Screamfest 2026 Unveils World Premiere Opening Night and Packed Lineup
Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest-running genre festival in the United States, has officially announced the first wave of competitive features and shorts for its 26th edition. Set to take place from October 6 through October 15, 2026, at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, the festival kicks off with the World Premiere of director Jeremy Weiss’ The Night Driver. Starring Josh Lucas, David Arquette, and Alyssa Milano, the survival thriller follows one fateful night on a lonely stretch of highway that devolves into a desperate fight for survival. Festival badges are available now, with individual tickets dropping soon.
A Proven Track Record for Independent Genre Cinema
For over a quarter-century, Screamfest has served as a primary launchpad for emerging horror talent and independent film distribution. Celebrated by The New York Times as one of the top Halloween festivals worth traveling for, the event continues its legacy of championing original genre storytelling. Recent premiering standouts that successfully parlayed their Screamfest debuts into major distribution include ICK (Fathom Events), Cold Wallet (Well Go USA), In Our Blood (Utopia), and Appofeniacs (Magenta Light Studios).
World Premieres and Star-Studded Highlights
The 2026 competitive lineup features 8 world premieres, 6 North American premieres, 1 US premiere, and 3 West Coast premieres. Key world premiere highlights include Jeffrey Scott Collins’ The Caged and Ron Krauss’ Wounds. Audiences can also catch the Los Angeles premiere of Rob Alicea’s Serena, starring Andi Matichak, Steve Strait, and Ashley Murray, alongside the North American premiere of Kyra Gardner’s Slay, featuring Zoey Luna, Aya Cash, Shawnee Smith, and Malina Pauli-Weissman.
Honoring Cinematographer Peter Deming
This year’s Career Achievement Award will be presented to legendary cinematographer Peter Deming, ASC, honoring over three decades of groundbreaking visual craft behind classics like Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks, Evil Dead II, Scream 2-4, Drag Me to Hell, The Cabin in the Woods, and The Menu.
Adding to the festivities, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Dougherty will host a special screening of Trick r Treat, preceded by a new 4K restoration of his 2003 Screamfest-winning animated short Season’s Greetings. After the screening, Dougherty will join a fan Q&A. Select attendees will receive copies of Legendary Comics’ new graphic novel Trick r Treat: Witching Hours and gain access to an exclusive signing with Dougherty, co-writers Todd Casey, Zach Shields, and Curtis Waugh, and artists El Garing and Breehn Burns.
Biometric Horror Scoring and Industry Days
In a tech-forward festival first, Screamfest is partnering with the ScareScore app to track moviegoers’ real-time biometric responses throughout screenings. For the first time in festival history, the festival will present an official award to the film that triggers the audience’s strongest physical scare response. Additionally, Tubi will showcase its new original anthology series Bite Size Terror, executive produced by Peter Rice and GJMD Studio, highlighting bite-sized nightmares from emerging horror voices.
To support the business behind the scares, Yulissa Morales and Ahbra Perry are spearheading two dedicated Industry Days on October 7 and 8. Bringing together filmmakers, executives, producers, and sales agents, the programming features panels on packaging, financing, and distribution, including a case study with writer-director Chris Marrs Piliero and Magenta Light Studios executive Bill Vergos on bringing Appofeniacs to market.
Community Screenings and AFM Industry Prizes
Expanding outside the theater walls, Screamfest is teaming up with Ovation Hollywood to host a free, open-air public screening of the 1984 sci-fi comedy classic Ghostbusters in the Ovation Hollywood courtyard.
Closing out the announcements, the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) has partnered with the festival to award the Screamfest winners Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Short, plus 4-Day Badges to the 2026 American Film Market (AFM). Valued at $845 each, the badges provide winning filmmakers direct access to global sales, financing, and development opportunities in Los Angeles this November.
The 2026 Screamfest® features lineup below:
FEATURES:
213 Bones (USA, 2025) – North American Premiere
Directed by Jeffrey Primm
Written by Jeffrey Primm, Dominic Arcelin
Produced by Joyce Schweickert, John Michaels, Tyler Jon Olson
Cast: Colin Egglesfield, Dean Cameron, Scott Peat, Francesca Barker McCormick, Liam Woodrum, Sarah Brooks, Joyce Schweickert
As a series of brutal murders terrorizes a college town in 1993, a masked killer’s identity becomes the center of a high-stakes whodunit where every clue leads deeper into danger.
Abandoned (UK, 2026) – North American Premiere
Directed by Joby Stephens
Written by Joby Stephens, Joe Bird and Andrew Daniel
Produced by Joby Stephens, Joe Bird, Annie James, Michela Testa, Debora Bruno and David Weaver
Cast: Grace Gallagher, Cameron Wight
Chasing a viral video to save their channel and friendship, two urban explorers break into a derelict facility scarred by sinister experiments. Trapped among its secrets, they enter a nightmare where history manifests as evil.
Apocalypse Z: A New World – (Spain, 2026) – US Premiere
Directed by Carles Torrens
Written by Ángel Agudo (based on the novels by Manel Loureiro)
Produced by Núria Valls and Adrián Guerra
Cast: Carlos Alcaide, Julia Martínez, José María Yazpik, Mónica López, Tamara Casellas, Santiago Vaca and Berta Vázquez
The story takes us to the Canary Islands, Europe’s last refuge after the outbreak of the TSJ virus. When a special mission sets out for the mainland to find vital supplies, Roberto joins the team with questionable intentions. The dangerous operation becomes a desperate race for survival, and Roberto and his companions find themselves caught between hordes of the infected and divided loyalties. Then the timeless question arises: save yourself, or risk everything to preserve what little humanity remains?
The Caged (UK, 2026) – World Premiere
Directed by Jeffrey Scott Collins
Written by Jeffrey Scott Collins
Produced by Joseph C. Grano, Jeffrey Scott Collins, Gaby Whyte Hart, Llewelynn Greef
Cast: Tamzin Merchant, Edmund Kingsley, Raffiella Chapman, Callen Carter, Virge Gilchrist, Barbara Mariposa, Whoopie Van Raam, Oliver Henry Arnold, Mark Moraghan, Ahmad Sakhi, King Kerim
Starring Tamzin Merchant and Ed Kingsley, The Caged (inspired by true events) follows a British family that moves into an old cottage in Essex, England, in 1988. A dark presence terrorizes them. After researching the history of their new home, they quickly learn why – the site was once referred to as THE CAGE. A medieval prison where many women were held as witches and put to death – including England’s most notorious witch, Ursula Kemp, who was hanged for witchcraft in 1582.
The Exit State – (US, 2026) World Premiere
Directed by Gabriela Ledesma
Written by Josh George, Gabriela Ledesma, Callie Schuttera
Produced by Callie Schuttera, Gabriela Ledesma
Cast: Callie Schuttera (Weapons), Josh George, Sharon Lawrence, Clayton Farris (Weapons), Johnny Bazaldua, Nikki Dixon, Jeremy D. Howard, Cindy Nguyen, Stakiah Lynn Washington
A group fleeing America’s authoritarian collapse takes refuge in a safe house — and discovers it’s anything but safe.
Grow – (US, 2026) World Premiere
Directed by Brian Gottlieb
Written by Brian Gottlieb and Aimee Scher
Produced by Aimee Scher, Brian Gottlieb & Michael Tipps
Cast: Peter Vack, Annet Mahendru, Janis Dardaris, Phillip Tabor
Blending horror, dark comedy, and surrealism, GROW is a psychosexual nightmare about bodily autonomy and what to expect when he’s expecting.
Insecta (Uruguay, 2026) – World Premiere
Directed by Martin Florio
Written by Martin Florio, Leonel D’Agostino, Andrea Gobera Fajer
Produced by Fernando Gaston / Telemundo Studios
Cast: Mayra Hermosillo, Rocío de la Mañana, Luis Felipe Tovar
A famous horror novelist returns to an isolated farm to say goodbye to her dying father. There, she discovers that the enigmatic young woman caring for him knows more than she lets on; the monstrous imaginary insect that tormented her in childhood may be more real than she ever thought.
Nervous (South Korea / UK, 2026) – North American Premiere
Directed by Abner Pastoll
Written by Richard Hobley
Produced by Junyoung Jang, Abner Pastoll
Cast: Sarah Bolger, Asung Ko, Sungsoo Yune
After discovering a silent vinyl record in her new home, a woman begins losing the ability to hear her husband’s voice, spiraling into a seductive nightmare beyond her control.
The Night Driver (USA 2026) – World Premiere
Directed by Jeremy Weiss
Written by John Cork
Produced by Andre Relis, Jib Polhemus, Jessica Russo
Cast: Josh Lucas, Alyssa Milano, David Arquette
One night in the middle of the country, traveling salesman Hurdis Matheson drives down a dark stretch of highway when he accidentally hits a long-haired stranger. The stranger survives, but is badly wounded. Hurdis agrees to drive him to the hospital. As they drive, he realizes something is wrong with his passenger. Before he knows it, The Stranger becomes violent and attacks him. A couple of days later in California, Hurdis’ wife, Cheryl Jones, begs her old friend Detective Hank Granger to help find her husband. She hasn’t heard from him in two days, and suspects something happened to him. Granger agrees to help but gets entangled in a bigger FBI case involving Hurdis Jones. They suspect he is a serial killer on a rampage, leaving a trail of homicide scenes across the country.
Meanwhile, Hurdis runs, drives, and speeds to get home. But everywhere he turns, The Stranger stalks him. He can’t seem to lose him. What happens next will lead to a climax that leaves audiences speechless. Reminiscent of films such as High Tension or The Sixth Sense, The Night Driver swerves with twists and turns that deliver shocking surprises that no one can anticipate.
NINE (France, 2026) – West Coast Premiere
Directed by Luis Bujeau, Sabine Crossen, Jeremy Guetta
Written by Puissance 9
Produced by Puissance 9
Cast: Aurelia Poirier, Pierre Azema, Eloise Le Baud, Sabine Crossen
Melanie and her friends return to the family home for one final weekend.
Steeped in memories and unspoken truths, the place soon reflects a fractured mind. What begins as a simple reunion turns into a psychological descent, forcing each of them to confront their own shadows. Within these walls, Melanie’s psyche slowly reveals itself — her fears, her defenses, her shifting identities. Nine is a psychological thriller that plunges into the heart of a mind at war — an intimate and universal experience about the courage to fully exist.
Once Upon A Time In A Horror Movie (USA, 2026) – North American Premiere
Directed by Ashley Cahill
Written by Ashley Cahill
Produced by Pantea Ghaderi
Cast: Neeley Dayan, Mabel Thomas, Shane Graham, Allison Gold, Julia Clarke, Alex Joseph, James DeBello, Casey Anderson, Jonathan Walker Harville.
Hoping for an unforgettable birthday, a group of friends signs up for an immersive horror-movie experience that promises to place them inside their own 1980s slasher film. But as the night unfolds, the lines between fiction and reality disappear, and what begins as a game of make-believe soon becomes a desperate fight for survival, where the only way to stay alive is to make it to the final reel.
Postmortem – (Columbia, 2026) – World Premiere
Directed by Andres Beltran
Written by Andres Beltran
Produced by Jason Cherubini
Cast: Allegra Leguizamo, Julio Cedillo, Tony Revolori, Andres Londono
Stricken with grief, a medical forensic investigator works on a case that makes her believe she can bring her deceased husband back to life, only to unravel a series of events that lead to unforeseen and perilous consequences.
Processing Charlie (USA, 2026) – World Premiere
Directed by David Harari
Written by David Harari
Produced by David Harari, Alexis Brown
Cast: Asis Fris, Michael Ursu, Kelly Pantaleoni, Sophie Guillen
An act of kindness quickly becomes a nightmarish fight for survival when a young man, dealing with his fractured marriage, takes in a needy, long-lost cousin. Part pervert, part psychopath, Cousin Cole’s dark secrets slowly bubble to the surface as Charlie realizes too late that no good deed goes unpunished.
Serena (USA, 2026) – West Coast Premiere
Directed by Rob Alicea
Written by Jonathan Benecke and P.T. Hylton
Produced by Jerry Careccio, Rob Alicea, Brodrick Haygood, Jonathan Benecke and P.T. Hylton
Cast: Andi Matichak (Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends), Steven Strait (The Expanse), Ashleigh Murray (Riverdale, The Other Black Girl)
Starring Andi Matichak (Blumhouse’s Halloween), Steven Strait (Amazon’s The Expanse), and Ashleigh Murray (Hulu’s The Other Black Girl), SERENA follows washed-up rock star Chris Sadowski as his life implodes in real time across his computer screen. With a baby on the way and eviction closing in, he signs on to beta-test an experimental AI assistant calling itself ‘Serena’. What begins as a quick payday mutates into a psychological chokehold, as every window, alert, and keystroke pushes Chris toward the final question: is Serena saving him… or dismantling him piece by piece?
Slay (USA, 2026) – North American Premiere
Directed by Kyra Gardner
Written by Jimmi Simpson, Kyra Gardner
Produced by Mary Kate Van Den Berg, Jimmi Simpson, Kyra Gardner
Cast: Zoey Luna, Aya Cash, Shawnee Smith, Malina Pauli-Weissman, Sean Giambrone, Beck Nolan, Talia Jackson, Reise Alexander, Ruby McCollister, River Alexander, Isidora Goreshter, Andrew Bowser, Jimmi Simpson
Teen influencer Chloe Cruz has built a life that looks perfect online – a devoted boyfriend, a loyal friend group, and an audience watching her every move since she was little. But beneath the curated image, Chloe struggles to understand who she is, and who everyone else expects her to be. When a friend is murdered, her seemingly perfect world comes into question. Seeking refuge from the press, Chloe and her friends retreat to a secluded, disco-themed cabin, where old tensions and new fears collide. As a masked killer closes in and paranoia takes hold, Chloe must confront the fragile identity she’s built – and the possibility that someone knows exactly how to tear it, and her friends, apart.
Still Ohio (USA, 2026) – West Coast Premiere
Directed by Kaylin Allshouse
Written by Kaylin Allshouse
Produced by Kaylin Allshouse, Elizabeth MacLeod, Devon Tayman
Cast: Fernanda Lopez, Michael Zapesotsky, Sofia Angelopoulos, Jake Melamed
In her feature film debut, shot entirely in Ohio, writer/director Kaylin Allshouse explores the troubles of long-distance relationships and the transition into adulthood, set against the vicious nature of an endless time loop. This indie horror follows Ana (Fernanda Lopez), a college student transferring to Tulane to be with her boyfriend, Doug, after the distance becomes too much. Doug arranges for Ana to carpool down to Louisiana with three of his friends– Henry (Michael Zapesotsky– Off The Grid; Unspoken), Julia (Sofia Angelopoulos), and Johnny (Jake Melamed). En route, Ana discovers Doug doesn’t know his “friends” nearly as well as he led her to believe. As they make their way through Ohio’s back roads, the four keep returning to the same gas station, despite their best efforts to escape. When their journey takes a deadly turn, Ana must finally reckon with what has led her to these circumstances and stand up for herself before she gets trapped in the time loop forever. Through these elements of horror and adolescence, Allshouse crafts a poignant story about self-resilience that will have you returning again and again and again and again.
Valley View Motel (USA, 2026) – North American Premiere
Directed by Nick Psinakis
Written by Nick Psinakis & Kevin Ignatius
Produced by Nick Psinakis, Kevin Ignatius & Mick Thyer
Cast: Laura Im, Soulo Smith, Kevin Ignatius, Nick Psinakis, Judy Lee, McKenzie Such, Tom Mesmer, Melissa Collins, Corin ClaySet int’s 1, in this neon-noir thriller, it follows two small-time crooks who, after a diamond heist goes seriously awry and turns into multiple murders, attempt to escape the wrath of the hitman on their tail. Seeking refuge at a motel in the remote foothills of Pennsylvania run by a peculiar owner and his sister, they have no idea what grimmer hot mess they have stumbled into and soon must figure out how to survive the night.
Wounds (USA, 2026) – World Premiere
Directed by Ron Krauss
Written by Ron Krauss
Produced by Ron Krauss, Ira Houston
Cast: Jack Kilmer (Palo Alto, The Nice Guys), Paris Jackson (Swarm)
Caleb, a young SFX makeup artist, struggles to create realistic effects until he witnesses a brutal murder. Intrigued by what he saw, he descends into a psychological abyss as he takes on extreme measures to create his masterful effects.
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