Cinema Obscura Film Festival

Celebrating the best of Sci-fi, Horror, and Fantasy from diverse voices around the world.

Cinema Obscura Fest is more than just a film festival—it’s a portal to worlds unknown, a stage for new voices, and a haven for the imaginative. Featuring a mix of acclaimed works, under-the-radar gems, and fresh debuts, this first-year event invites filmmakers and fans alike to revel in the eerie, the magical, and the avant-garde.

Eligibility Regulations:

The 2025 festival is accepting submissions for short films only—narrative, documentary, experimental, student films, or music videos—with a maximum runtime of 40 minutes. We are exclusively seeking films within the following genres: Supernatural Horror, Psychological Horror, Folk Horror, Body Horror, Slasher Horror, Cosmic Horror, Dystopian Fiction, Cyberpunk, Techno Noir, Space Opera, Weird Tales, Magical Realism, Alternative History, Mythic Retelling, or Speculative Fiction. AI-generated films are not eligible.

Prior Screenings:

  • We will consider films that have been screened in-person or online as part of other festivals worldwide. Films with previous commercial, theatrical, video on demand, or television play may be considered for the 2025 festival. Special preference will be given to films made by filmmakers residing in British Columbia, Alaska, Idaho, Washington, or Oregon.

  • Films on VOD, Netflix, Vimeo, etc..:

    At Cinema Obscura, we believe in the power of the shared theatrical experience—which is why we prioritize films that haven’t been released publicly on YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, or other free platforms. With limited screen time in our historic venue, we aim to showcase work that audiences can’t watch at home, creating a sense of event cinema that draws crowds and media attention. We strongly recommend holding your film’s public release until after its festival run; this allows us to promote it as a premiere (local, regional, or international), maximizing exposure for your work and honoring the communal thrill of discovering bold genre films on the big screen. 


    Completion/Premiere Date:

    Submissions must have been completed on or after January 1, 2024.


    Final Deadline:

    Entries must be submitted by the final deadline of July 14th, 2025.


    Format:

    Entries must be submitted via FilmFreeway or password protected link (i.e. Vimeo). Passwords should be active for the duration of the submission process. We will not accept files that must be downloaded to be opened or physical drives.  Accepted films will be exhibited at the SIFF Film Center in Seattle, WA.


    Notification:

    Films selected for screening will be notified on or around August 25th, 2025.


    CINEMA OBSCURA FILM FESTIVAL – SUBMISSION TERMS

    Eligibility & Requirements

    - One Title Per Entry: Only a single film may be submitted per entry.

    - No Prior Festival Screenings: Submitted films must not have been previously screened at Cinema Obscura Film Festival.

    - Completion Date: Films must have been completed less than two (2) years before the festival dates.

    - Premiere Status Preference: Priority consideration will be given to films with local (Washington-area) or regional premieres.


    We limit the amount of films that have had:

    - Commercial theatrical, television, or internet releases in the US.

    -Home media distribution (DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, etc.).

    -Films freely available on public platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) are eligible.

    -Exception: Films screened via ticketed festival streams are permitted.


    Exhibition Rights:

    By submitting, you grant Cinema Obscura Film Festival [COFF] the right to:

    - Screen your film at the festival and associated events (press previews, "Best Of" screenings, etc.).

    - Offer the film via secured, time-limited in-person screenings to ticket holders.


     Submissions in each category must adhere to additional rules outlined in the category description. Non-compliant entries will be disqualified.


    Legal & Rights:

        You represent and warrant that:

            You hold full legal rights to submit the film.

            All necessary consents, licenses, and approvals (music, footage, etc.) have been obtained.

        You agree to hold COFF and its sponsors harmless regarding any claims related to rights, licenses, or approvals.

        Submission does not guarantee acceptance into the festival.


    Promotional Use:

    If accepted, you grant COFF the right to:

        Use film clips, stills, trailers, and submitted materials for non-commercial promotional purposes.

        Feature the film in festival marketing (social media, press, etc.).


    By submitting, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms.

“In times like this, we need more dreamers, we need people who use their imagination to spark conversation, to share ideas, and to give us new worlds to imagine.”

— Isabella Von Ghoul (founder of Cinema Obscura)