About the Halloween Film Festival

The Halloween Film Festival is an international awards platform created to recognise and elevate excellence in horror cinema, writing and media.

With 76 competitive awards spanning film, screenplay and digital horror, the festival provides a structured global stage for creators working across the genre.

From feature-length productions to emerging voices in short-form and media, the festival is committed to celebrating craft, originality and impact within horror storytelling.

A Dedicated Platform for Horror Excellence

Our Vision

Horror is one of the most powerful and enduring genres in cinema. It crosses borders, languages and cultures, reflecting societal fears and human imagination in equal measure.

The Halloween Film Festival was established to:

Provide meaningful recognition across multiple formats

Celebrate international horror from established and emerging markets

Honour both on-screen performance and behind-the-scenes craft

Create a dedicated awards institution for horror

The festival culminates in an official awards ceremony and masked horror ball held at Metropolis, Epsom on 1 November 2026, bringing together filmmakers, writers and creators for a night of recognition.

A Global Perspective

With Territory and Country Awards recognising horror from across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia, the festival reflects the truly international nature of horror storytelling.

The Halloween Film Festival exists to provide a defined stage where horror is taken seriously and celebrated with purpose.

Festival Director

Martin J. Thomas

Under the direction of Martin J. Thomas, the Halloween Film Festival is built on principles of fairness, structured evaluation and respect for the horror genre.

The festival operates with a clear judging framework and a commitment to viewing all submitted works in full, ensuring that recognition is earned through merit.