SOVEREIGNINDEX

Brooklyn, USA

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival

New York's Premier Destination for Genre Film Fans

Tier 3
SovereignScore™
5.1/10

In plain English

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival is an annual genre-focused event celebrating horror, thriller, and dark genre cinema in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. It has built a loyal cult following since its founding in 2016, offering filmmakers access to a passionate, knowledgeable genre audience in one of the world's most influential media markets. Horror and dark genre filmmakers — especially those with bold, festival-ready short or feature work — will find a receptive, enthusiastic programming team here.

Score breakdown

SovereignScore™ dimensions

SovereignScore™
5.1/10
Prestige & Recognition5.0
Distribution Deals Made3.0
Submission ROI7.0
Filmmaker Experience7.0
Industry Attendance4.0

Great for

  • ✓ Delivering a genuinely enthusiastic genre audience that engages deeply with horror and dark cinema, making screenings feel electric and meaningful
  • ✓ Providing New York City market exposure to independent horror filmmakers who might not otherwise break into the NYC festival circuit
  • ✓ Offering a tight-knit community atmosphere where filmmakers actually connect with programmers, press, and fellow genre creators rather than getting lost in a massive festival crowd

Not worth it if

  • ✗ Generating major distribution deals or attracting top-tier buyers and agents — this is not a market festival and deal-making activity is limited
  • ✗ Serving filmmakers outside horror, thriller, or adjacent dark genre territory — mainstream drama, comedy, or documentary work without a genre edge will likely not resonate
  • ✗ Competing with prestige credits from larger genre festivals like Fantasia, Fantastic Fest, or Tribeca — the name recognition outside horror circles remains modest

Best for these genres

HorrorPsychological ThrillerDark FantasyGenre-Hybrid Experimental

Filmmaker tips

  1. Lean into the Brooklyn ethos — films with bold, auteur-driven aesthetics or subversive social commentary alongside horror elements tend to resonate strongly with the programming team
  2. Submit shorts alongside features if you have both; the short film program is highly curated and a strong short can get significant attention and serve as a calling card in the NYC market
  3. Engage with the festival community on social media before and during submission season — BHFF has an unusually active and accessible online presence and genuine enthusiasm gets noticed

Notable alumni films

  • The Deeper You Dig (2019)
  • She Dies Tomorrow (2020)
  • Dachra (2018)
  • The Vigil (2019)
  • We Need to Do Something (2021)

Submission details

Typical deadline
July
Festival month
October
Short submission fee
$30
Feature submission fee
$50

Compare with similar festivals

vs DocFestvs Saarbrücken Film Festivalvs USC School of Cinematic Arts Showcasevs Duisburger Filmwoche

Before you submit

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