Cleveland ScreamFest (1)

Festival start: 01 October 2021      Festival end: 03 October 2021

Be afraid. Be very afraid…the most terrifying stories ever put to film are coming to Cleveland for our first annual ScreamFest October 1st – 3rd, 2021. We’re on a quest to find the most scary, gory, and outright terrifying films from all around the world. We’ll showcase these films up on the big screen at Atlas Cinemas in Shaker Square, and throw in some great parties networking events, horror merchandise, and more.

Films will be judged by a panel of film professionals and horror fanatics and include Best Film, Best Short Film, Best Story, Best Writing, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Directing, Best Sound Design, Best Musical Score, Best Ensemble Acting, Best Acting (male and female), Best Practical Effects, Best CGI Effects, Best Young Director, Best Director of Color, Best Female Director, and more.

All films must be the original work of the filmmakers and all filmmakers must have the necessary rights. The festival is not liable for any rights issues.

By submitting a film to Cleveland ScreamFest, you grant the Cleveland ScreamFest permission to screen your film, if said film is officially accepted into this year’s festival.

All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English. Foreign language films without English subtitles will not be screened.

Only completed entries (including entry form, payment, and final film) will be considered.

If accepted, the filmmaker is required to provide the festival a digital file (.mov, .mp4), for exhibition

By submitting, you agree to allow photos, posters, highlights or excerpts of your film (e.g. a trailer) to be placed on the Cleveland ScreamFest website and used for other marketing and promotional purposes. You also agree to allow Cleveland ScreamFest to promote the following year’s festival with the material listed above. Cleveland ScreamFest will never solicit or screen your film outside the promotion of the Cleveland ScreamFest without your approval.

We are accepting short film (under 20 minutes), feature film, and screenplay submissions.

Notification of selections will be made by March 26th 2021.

The Cleveland ScreamFest reserves the right to change our programming without notice.

The official selections and screening schedule is at the sole discretion of the festival.

Entrants are encouraged, but not required, to attend the festival. Entrants receive 2 free full passes to the film festival for the duration of the film festival, and can receive artist pricing on each additional pass.

Exceptions to these rules will not be made unless we make an exception.