Welcome to Season 3 of the Horror Haven Film Expo.
A festival built for the filmmakers who shape fear from nothing and turn bold ideas into unforgettable nightmares.

Horror Haven was created for the outsiders. The dreamers. The creators who refuse to water down their stories. We celebrate vision, atmosphere, and impact above all else. Budget doesn’t matter. Access doesn’t matter. What matters is the feeling your film leaves behind.

Now entering our third season, we continue our mission to champion original voices across the indie horror world. Every submission is watched with an open mind and judged on craft, creativity, and the strength of your storytelling.

Season 3 introduces our most complete lineup yet, honoring the many sides of horror.

Award Categories
• Best Feature Film
• Best Short Film
• Best FX
• Best Horror Trailer
• Best Horror Music Score
• Best Horror Screenplay (Feature)
• Best Horror Screenplay (Short)
• The Horror Haven Award (Festival Director’s personal selection)

The Live Event
Season 3 concludes with an in-person showcase where we screen the strongest films of the year. Filmmakers, fans, and horror lovers gather for a night of cinema, community, and celebration. Winners are honored during a special awards ceremony, and finalists receive festival-wide promotion.

Horror Haven isn’t just another festival. It’s a home for creators who embrace the shadows and push the genre forward with raw creativity and dedication. If you put everything you have into your work, this is where it belongs.

Submit your film and show us what you’re made of.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS AND PRIZES
Horror Haven Film Expo honors the creators who push independent horror forward. Our awards highlight atmosphere, originality, craft, and the distinct voice behind each project. Below is the official prize lineup for Season 3.

Best Feature Film
The winner receives:
• Official Horror Haven trophy
• Winner Laurel
• Website and social media spotlight
• Priority distribution consideration from Blood Pact Films
• Free submission to Season 4

This award celebrates a feature that delivers strong vision, command of craft, and powerful genre storytelling.

Best Short Film
The winner receives:
• Official Horror Haven trophy
• Winner Laurel
• Website and social media spotlight
• Priority review for future Blood Pact anthology consideration
• Free submission to Season 4

This award recognizes filmmakers who create impact and atmosphere in a concise format.

Best Feature Screenplay
The winner receives:
• Winner Laurel
• Website and social media spotlight
• Free submission to Season 4

This award honors original writing, strong structure, and the ability to create fear on the page.

Best Short Screenplay
The winner receives:
• Winner Laurel
• Website and social media spotlight
• Free submission to Season 4

This award celebrates tight, inventive storytelling in short-form writing.

Best Trailer
The winner receives:
• Official Horror Haven trophy
• Winner Laurel
• Website and social media spotlight
• A filmmaker software prize from one of our partners
• Feature article or spotlight post
• Free submission to Season 4

This award highlights tone, pacing, sound, and the power to build fear and curiosity in seconds.

The Horror Haven Award
A festival-defining honor chosen personally by the Festival Director.
Awarded to the film that best embodies the identity of Horror Haven: ambition, voice, and dedication to the craft.

The winner receives:
• Official Horror Haven trophy
• Winner Laurel
• Invitation to return as a featured filmmaker in Season 4
• Optional invite to serve as a guest judge next season

This award is given to the project that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Excellence in Score
Selected from all submitted feature and short films.
The winner receives:
• Official Horror Haven trophy
• Winner Laurel

This award recognizes exceptional musical craft and the ability to build atmosphere through sound.

Excellence in Practical Effects
Selected from all submitted feature and short films.

The winner receives:
• Official Horror Haven trophy
• Winner Laurel

This award celebrates outstanding FX, makeup, creature work, and physical horror craftsmanship.

Official Selection Perks

All Official Selections receive:
• Official Selection Laurel
• Website listing for the season
• Social media announcement
• Increased visibility across the Horror Haven network

Rules & Terms

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY
• We accept horror films, trailers, and scripts from anywhere in the world.
• All films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2022.
• Submissions must be the original work of the filmmaker or writer.
• If your project is based on real people, books, or underlying material, you must secure all necessary rights before submitting.
• Artists under 18 must have a parent or guardian submit on their behalf.

AI POLICY
Horror Haven celebrates the craft of human creativity.
We do not accept fully AI-generated films or scripts.
Hybrid productions (where AI is used as a tool but the creative vision, writing, editing, performance, and primary imagery are human-driven) are allowed.
If your project violates this rule, it may be disqualified without refund.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
• Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway through a streaming link or uploaded file.
• Password-protected screeners are allowed.
• Physical discs (DVD/Blu-ray) are accepted but will not be returned.
• All submissions must be clearly labeled with the project title and contact information.
• Non-English films must include English subtitles.
• Works-in-progress are accepted, but final versions must be delivered if selected.

SELECTION & JUDGING
• All submitted films are viewed in full and judged on:
Vision — Atmosphere — Creativity — Craft — Impact.
• Budget is not a factor.
• Excellence in Score and Excellence in Practical Effects are chosen from all submitted Short and Feature films.
• Submission does not guarantee selection.

SCREENING & RIGHTS
By submitting, you confirm:
• You own all rights to your film or script and have secured all music, footage, artwork, and likeness rights.
• Your project is not currently involved in litigation.
• You grant Horror Haven Film Expo permission to:
– screen your film at the Season 3 live event
– use your title, poster, trailer, stills, or brief clips for festival promotion
• You hold Horror Haven Film Expo, Blood Pact Films, and all festival personnel harmless against any claims related to your film’s content or screening.

PRESS MATERIALS
• Press kits are appreciated but not required.
• If submitting by mail, materials will not be returned.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
• The festival reserves the right to adjust programming as needed.
• Festival decisions are final.
• Refunds are not issued for any reason, including disqualification.
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jonathan Zarantonello

    Fantastic experience. LONG LIVE HORROR!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the great feedback. We’re glad the Horror Haven Film Expo delivered a strong experience for you. Your support means a lot to us. LONG LIVE HORROR!

  • Markham Samuels

    Thanks so much Horror Haven Film Expo for having us as part of the festival! It was wonderful to participate this year in the event! Thanks again from everyone on the "Firecrow" team :)

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind words. We’re grateful you chose to be part of this year’s Horror Haven Film Expo and thrilled to have “Firecrow” in the lineup. Your team delivered something truly memorable.
    We appreciate the support and hope to see more of your work in the future.

  • Richard Burgin

    It’s a wonderful festival. It gives great opportunities and exposure to indie filmmakers. It’s an honor to be part of it!

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled to have you as part of the Horror Haven Film Expo. Indie filmmakers are at the heart of what we do, and we're excited to provide a platform for your work. We look forward to seeing your future projects and can’t wait to continue supporting your journey in the film world!

  • Damiano Rossi

    Thanks to you sll. Great festival. God bless you all.

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much! We’re so glad you enjoyed the festival. It’s truly a pleasure to support and celebrate amazing talent like yours. Wishing you all the best in your filmmaking journey.

  • Dean's Haunted Mansion

    Awesome film festival, they were on point and on time, I knew they actually watched my film because I won for best special effects 😂 Honestly the communication was great, alerts were great, and I’m looking forward to submitting again in the very near future. A new fav!

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience and that your special effects were recognized—congrats again on the win! We pride ourselves on clear communication and keeping everything running smoothly, and we're glad it made an impact. We can’t wait to see what you bring next time. See you soon!