1. We need to know you exist and are interested in making a movie. So make sure you are registered to be added to the official filmmaker list so you can be notified if anything changes. (Fear not: We won’t sell your email to foreign governments or lame corporations.)
2. Make sure you’ve made a Horror movie. That’s not to say we don’t want to see your tense emotional thriller, but the classic B-Grade genre style is what plays best at Heavy Hitting HorrorFest. (Zombies, monsters, Vampires, aliens with vagina mouths, etc)
PLEASE NOTE: Over the past few years we’ve received a few submissions that seem more like toture-porn scenes than actual movies. If your “movie” is just an excuse to torture or abuse people (usually women) on screen then you needn’t bother submitting to HorrorFest. Movies, have a start, middle and end and your horrorific elements, like torture and murder, need to service your film’s story. Torture and brutalizing for its own sake will not be accepted into the festival.
3. Make your movie less than 10 minutes in length.
4. Don’t steal music. Everyone knows how important music is to a horror movie (exhibit a: Jaws) but you can’t just steal the Halloween soundtrack to boost your movie’s freak-meter. Please ensure all music you use is licensed. (We’ll send you a licensing form after you’ve registered to make a movie.)
5. Submission Format. You can submit via a vimeo link (or something similar) but if your movie is selected for HorrorFest we need a digital file that adheres to the following:
Format: .MOV or .MP4
Compression: H264 Progressive (non-interlaced)
Resolution: 1080p
Bitrate: Automatic
Aspect ratio: Square Pixels
(some editing suites may not have the option to convert from your shooting aspect into square pixels. If this is the case please label what aspect your movie is. 16:9, 4:3. Letterbox, etc)
6. Hand in your movie on time. Deadline is September 15
This year, due to the world wide pandemic, HorrorFest wants to help filmmakers put as many funds as possible towards their film and crew members as possible. With that, Heavy Hitting HorrorFest is waiving all submission fees for HorrorFest 2020. Along with that, if your film is selected and you’re able to attend HorrorFest, you will receive 1 x complimentary ticket and a link to pre-buy some additional HorrorFest tickets for your crew and cast. For those films that were not selected, if you’d still like to attend, we will provide you with a link to pre-buy two tickets to HorrorFest on October 30, 2020.
7. Rules may be added or altered at any time because that’s the way it is.
8. Judging and Screening.
Selected films will be judged at the event by a panel of kick-ass judges. Films will be judged on Store, Production Value, Sound, Music and overall Horrorificiness (a mix of innovativeness, coolness, bloodiness and overall wow factor).
Prizes awarded may include: Best in Show, People’s Champion, The Erin Sollowey “Manimal Award” for most Fearless Performance other awards in the past have included Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Effects, Best Nude Scene, Rookie of the Year, and the Chili Thom Memorial Award For B-Grade MVP.
9. Release Forms
Registered filmmakers will be provided with music and screening release forms stating their music is cleared and we are licensed to screen their work at the festival.
10. The Most important rule: Have Fun. HorrorFest was created as an excuse to get out there, get your hands bloody, learn, grow and have fun making movies. Having a good time is what it’s all about
Questions, concerns, and registration info should be directed to Feet Banks mask[at]heavyhitting.com