CALLING ALL CREEPS!

You are cordially invited to take part in The Thing In The Basement Horror Fest! The aim is to celebrate independent artists within the horror community, whether they be filmmakers, photographers, screenwriters, or animators, you have found a home with us in the Basement!

THE HORROR!
**Chapter 13**

Chapter 13 has arrived! Can you believe it?! Are you brave enough to push through those cobwebs? Make the horrifying decent down those creaky stairs? You've come to the right place then. Submissions are now open as we turn the page and begin Chapter 13 down here. JOIN US! If you dare…

SHRIEK!

Aside from LIVE screenings of fantastic indie genre films, there will be merch booths, filmmaker and artist meet and greets, costume contests, and an award ceremony between every break to give recognition for those who went above and beyond in Horror.

In house voting for Audience Choice Best of the Fest and announced as the final award!

GASP!

Accepting films of any length that fall anywhere within the realm of Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Comedy, and anything in between. Don't be afraid to expand the spectrum of any of these genres! Whatever you feel like sharing, We want to see it! We don't care about budget, We care about passion, so don't hold anything back!

COVER YOUR EYES!

Any film that receives an official selection will remain in consideration for future live screenings, so even if your film isn’t screened for the event that you submitted to due to time constraints, we will keep them on standby so that we may work them into future screening slots at no extra cost, as well as promote them across all our social medias.

JOIN US... If you dare!

Awards & Prizes

-All Official Selections will receive a custom digital laurel created by the amazing Dave Dick, for promotional use on your social media, film posters, screenplay cover, or anything else you can think of!

-All Award Winners will be presented a personalized horror themed certificate at the award ceremonies!

-All Award Winners, Finalists, and Semi-Finalists may request for IMDb credit on our official page. The link will be provided in the award notification email.

***OVERALL CATEGORIES ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS***

The Lucky 13 Film Awards:
Best Micro Short Film
Best Short Film
Best Extended Short Film
Best Feature Film
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Performance
Best Thriller
Best Science Fiction
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Gore

The Basement Writer's Guild Awards:
Best Short Screenplay
Best Feature Screenplay
Best Comedy Screenplay
Best Science Fiction Screenplay

***ODDITIES AND CURIOSITIES***
Come in costume and may just walk away with a Best Costume award!
The film voted in house Audience Choice Best of the Fest will receive the highly coveted Zombie hand trophy!

Rules & Terms

THE THING IN THE BASEMENT HORROR FEST SUBMISSION RULES & TERMS

1. Submission categories are open to the United States as well as international entries. Everyone is welcome!

2. We are currently only accepting submissions through FilmFreeway. All entries must have an online screener. We are not currently accepting DVD's or Blu-Ray screeners.

3. Foreign language entries must have English subtitles, but are more than welcome!

4. Applicants may submit as many entries as they wish, as long as each submission has a separate entry form and fee.

5. Entries must include contact information with an email address.

6. Please make sure each project has the complete cast and crew listing (in case your project wins a certificate in specialized categories.)

7. You agree that you own the necessary rights to any and all materials featured within your project.

8. Your consent to print and display your photography or artwork in the theater lobby so the guests may admire your work throughout the event.

9. You do not hold The Thing In The Basement Horror Fest, the owners of the theater, or any other staff, judges or personnel associated with the festival, responsible for any claims of liability, losses, copyright infringement, trademarks, or credits resulting from your entry.

10. You give full permission to the festival to use still, titles, and/or other information from your film for promotional purposes online via social media.

11. There are no restrictions on when or where your film was produced, send us whatever you would like to share!

12. All films will be considered regardless of budget. Judging is based on creativity, writing, directing, cinematography, and acting performances, as well as passion for the craft of filmmaking, and art as a whole. We will never dismiss a project based on budget or production value.

13. Submission fees are not refundable.
135 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • June Ball

    I couldn’t get to the festival from way over and down under (Australia not the ground) but I’m sure these creeps know to put on a good show. Thank you for selecting my script and I look forward to haunting you next year.

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the kind words June! We appreciate you helping us write Chapter 12 and certainly look forward to what you send down those stairs for Chapter 13. 🖤

  • Markham Samuels

    Thanks so much Tyler and the Thing in the Basement Fest for having us as part of the festival! It was wonderful to participate, and join you at the Roxy theatre this year, what a great venue! Thanks again from everyone on the "Firecrow" team :)

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for joining us this year! Firecrow is an incredibly well built film and we're glad to have been able to showcase it in Chapter 12.

  • Giovanni A. Pedde

    We were happy and proud to be part of this year’s selection. What a great festival, and we regret not having been able to be there in person. We’ll surely bring our next project again!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the amazing review! It was our pleasure to show off ES with its beautiful scenes and high quality VFX. We can't wait to see what you bring to Chapter 13!

  • Justin Robert Vinall

    Tyler and his team made the experience so special with their warm presence along with the ever so fantastic staff at the Historic Roxy Theater in Bremerton. Surrounded with a great selection films and chatting with new filmmakers and old friends, it was a special event I was thrilled to be a part of, especially as they emerge for their first live film festival. Supporting emerging festivals like this is so important and I am glad I got to be here for it. Cheers to the next one!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for attending Justin! It's always nice to have the reigning champ in the Basement. Stargazer was a perfect fit. We hope to see you again in Chapter 13 🖤

  • Shaun Springer

    Such a fun festival, and great venue! Really set up with love for the horror genre. Communication and promotion for the festival made me feel like our short and others were being honored via social media. Tyler and company that ran the live event really made it special, and it was a great family affair to see his wife and kid helping as well. It felt like every generation of horror fan was acknowledged.

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you from the Basement and the family! Not only for attending, but also for sending In Silence, Demons Knock down those stairs for Chapter 12. Brillant project, great people, truly hope to see you in Chapter 13!