"25 Coolest Film Festivals"
- Moviemaker Magazine

"The World's 50 Best Genre Festivals"
- Moviemaker Magazine

"Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals"
- FilmFreeway

"A Fangoria Approved Film Festival"
- Fangoria

"The Best Horror Festivals in the World"
- Dread Central

"Brilliantly showcases the breadth and quality of genre work being produced worldwide"
- Entertainment Weekly

"One of the most exciting festivals emerging in the US"
- Daily Dead

"Brings the latest and greatest in genre cinema from around the globe"
- Bloody Disgusting

"A natural gateway for the best in genre films from around the world"
- Screen Anarchy

Popcorn Frights Film Festival, the Southeast United States largest international genre film festival, will celebrate its twelfth year on August 6-16, 2026. Over the last years, Popcorn Frights has been declared one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals" in the world and "The World's 50 Best Genre Festivals" by Moviemaker Magazine, recognized as one of the "The Best Horror Festivals in the World" by Dread Central, and noted as one of the "Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals" by FilmFreeway.

In 2025, Popcorn Frights hosted a hybrid festival that attracted more than 13,000 filmgoers, as well as more than 50 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry professionals to its eleven-day summer event of inspiring films, panels, and parties.

This year, Popcorn Frights will host its marquee program at the historic Savor Cinema in downtown Fort Lauderdale, a state-of-the-art theater that was originally built as a Methodist Church in the 1940s. Industry representatives will be in attendance during the Festival with several meaningful fun and intimate opportunities for networking.

Popcorn Frights showcases features and shorts by filmmakers from around the world to an audience of horror lovers and filmmakers, industry, and journalists. Amongst others, Tina Romero, Annapurna Sriram, Adam Egypt Mortimer, Scott Beck & Bryan Woods, Max Minghella, William Lustig, Adam Rifkin, Brian Yuzna, Lucky McKee, Carter Smith, Nia DaCosta, Travis Stevens, Graham Skipper, Joe Lynch, Ruby Rose, Timo Tjahjanto, Colin Minihan, Stephen Susco, Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Mickey Keating, Darren Lynn Bousman, and horror legends Lloyd Kaufman, Alex Proyas, Mick Garris, Chuck Russell, Barbara Crampton, Dee Wallace, Linnea Quigley, Mary Harron, and Larry Fessenden have attended, participated, and premiered their films at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival.

We revel in discovering new talent. We don’t discriminate: shorts, features, documentaries, animation, film, and video — all are welcome submissions. Join us for a screaming good time in our magic city! 13,000 fans can't be wrong!

Awards & Prizes

Jury Prize for Best Feature Film
Jury Prize for Scariest Feature Film
Jury Prize for Best Short Film
Jury Prize for Scariest Short Film
Jury Prize for Best Florida Film
Jury Prize for Best New Nightmare
Audience Award for Feature Film
Audience Award for Short Film

Rules & Terms

The 12th annual Popcorn Frights Film Festival will take place August 6-16, 2026

1. Submission Deadlines
Submissions will be accepted from August 21, 2025. The final deadline is July 12, 2026. Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.

2. Submission Eligibility
- All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2025.
- Popcorn Frights requires at least a Florida Premiere for any feature or short film.
- Works-in-progress are accepted.

3. Premiere Status
Feature Films and Short Films must be at least Florida Premieres: they must not have been released in the state of Florida on any format, nor screened publicly online.

4. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
- Quality of narrative and production values
- Independent nature of the production

5. Festival Screenings
Popcorn Frights has the capability to screen Digital Cinema Package (DCP). Blu-ray may be used as well.

6. Scheduling
No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its selection nor add screening fees.
236 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Cleo Handler

    Popcorn Frights was such a blast! We absolutely loved being involved. One of us got to attend in person and one was only able to be involved long-distance, but we both had wonderful experiences and the in-person programming, Q&As, and parties were so much fun. Overall, we were thrilled to be included and hope to return. Highly recommend!!!

    January 2026
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  • Sam Schlenker

    A great festival with a killer lineup of films. We were honored to premiere our short in their virtual program, and we hope to attend in person next time!

    September 2025
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  • Bari Kang

    An absolute must for any genre film on the circuit. With top-notch programming, fantastic venues, and an organized, welcoming team, this festival stands out. Most importantly, the audience is deeply engaged and unafraid to share thoughtful feedback. We had a blast screening ITCH! with Popcorn Frights!

    September 2025
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  • Kika Magalhaes

    Great festival! So much fun with true horror lovers.

    September 2025
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  • M. R. Ellis

    Marc and everyone from Popcorn Frights Film Fest were incredibly hospitable and put together a program that included scares, surprises and suspense for both fans and film makers. If you are a film maker looking to network with other creators in the genre I couldn’t suggest it more. From the panels to the feature exclusives and throw back classics on the big screen, this is a festival that you won’t want to miss and will keep you coming back every year.

    August 2025
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