Halloweenapalooza is the state’s only horror film showcase. This festival is created by horror filmmakers for horror fans.

We hope to provide an educational and entertaining visual experience for the attendees of our Festival, which showcases and celebrates the diversity of the films.

We also hope to establish a forum, where novices and seasoned veterans alike can interact and learn from one another, as well as from our array of special celebrity guests and industry professionals with Q&As and panel discussions.

Halloweenapalooza ALSO includes celebrity appearances, vendors, and fun events including a midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show. It'll be guaranteed to be two fun-filled days!

For every film you submit, you get one ticket to the Halloweenapalooza event! We encourage filmmakers to come and speak about their films.

This event is open to the public and will take place this year at the Bridge View Center, the premier entertainment, meeting, and special events venue in the region! Lots of fun things going on these days!

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS
Best Short
Runner Up Short
Audience Choice
Best Kill
Halloween Spirit
Andy Wassom One-Liner

Each winner will receive a trophy.

GENERAL RULES
Short film: Under 30 minutes

Each work is judged solely on its own merits.

Rules & Terms

***PLEASE READ ALL THE RULES & TERMS!***

We are an international HORROR genre film festival. Movies submitted must have some sort of horror elements to be considered for our program. We also accept Sci-Fi, documentaries, comedies, experimental, animation, dramas, music videos, trailers, etc. as long as they are in the horror genre. We do not accept any Fan Films.

*Foreign language films MUST be dubbed or subtitled in English or the film will not be accepted.

*We do not accept films with copyrighted music unless you've licensed and cleared it for festival use. Your submission is your way of acknowledging that you've taken all the steps to clear your music and the festival is not liable for copyright infringement.

Entry Formats
1. Submitting digitally through FilmFreeway is all you need to do.
2. All films must have been completed after January 2015.

FINAL PRESENTATION FORMAT: Digital file (.mp4 or .mov)
54 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • John Wyatt

    My short film Don't Look was selected for Halloweenapalooza Film Festival, and I’m grateful for the experience.
    The festival was welcoming, well run, and filled with strong work from filmmakers who clearly care about the craft.
    Thank you to the programmers and team for creating a space that celebrates horror and the people who make it.

    December 2025
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  • Chris Carter

    Thrilled to have been part of Halloweenapalooza's 2025 lineup with our film Halloween Headliners. We wish we could have attended, but honored nonetheless!

    October 2025
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  • Derek Bensonhaver

    So proud to have been included two years in a row with two films, and to even win an award with the second film in 2025. You guys are the best and we're so proud to be part, and will be participating again!

    March 2025
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  • MIKE MACHIAN

    Halloweenapalooza is a great grassroots horror convention. Everything is clearly done with love of the genre in mind. The film festival enables up and coming filmmakers to showcase their craft. There are vendors and celebrities from classic horror franchises. Check out Halloweenapalooza in Ottumwa. Highly recommend. For horror fans, by horror fans

    October 2024
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  • Nick Pospisil

    What a fantastic festival! Jason was so quick to respond to my questions and the venue was so awesome. All vendors were sweet and loved talking about their craft which is what I love in a festival. Would 100% apply again for another film, I encourage everyone to apply to this festival especially if they're Midwestern located.

    October 2024
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