakers but allow their audiences to see and feel cinema they might not have the chance to experience.” – Ted Geoghegan, Director - Mohawk, We Are Still Here

“Easily one of the best experiences I’ve had at a festival.” – Elliot James Langridge, Actor – Habit, Northern Soul

“I've attended film premiere's before but I've never felt such a warm atmosphere or watched cast and crew members be so well looked after, myself included”. - Sara Dee, Actress (Borley Rectory)

Awards & Prizes

THE AWARD CATEGORIES:

BEST FEATURE

BEST SHORT

BEST DIRECTOR

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST SCORE

BEST ACTOR

BEST ACTRESS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

BEST SFX

BEST SCARE

AUDIENCE AWARD. Voted on by Grimmfest attendees.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. Awarded to a person who has worked extensively in genre film.

Rules & Terms

GRIMMFEST is looking for independent feature-length and short genre films from around the world.

Our Standard Festival Participation Agreement (Terms and Conditions), which all submitted films are also expected to follow is as follows:

GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONS
The 16th Grimmfest Film Festival will take place 3-6th October 2024.

1. Submission Deadlines
Submissions will be accepted from 1st November 2023.

2. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via online screener.

3. Submission Eligibility
All submissions must have been completed after 1 January 2023.
Grimmfest generally requires at least a Greater Manchester premiere for all films but prefers UK premieres. Films which have already been publicly released online are not accepted.

Works-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted.
All films not in the English language are required to have English subtitles.

4. Premiere Status
Grimmfest generally requires at least a Greater Manchester premiere for all films and they may not have been screened publicly online. All films may have screened at other festivals but just not have screened in the Greater Manchester Region.

5. Film Classification
All films screened during Grimmfest receive an age rating that is decided by the Manchester City Council if they haven't already received a UK rating by the BBFC prior to screening at the festival.

6. Submission Fee
All FilmFreeway submissions for Grimmfest are to be paid by via FilmFreeway. The submission fee is non-refundable.

7. Shipping
All shipping and postage costs, if the film is selected for the Festival, for all DCPs and additional materials sent to and returned from Grimmfest must be borne by the submitting party. Grimmfest will not accept Cash On Delivery shipments. Grimmfest will not absorb any fees incurred in British customs. All charges must be pre-paid.

8. Notification
Grimmfest endeavours to complete all selection procedures by 2nd September 2024 and inform all submitting parties, in writing, if their film has been successful or not after that time. Due to the volume of submissions received, we cannot offer detailed personalised feedback for every film submitted. Successful submissions will receive important information on shipping the DCP to the Festival, press and publicity, guest accreditation, contact information and how to make the most of participating in the Festival.

9. Festival Screenings
Selected films MUST provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or high res digital file in order to be screened at Grimmfest. Delivery of feature films must be via physical media (hard drive or USB) or digitally via online file transfer.

The screening copy of the film must be received at Grimmfest no later than TWENTY days prior to its scheduled screening date.

10. Scheduling
Screenings are scheduled during the Festival at the discretion of Grimmfest. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Grimmfest reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Grimmfest will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in scheduling.

No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection.

GENERAL AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION IN GRIMMFEST:
By submitting to GRIMMFEST I confirm that I have read and accept the terms and regulations of GRIMMFEST. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. I authorize GRIMMFEST to exhibit my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the 2024 festival. I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to Grimmfest and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. I hold Grimmfest harmless from damage to, or loss of any or all materials en route to, from or otherwise at the festival. I assume all legal responsibilities therein. By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to GRIMMFEST the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the 2024 festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2024 festival. I hereby agree to indemnify GRIMMFEST, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.

For further information or queries please contact the team at info@grimmfest.com with the subject line ’GRIMMFEST 2024 Submission Inquiry’.

42 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Shane Bannon

    Grimmfest had such a stellar lineup! I am eager to rewatch so many of the shorts and features from this year's edition. The theater was packed for every screening and the local audience was clearly very passionate. Steve and the rest of the team did an excellent job of making us and our film feel welcome.

    October 2023
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  • Duncan Gates

    A huge thank to the whole Grimmfest team for having our film! I had an absolute blast, and genuinely enjoyed every minute. Hugely recommended for genre fans of all levels of experience.

    October 2023
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  • Tom Turner

    Grimmfest was the best experience as a filmmaker. Seeing your work projected onto a huge cinema screen with plush seats and a packed audience (the whole festival was a sell out) is such a special feeling.

    The curation of the blocks are fantastic and there were filmmakers who had travelled from Belgium and the States to be there which really says alot about the prestige of the festival.

    It really is one of those festivals that is actually worth your submission fee. We can't recommend Grimmfest enough.

    Thanks for having CATERPILLAR as part of your 2023 edition and we will be submitting future projects with the hope of returning!

    October 2023
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  • Sabrina Ariss

    An incredible opportunity to network and visit the UK. Everyone was wonderful and it was such a good experience!

    October 2023
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  • evan marlowe

    I didn't get to attend in person, but all the communication and media blitz was top notch. It's what you strive for in a festival, showcasing new horror films while building a sense of community and promoting films to the public.

    October 2023
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