Dark Nights Film Fest Announces Call for Entries for 2025

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December 2, 2024

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Joseph Perry is the Film Festival Editor for Horror Fuel; all film festival related queries and announcements should be sent to him at josephperry@gmail.com. He is a contributing writer for the "Phantom of the Movies VideoScope" and “Drive-In Asylum” print magazines and the websites Gruesome Magazine, Diabolique Magazine, The Scariest Things, B&S About Movies, and When It Was Cool. He is a co-host of the "Uphill Both Ways" pop culture nostalgia podcast and also writes for its website. Joseph occasionally proudly co-writes articles with his son Cohen Perry, who is a film critic in his own right. A former northern Californian and Oregonian, Joseph has been teaching, writing, and living in South Korea since 2008.

Australia’s Dark Nights Film Fest held its fright-filled first edition this year, and now the fest is preparing its sophomore lineup. Fear-fare filmmakers, the fest’s call for entries is now open! Following is the official press announcement. The wait is over! Dark Nights Film Fest, the ultimate celebration of tenebrous tales and nightmare thrills, is delighted to announce the Call for Entries for its highly-anticipated Volume 2, set to mesmerise audiences in 2025. Following the successful 2024 launch of the festival with Volume One, which captivated audiences and showcased wild and daring films from visionary creators around the globe, Dark Nights Film Fest is back and even more immersive, raising the stakes for its sophomore edition, inviting filmmakers to unleash their darkest and boldest stories across horror, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, noir, western, and war.

Mark Your Calendars

Dark Nights Film Fest – Volume 2 will hit the Ritz screens Thursday October 9 to Sunday October 12, 2025. The program will be launched in September with a special nightmare movie trivia event.

Submission Categories

Filmmakers are invited to submit their works in the following categories:

Features: Full-length projects, including documentaries.
Shorts: Short films up to 30-minutes in length, including webisodes and narrative music videos.
Nightmare Shards: Short, bite-sized live-action horror films that challenge traditional conventions and explore new dimensions of minimal, atmospheric storytelling.
Unproduced Screenplays: Feature film and short film scripts.

Submissions are open now via FilmFreeway.com/darknightsfilmfest, with the following deadlines: Earlybird – March 30 Regular – May 25 Late – June 22 Final – July 20 Don’t miss the chance to have your work showcased at Sydney’s iconic Ritz Cinemas in front of a keen audience in one of the most exciting festivals on the independent film circuit. “Dark Nights is more than just your average film festival—it’s a stage for fearless storytellers to shine,” says festival director Bryn Tilly, “For Volume 2, we’re looking to spotlight even more audacious voices, curating a line-up of spine-tingling films and events designed to immerse audiences and spark conversations, making 2025 an unforgettable for indie cinema.”

On and Around the Screen

Volume 2 promises an enhanced experience, including:

Feature Films: Debuts from first-time feature filmmakers and new works from established directors, paired with international short films.
Aussie Shorts Showcase: A dedicated spotlight on Australia’s best short films from emerging and established filmmakers.
Nightmare Shards: A newly-created special showcase of very short, experimental films made by the next generation of innovative filmmakers from Australia and around the world.
Movie Boutique: A one-of-a-kind marketplace for niche, rare, and cult cinema-inspired merchandise, from rare memorabilia to collectible physical media.
In-Depth Q&As: Hear directly from the creators behind the films in interactive sessions that delve into their inspirations, challenges, and behind-the-scenes stories.
Filmmakers’ Discussion Panel: An industry-focused panel with feature filmmakers sharing insights, strategies, and stories from their journeys in the world of micro-budget filmmaking, and answering burning questions from the audience.
Cult Movie Presentation: A rare screening of a specially-curated cult classic.
Awards Ceremony: Winning films and unproduced screenplays are presented with trophies awarded by a jury of industry luminaries.

About Dark Nights Film Fest

Dark Nights Film Fest is an annual celebration of independent dark genre films and filmmakers, embracing the bold, the confronting, and the unconventional. Through provocative programming, filmmaker engagement, and community-driven events, the festival continues to grow as a hub for creators and audiences who love the thrills and spills of nightmare films. For submission guidelines and festival updates, visit https://darknightsfilmfest.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok. Use the hashtag #darknightsfilmfest and connect with fellow horror enthusiasts.