The 10 Best Film Festivals for Horror Short Films
If you've just finished a horror short and you're staring at a blank submission strategy, this is where to start.
Horror short films occupy a uniquely strong position on the festival circuit. The genre has dedicated programmers, passionate audiences and, unlike documentary or drama, its own parallel ecosystem of genre-first festivals that program shorts seriously. The right festival isn't just a screening credit; it can mean press coverage, distributor attention, Méliès d'Or eligibility, and access to the Asian or European genre markets.
Below are the ten best film festivals for horror short films, chosen for their short film programs specifically and not just their reputation for features.
1. Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival — Best Overall for Horror Shorts
Spain · October · Deadline: approx. June · sitgesfilmfestival.com
Sitges is the most prestigious genre film festival in the world, and its short film competition is no afterthought. FIAPF-accredited and drawing international press and distributors in the thousands, a Sitges selection carries weight on a filmmaker's CV that few other festivals can match. Sitges also hosts the annual Méliès d'Or ceremony, the award given to the best European fantastic short across all MIFF member festivals. If you're aiming at the top of the horror short film festival circuit, this is your benchmark.
2. FrightFest — Best Horror Short Film Festival in the UK
UK · August (London) + February (Glasgow) · Deadline: approx. May · frightfest.co.uk
Europe's most beloved horror event, FrightFest has built a deeply film-literate audience over more than two decades. The short film showcase runs alongside the main program in London's West End, with a crowd that actually stays for the shorts. Strong ties to UK and international distributors make this one of the more industry-useful selections on the list. The Glasgow edition in February gives filmmakers a second entry point in the same calendar year.
3. Fantasia International Film Festival — Best for Genre-Crossing Horror Shorts
Canada · July–August · Deadline: approx. March · fantasiafestival.com
North America's largest genre festival, based in Montréal, treats its short film program with the same seriousness as its features, which is rare. Fantasia is particularly strong for horror that crosses genre boundaries: body horror, dark fantasy, folk horror, cosmic horror. Selections regularly move into distribution or streaming deals, and the festival has a track record of championing bold, unconventional work before anyone else does.
4. Screamfest Horror Film Festival — Best for U.S. Industry Access
USA · October · Deadline: approx. June · screamfestla.com
Founded in Los Angeles in 2001, Screamfest is the most industry-connected dedicated horror festival in the United States. Held in Hollywood, it brings in horror producers, agents and genre executives, making it the most direct path to U.S. industry exposure for a horror short. Alumni have gone on to significant careers in genre film, and two decades of track record means a selection here actually means something.
5. Grimmfest — Best Horror Short Film Festival for Extreme and Cult Work
UK · October · Deadline: approx. June · grimmfest.com
Manchester-based Grimmfest and FrightFest have genuinely distinct identities. Where FrightFest skews mainstream-accessible, Grimmfest leans into cult, transgressive and underground horror. The short film program is a core part of the festival rather than a sidebar, and the audience brings real appetite for difficult material. If your film is challenging, weird or divisive, this is the room for it.
6. NIFFF — Best Horror Short Film Festival in Switzerland
Switzerland · July · Deadline: approx. May · nifff.ch
Switzerland's most important genre film event has grown into a world-class destination since its founding in 2000. NIFFF runs five competitions including a dedicated Best European Fantastic Short Film competition, and as a member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, the winning European short goes forward to compete for the Méliès d'Or at Sitges. Past guests include George A. Romero, Joe Dante and Terry Gilliam. For European filmmakers in particular, NIFFF punches significantly above its size.
7. Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival — Best Méliès d'Or Entry Point in France
France · September–October · Deadline: approx. June · strasbourgfestival.com
FEFFS has grown from a small local event into one of the most significant genre festivals in continental Europe, drawing over 31,000 attendees and programming more than 40 short films per edition. As the French representative of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, it runs the Silver Méliès competition for European fantastic shorts, with the winner automatically qualifying for the Méliès d'Or. Five short film sections in total make it accessible for filmmakers from anywhere, not just Europe.
8. MOTELX — Best Horror Short Film Festival in Portugal
Portugal · September · Deadline: approx. June · motelx.org
Lisbon's dedicated horror festival is the most important genre event in the Iberian Peninsula outside of Sitges. MOTELX is a Méliès International Festivals Federation member, running the Silver Méliès competition for European fantastic shorts alongside its international shorts program. Programming here reflects genuine curatorial intent rather than volume, and the selection tends to be small, which makes a slot more meaningful.
9. BIFFF — Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
Belgium · April · Deadline: approx. February · bifff.net
One of the founding members of the Méliès International Festivals Federation and, by most accounts, one of the most atmospheric genre festivals anywhere. Over 13 days in April, BIFFF draws more than 60,000 spectators across fantasy, horror, thriller, sci-fi, anime and underground cinema, with the European Short Film Competition awarding the Silver Méliès and sending the winner to Sitges. The April timing is strategically useful: BIFFF sits entirely outside the October bottleneck, making it one of the best premiere slots for a European horror short before the main season begins.
10. BiFan — Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
South Korea · July · Deadline: approx. March · bifan.kr
Asia's most important dedicated genre festival, running since 1997 near Seoul. BiFan programs horror, fantasy and thriller across multiple sections, with a dedicated shorts competition (Bucheon Choice) drawing around 65,000 attendees per year alongside an industry program built specifically around genre film development. For horror short filmmakers targeting the Asian market, this is the entry point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best film festival to submit a horror short film to? Sitges is the most prestigious, but the right answer depends on your film's premiere status, geography and budget. European filmmakers should also look closely at NIFFF, BIFFF and Strasbourg for their Méliès d'Or pathway.
How do I find horror film festivals beyond this list? This list covers the ten most important destinations, but there are hundreds of active horror and genre short film festivals worldwide. Miralot's database includes over 5,500 festival competitions across 80+ countries, with data-driven matching that helps you find the right fit for your specific film.
These Are 10 of Thousands
The festivals above are the landmarks, the ones every horror short filmmaker should know. But they represent a small fraction of the active horror and genre short film competitions running every year.
Miralot gives you access to over 5,500 festival competitions across 80+ countries. The platform's data-driven matching analyzes your film's genre, length, premiere status and production background to surface the festivals most likely to programme it, not just the most famous ones.
Start with 10 free recommendations and see exactly where your horror short fits on the global circuit.