CALL FOR ENTRIESThe 2022 submission period is OPEN.

• Films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2021.
• Premiere status will be one of the factors considered when determining a film’s (shorts & features) inclusion in the Festival. Feature-length films including international features should have a World, North American, US, West Coast premiere or Los Angeles County premiere at Screamfest. Short films must have at a minimum a Los Angeles County premiere status at Screamfest.
• Feature films must not have had any public or festival screenings in Los Angeles County.
• *Online Screening Exceptions due to COVID-19: Films that had screenings for a limited run virtual film festival (Not based in LA County) in 2021 are eligible to submit. Any film that is available commercially or pay-per-view in the US is not eligible.
• Feature films and short films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for festival presentation.

• Films that have been submitted for consideration in previous years are eligible for re-submission only if significant changes have been made to the film. A detailed list of the changes must be included in the submission packet.
• For submission purposes, online screeners may be works-in-progress, films with temporary soundtracks or digital outputs. Rough cuts and works-in-progress can only be submitted in the final deadline and if the completed film will be available by September 15th, 2022.

SUBMISSION FORMAT:

• We will accept links to online versions of your film. You may enter a password protected link for Vimeo or an unlisted or private link for Youtube when completing the submission form.
• Links must remain active and accessible through September 30, 2022.
• Verify that your link is working properly.
• Please do not email us links to new versions of your film after you have completed your submission. We are only able to judge one version of each film.

ENTRY FEES

Payment in US dollars may be made by American Express, Visa, Mastercard or Discover through Paypal online. You may checkout without having a Paypal account.

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

• Completed submission form, submitted electronically via our website.
• A link to a secured online screener for your film that is accessible until September 30, 2022.
• As applicable, the entry fee(s) for the film submission (see the “Entry Fees” section above), which are payable ONLY by credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover).

FESTIVAL AWARDS

Films selected for the Screamfest Horror Film Festival’s competition sections are eligible for the prestigious skull award designed by the legendary Stan Winston.

Feature films qualify for the following awards:

• BEST PICTURE
• BEST DIRECTOR
• BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
• BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
• BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• BEST ACTOR
• BEST ACTRESS
• BEST MAKEUP
• BEST EDITING
• BEST MUSICAL SCORE

Short films qualify for the following awards:

• BEST SHORT
• BEST STUDENT SHORT

SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

• If your film is selected for exhibition, please be advised that the festival will require:
• Filmmakers must deliver final format (DCP) for festival screenings by September 15th. No exceptions will be permitted.
• For features: DCP (must be DCI compliant)
• For shorts: DCP (must be DCI compliant)
• Press kits/EPK
• Production film stills
• Head shot of Director(s)
• Short biography of Director(s)
• Trailer link, synopsis, cast and crew and other film info that you will upload to your film content page.
• Posters and postcards, if available, to promote your film during the festival.

THE SMALL PRINT

• Entry fees are in U.S. Dollars, are per film and are non-refundable. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission.
• All entries selected into Screamfest grant Screamfest the right to use any footage from the preview screener and all submitted publicity photos and any other materials sent to us pertaining to this entry for Screamfest's promotional purposes, without limitations.
• All DCP's must be picked up after the screening and signed for by the filmmaker. If you attend the festival and fail to retrieve your DCP, you will be responsible for the shipping.