The Chicago Horror Film Festival has become a Chicago institution. With a past that started with the historic 3 Penny Cinema and a future continuing to grow with new venues and special guests. What has once started with a simple one day festival to showcase Short Independent Horror films has now become a festival for both feature and short horror films and to be known for seeing many of it’s featured films picked up for distribution.

The new festival director for the 2024 season is award winning indie horror filmmaker CJ VECCHIO. While talking about the CHFF, CJ Vecchio said: “Running a festival as a filmmaker is totally different than a fan run fest. My goal is to promote fellow filmmakers and help them launch their film/name, getting them to that next step in their career."

We are only accepting submissions via online screener (here on filmfreeway.com) and exhibition films will need to be in MOV or MP4 format if selected. We are not accepting DVD/BluRay/Hardcopy submissions any longer.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The Chicago Horror Film Festival is an independent film festival and mixed media event.

We strive to support independent film, and promote all types of dark art. We go the extra mile to get recognition beyond the festival alone for the amazingly talented people in this industry. Even films submitted to us that don't get accepted for the festival are very often reviewed and written about by one of our columnists for one of our websites or print magazine publications.

Best Horror Feature
Best Horror Short
Best Horror Chicago/IL (Short & Feature)
Best Horror International (Short & Feature)
Best Horror Director
Best Horror Director - Chicago/IL
Best Horror Writer
Best Horror Actor & Actress
Best Horror Cinematography
Best Horror Special FX
Best Horror Trailer (must have download link)
Best Kill
Best Scare
Fest Directors Choice Award

The Festival is open to any film that might be considered a horror film, or anything of a disturbing nature, dark art and/or frightening. Horror Sci-Fi, Horror Thriller, Animated Horror, Found-Footage Horror, Fan-Film Horror...

There is NO 'Film Made By' date. We have shown horror films from as early as the 30's. Please feel free to submit your early work as well as your current work.

The rules are basic but necessary. Please take a quick look at the info below before you submit.

I, the undersigned, acknowledge and agree:

I have read, understated and fully comply with all submission eligibility information, Submission Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of Entry and Entry Eligibility requirements.

To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this submission are true.

This film or video is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.

I am duly authorized to submit this film to the festival.

I hold The Chicago Horror Film Festival harmless from any damage to the print(s) or media materials(s) en route or otherwise during the course of the festival’s possession of the film.

I hold The Chicago Horror Film Festival its owners, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, and etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry.

I certify that I have full rights to the use of the music in the entered work.

I give permission for The Chicago Horror Film Festival to use stills, trailers, titles, copy, and/or information for promotional purposes.

I give permission for The Chicago Horror Film Festival to screen the film at the Festival live and online for which it was submitted.

If selected I will provide The Chicago Horror Film Festival with a digital copy of my films movie poster (in vertical format) for use on the festival website.