Blog: Film festivals

Cleveland Horror Fest returns to Atlas Cinemas in Shaker Square with new dates--this December 2nd - 4th , 2022 in Cleveland.

This three day event will showcase independent horror films from around the world (feature films, shorts, and everything in between), playing on two screens throughout the event weekend. We are also accepting horror genre screenplays of all lengths for our screenplay competition--top screenplay submissions will be showcased as a directed table read during the festival.

In addition, we've lined up some great workshops and fun events, covering screenwriting, special effects, distribution/sales agents, and movie trivia. Come out for the whole weekend, or pick and choose which events you'd like to attend--just be prepared for plenty of great horror, and a fun time for all!

Films and screenplays will be judged by a panel of industry professionals for the awards listed below.

Can't attend in person? We will also be streaming the films online via Sparqfest, an excellent online platform that brings independent films right to you at home via computer or mobile device, or to your television via Roku or Apple TV.

Submissions are currently open! We are seeking independent films and screenplays in all genres of horror, including (but not limited to): slasher, haunted house/location, android/robot, asylum/insanity, sci-fi horror, B-movie, psychic powers, cannibalism, supernatural, escape room, horror with kids, dark comedy horror, cult, found footage, mad scientist, funhouse/freaks, serial killer, Lovecraftian, phobia/isolation, cursed toy/object, home invasion, mummy/werewolf, psychological horror, virus, monster/creature feature, zombie, body horror, witchcraft, clown, gore/splatter, and dark mystery thriller.

Cleveland Horror Fest is produced by the Cleveland Film Collective and Brian Jeffery Bowers. Brian has worked most of his life in the entertainment industry, as an actor for stage and screen, a festival/event producer, photographer, filmmaker, talent agent, and more. He worked for over a decade as Assistant Director of Operations for the global 48 Hour Film Project (http://48hourfilm.com), the world's largest timed film competition, and is the founder of Gorilla Film School and the Cleveland Film Collective.