Blog: Film festivals

The Telluride Horror Show, Colorado's first and longest-running horror film festival, returns for its 9th edition October 12-14, 2018. Every year, the festival attracts the latest & best horror films from around the world and attendees from all over the country for an intimate gathering of genre film fans in the world-famous mountain resort town of Telluride, Colorado. For three days and nights, experience an eclectic mix of horror, suspense, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi and dark comedy in Telluride's historic theaters, with many of the films showing for the first time in the US. The festival line-up offers over 20 feature films, more than 50 short films, surprise screenings of highly-anticipated genre films at our "Secret Sunday Shows", along with special programs, guests, and events. If you love horror, and film, then you can't miss this fest.

Named one of the "20 Coolest Film Festivals" and one of "13 Horror Film Festivals To Die For" by MovieMaker Magazine.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The 9th Annual Telluride Horror Show takes place October 12, 13, 14, 2018 in Telluride, Colorado. For three packed days, genre fans and filmmakers are invited to experience the best and latest films in three Telluride venues: Nugget Theatre, Palm Theatre, and the historic Sheridan Opera House. Special events and parties take place at various venues throughout the world-famous town of Telluride.

We appreciate your interest in the Telluride Horror Show and we hope to share your film with our audiences!

FILMMAKER TESTIMONIALS:

"Telluride Horror Show is one of the most exciting fests operating today. The scenery is unmatched and the passion of the programmers is obvious with the killer lineup each year. I'm totally honored to have been some small part of it for two years. I think people will be kicking themselves when the fest becomes this unstoppable giant and they didn't get in on it early. I'm mostly excited because it's a festival that offers so many experiences - it can be a nonstop party or a totally laid back weekend of movies in the mountains - whatever kind of time a guest wants to have, you guys make happen. That's why I pledge allegiance to Telluride Horror Show."
- Mickey Keating, Director (Psychopaths, Darling)

"Great audience and goddamn, Telluride is a slice of heaven! What an amazing place!"
- Greg McLean, Director (Jungle, The Belko Experiment, Wolf Creek)

"Telluride Horror Show is by far my favorite film festival. The scenery is awe-inspiring, the crowds are bursting with energy and the films are handpicked by some of the most genuine fans of the genre. I couldn't recommend it enough!"
- Damien Leone, Director (Terrifier, All Hallows' Eve)

"Telluride Horror Show was fantastic to my film and a wonderful place to have our world premiere. Great staff, full crowds, and a beautiful town. Couldn't ask for a better experience."
- Michael Peer, Director (Doll), Telluride Horror Show Short Film Selection

"If somebody asked me, 'Should I go to Telluride Horror Show?' I would say, 'Go. Now. Don't hesitate. It's one of the best festivals in the country!'" - Jeremy Robert Johnson, 2017 Guest Author

"Telluride Horror Show is known for its tremendous shorts programming, and the fans certainly come out for it."
-Meredith Borders, Birth.Movies.Death

"This festival was amazing. Telluride is gorgeous and the people are extremely friendly. The festival director Ted is a really genuine guy. Everyone is grounded, down to earth, and humble. From Brad to Jeff to Catherine to rest of the employees - I had a fantastic time. Definitely in my top festivals and would love to attend again."
- Nikhil Bhagat, Director (As They Continue To Fall), Telluride Horror Show Short Film Selection

"Whether I have a film playing next year or not I'll be back because seriously, there is no cooler town to spend the weekend watching some fun movies with good people! Not the easiest place to get to which goes to show you how fantastic of a show they put on because I met horror fans that came from all over. Every screening I attended was packed and with some of the best audiences I've encountered. Don't miss this one!"
- Anthony Cousins, Director (When Susurrus Stirs), Telluride Horror Show Short Film Selection

“The festival was very well organized, and the response from the audiences at the screenings was a wonderful experience. Telluride itself was absolutely beautiful, and the organizers treated us extremely well. We can't wait until next year's festival.”
-Tom Holland, 2010 Telluride Horror Show Guest Director (Fright Night, Child's Play)

"A full roasted pig, with the fat-saturated eyeballs up for grabs in the lobby of a gorgeous old opera house teeming with horror filmmakers and fans is how the Telluride Horror Show kicks off every year. And we couldn't have asked for a better festival to premiere our film "The Battery" in. Ted, the festival director and his team bend over backwards to accommodate traveling filmmakers; and the audience is a lively mix of horror and film fans, critics, writers, and rabble-rousing locals. The town is absurdly intimate in a way that makes for near constant run-ins with attendees looking to jaw about movies over a beer or a great cup of coffee between screenings all day. And all of this is to say nothing of the view: a majestic frontier town just begging for a Leone-style showdown nestled in the palm of the most classic, craggy, snow-capped mountains one could imagine. Waking up there every morning is a true privilege, with every window in every building looking out on an Ansel Adams shot brought to striking life. If there weren't enough reasons for a filmmaker to finally finish that movie they've been talking about and send it kicking and screaming out into the world, then Telluride Horror is one more. Just writing about it now is enough to make me long for October again, and has me hoping I've got another film ready in time to enjoy the reception all over again."
-Jeremy Gardner, Director (The Battery), 2012 Telluride Horror Show World Premiere

PAST FESTIVALS:

In 2017, the Telluride Horror Show added a new third venue, the 587-seat Palm Theatre, to accommodate the growing crowds, officially making it one of the largest genre film festivals in the world. Birth.Movies.Death and Dread Central were onsite as official media partners. Industry sponsors included IFC Midnight and Shudder. Pre-festival coverage was provided by Entertainment Weekly, Bloody Disgusting, Horror Society, and many other media outlets, both national and regional. Feature films included the U.S. premiere of Patrick Brice's CREEP 2 and the Colorado premiere of Greg McLean's JUNGLE, with both directors in attendance. Other highly-anticipated films were TRAGEDY GIRLS (Tyler MacIntyre), DOWNRANGE (Ryuhei Kitamura), MAYHEM (Joe Lynch), 78/52 (Alexandre O. Philippe), TRENCH 11 (Leo Scherman), COLD HELL (Stefan Ruzowitzky), THE ENDLESS (Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead), PSYCHOPATHS (Mickey Keating), HOUSEWIFE (Can Evrenol), and VICTOR CROWLEY (Adam Green). Premieres of WHAT THE WATERS LEFT BEHIND, COLD GROUND, DEAD ANT, BORLEY RECTORY, DERELICTS, CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER: DIRECTOR'S CUT, EAT LOCALS, FRAZIER PARK RECUT, DESOLATION, and the Friday the 13th fan film NEVER HIKE ALONE rounded out the feature film line-up. Special presentations included 35mm screenings of Mario Bava's THE WHIP AND THE BODY and a special Telluride Horror Show edition of "TRAILERS FROM HELL". 60 short films were presented in six themed blocks, with every shorts program having sold out crowds. Special events included our annual Pig Roast, Creepy Campfire Tales with guest author Jeremy Robert Johnson, Ice Scream Social, Killer Karaoke Party, and Horror Trivia Night presented by Dread Central. Over fifty filmmakers and guests were in attendance for intros and Q&As.

In 2016, the Telluride Horror Show SOLD OUT in advance, providing packed houses for every screening. Bloody Disgusting was onsite as our official media partner. Festival coverage was provided by Entertainment Weekly, Fangoria, Horror Society, Modern Horrors, Rue Morgue, and many other media outlets, both national and regional. Our "Secret Sunday Shows" (surprise screenings of highly-anticipated films) were "The Autopsy of Jane Doe", "Raw", and "Safe Neighborhood". Feature films included the World premieres of "Terrifier" and "#Screamers", the North American premieres of "Ibiza Undead" and "Kill Command", the Colorado premieres of Morgan Spurlock's "Rats", "A Dark Song", "Another Evil", "Beyond The Walls", "Here Alone", "Man Underground", "Sadako VS. Kayako", "Spring Break Zombie Massacre", "The Eyes of My Mother", "The Girl With Two Faces", "The Windmill", "Trash Fire", and "We Are The Flesh". Special presentations included Don Coscarelli's "Incident On and Off A Mountain Road" with acclaimed genre author Joe R. Lansdale in attendance. Staying true to our mission to showcase the talent of short filmmakers, a record 59 short films were selected for seven themed shorts blocks. Special events included our annual Pig Roast, Creepy Campfire Tales with Joe R. Lansdale, Ice Scream Social, a conversation on indie filmmaking with guest directors Joe Begos & Mickey Keating, and Horror Trivia Night. Over fifty filmmakers and guests were in attendance for intros and Q&As.

In 2015, the Telluride Horror Show once again saw record-breaking attendance numbers, with the majority of screenings sold out. Features included the Colorado premieres of "Bone Tomahawk", "The Devil's Candy", "German Angst", "Hell House, LLC" with director Stephen Cognetti in person, "Howl", "Inner Demon", "The Mind's Eye" with director Joe Begos in person, "Nina Forever", and "Sensoria". US premieres included "The Funhouse Massacre" with director Andy Palmer in person and "The Interior". Other features included the North American premiere of "III", a special presentation of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" with director Henry Selick in person, "The Invitation" with John Carroll Lynch in person, "Darling" with director Mickey Keating in person, a behind-the-scenes look at the classic "Return of the Living Dead", a secret screening of "Baskin", along with screenings of 2015 festival circuit favorites "He Never Died", "Body", "The Hallow", "Landmine Goes Click", and "They Look Like People". A record 46 short films were programmed for the 2015 Telluride Horror Show, with four sold-out shorts programs.

In 2014, the Telluride Horror Show enjoyed sold-out shows and full theaters for the majority of the programs. Feature films included "ABCs of Death 2", "The Babadook", "Creep", "Spring", "Suburban Gothic", "The Houses October Built", "The Boxtrolls", "WolfCop", and many more, solidifying the Telluride Horror Show's role as an important stop on the festival circuit for major indie horror films. Four dedicated shorts programs saw capacity crowds as the festival continued its tradition of treating our shorts programs as major events. Over 33 short films were selected for the 2014 festival. Many of the talented cast & crew behind both the features and shorts were in attendance for lively Q&As. All in all, our best year yet, with incredibly enthusiastic attendees and guests.

In 2013, attendees flocked to Telluride from all over the country for an incredible line-up of films, including the World Premieres of indie horror features "All Hallows' Eve" and "Chemical Peel", a sneak peek of Lionsgate's "Hellbenders", Bobcat Goldthwait's "Willow Creek", closing film "Beneath", the US Premiere of "Across the River", and indie festival hits such as "Delivery", "Septic Man", "The Midnight Game", "On Air", "Pinup Dolls on Ice", "The Seasoning House", and a special presentation of the hit doc "Rewind This!" Guest Director Frank Henenlotter was on hand for a special screening of the cult classic "Basket Case" and visual effects legend Phil Tippett joined us with a sneak preview of his latest stop-motion animation project "MAD GOD". Our three dedicated shorts blocks saw record crowds, with 34 short films from all over the world, proving once again that short films will always find enthusiastic support at the Telluride Horror Show. Over 30 filmmakers & guests were in person for Q&As and presentations. 2013 sponsors included Dread Central, Revolver Picture Co., Colorado Office of Film, Television, Media, Well Go USA, and many others. Reviews generated at the festival appeared on Dread Central, All Things Horror, and Yahoo!

In 2012, attendance numbers saw another strong increase, with Quiet Earth, Dread Central, and Screen Invasion publishing reviews of the films. New sponsors included FEARnet, 20th Century Fox's Wrong Turn 5, and Sony. Our third festival showcased 17 features and 34 short films. Highlights included the world premiere of the ultra-low-budget zombie hit "The Battery" with cast & crew in attendance, the US premiere of "Inbred", the North American premiere of "The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh", a special presentation of "ParaNorman" with Laika Studios, as well as 2012 festival circuit favorites "The American Scream", "Grabbers", "Excision", "Errors of the Human Body", "Game of Werewolves", and many more. The 34 short films showcased at the festival represented the best of the best, from all over the world, and spoke to our mission to support and foster the art of short filmmaking. Out of all these superb shorts, Australia's "Perished" was chosen to be shown on FEARnet.com, alongside the rest of FEARnet's horror, thriller and suspense programming.

In 2011, the Telluride Horror Show saw a massive increase in festival attendance. The press was on hand and reviews of films generated at the festival were published on Bloody-Disgusting, Quiet Earth, and Shadowlocked. The festival showcased 17 feature films and 20 shorts, including 2011 festival circuit favorites "Chillerama", "Monster Brawl" (US Premiere), "Some Guy Who Kills People", "Helldriver", "Deadball", "Rabies", "The Tunnel", "Sennentuntschi", "The Whisperer in Darkness", and many others.

The inaugural 2010 festival showcased 17 feature films and 22 shorts. Special guests included Guest Director Tom Holland (Fright Night/Child's Play), Guest Producer Jon Davison (Robocop/Starship Troopers), and Guest Host Chris Alexander, editor of Fangoria magazine. Our line-up of films featured many of the heavy-hitters on the 2010 festival circuit, including "Tucker & Dale VS Evil", "Machete Maidens Unleashed!", "Colin", "Bitter Feast", "The Last Lovecraft", "Phasma Ex Machina", "Vampire Girl VS Frankenstein Girl", "Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives", "The Legend of Beaver Dam", and the world premiere of Tom Holland's "Twisted Tales."

PRESS:

"20 Coolest Film Festivals"
"13 Horror Film Festivals To Die For"
-MovieMaker Magazine

"Want a killer time at a film festival? Then we recommend you check out this year’s Telluride Horror Show” -Entertainment Weekly

"A smorgasbord of horror goodness" -Bloody Disgusting

"...Telluride Horror Show was an absolute blast in a gorgeous location that is ideally suited for a horror festival. If you have the chance to go, make it happen. I promise you that you won’t regret it.." -Dread Central

"Mixes its unique small town setting with some of the most highly anticipated horror" -Fangoria

"This festival is going to explode in the next few years - get in on it while you can" -Birth.Movies.Death

"...the Telluride Horror Show was one of the best film festival experiences I’ve had in my life. The films the team at this festival were able to pull together made for one of the most satisfying film lineups around.” -Horror Society

"I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: 'The second weekend of October is my favorite weekend of the year.' This is the weekend of the Telluride Horror Show! Set against a gorgeous backdrop of tree-lined, snow-covered mountaintops, the Telluride Horror Show has quickly cemented itself as one of the country’s best horror film festivals." -Who Goes There Podcast

"...this three-day horror film festival should be on every to-do list for those who crave slasher flicks, creature features and all things frightening." -303 Magazine

"This horror film festival has quickly become one of, if not THE, horror destination for fans and filmmakers worldwide. This was their 8th year in existence, and having been in attendance for the past two years consecutively, I can safely say that this is the place to be in October. I was able to catch nine films over the course of three days, and I’m shocked to report that there was not one bad film I can recall. Having been to my fair share of horror film festivals, this is high praise." -Kvlt of Brewtality

"Dedicated to scouting out the next generation of horror talent" -WestWord

"One of the most prestigious and anticipated horror film festivals of the year" -Modern Horrors

"Kinky thrills are provided knowing that nestled deep within the humbling, operatic grandeur that is Telluride, horrific, taboo-smashing entertainments of every sort are unspooling across screens in front of the wide eyes of bolder cinema fans seeking to be scared. There's no other dichotomy like this at work in any other horror festival I've attended or am aware of. It's a thing of twisted beauty.” -Chris Alexander, Fangoria Magazine

"There have been a plethora of horror film festivals popping up over the last 6 or 7 years, but standing alone atop them all is the Telluride Horror Show in Telluride, Colorado. The festival has quickly become the premiere destination for the very finest independent horror films that the genre has to offer." -Modern Horrors

"The Telluride Horror Show stands out, and for good reason. It's been host to a slew of the greatest indie-horror films of the last half decade." -Horror-Movies.ca

"If you're going to enjoy a horror film festival, there is no better way than Telluride's Horror Show."-Playback

"Telluride Horror Show needs to be on every horror movie fan's bucket list." -Web Wombat