Film and Script Submission Information

All attending filmmakers and screenwriters will receive a badge with a QR code that links directly to the festival website when scanned.

We have also added new categories on FilmFreeway. 

Horror Hotel Categories (film or script):

    • Feature
    • Short (under 55 mins)
    • Micro (5 min or less)
    • Music Video
    • Trailer
    • TV Pilot
    • Web Episode

Horror Hotel Genres

    • Action
    • Experimental
    • Fantasy
    • Horror
    • Horror-Comedy
    • LGBTQ+ (Horror sub-genre)
    • Martial Arts 
    • Sci-Fi
    • Slasher
    • Suspense-Thriller
    • Thriller

Deadlines:

    • Earlybird Deadline
    • Regular Deadline
    • Final/Late Deadline
    • Deadline for Scoring Competition
    • May 30, 2027. Deadline for Monologue Competition
    • May 14, 2027. Deadline for Room 237 Competition
    • May 15 or earlier. Notification Date
    • Event Date

As we added additional categories, we are no longer accepting submissions via mail.

Festival Submission Rules

Please read in full before submitting.

Each film or script will be evaluated by three judges. Projects receiving an average score of 7 or higher will be selected for screening. Projects with an average score above 8 will be considered nominees. All judges are required to watch each film in full or read each script in its entirety before scoring.

Filmmakers must indicate if their submission is a student project or a non-English/subtitled film, as separate categories exist for these entries.

There are no restrictions on completion date or prior release. All entries are eligible. To qualify for award placement, submissions must receive an average score of 8.5 or higher during judging.

All submissions must be digital. Accepted formats are 1080p or 4K MP4 files delivered via Google Drive or WeTransfer. Submissions may also be mailed on two tested flash drives. Physical media such as Blu-ray or DVD is no longer accepted.

Hard copies will not be returned unless prior arrangements are made with festival administration. To have flash drives or scripts returned after the festival, a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) must be included with the submission. Materials sent separately will not be returned.

If you submit via a secure online screener and your film is selected, you must provide a final high-quality MP4 (1080p or 4K) by the specified deadline. Any selected film not received by the deadline will be replaced in the lineup without exception.

Submission fee waivers are not granted under any circumstances. Screening fees are not paid.

If your project receives an award, you or a designated representative must be present at the festival to receive any physical award. Non-attending winners will receive a digital certificate via email after the event.

All selected submissions receive two complimentary 4-day festival passes. No additional passes will be provided. Additional passes may be purchased in advance or at the door.

If your film can no longer be considered for screening, you may withdraw it from screening consideration while remaining eligible for awards. Please notify us immediately at horrorhotelfest@gmail.com.

Submissions may be withdrawn at any time; however, submission fees are non-refundable.

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