The Ethereal Horror Fest Returns to Austin This October

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October 6, 2026

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Film Festivals | Movies | News

Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: [email protected]

The Ethereal Horror Fest returns to Austin’s Violet Crown Cinema for its seventh annual installment, running October 16–18. The three-day celebration of independent genre cinema will kick off on opening night with an exciting new addition: the festival’s first-ever live pitch competition. Starting at 7 p.m., six selected filmmakers will present their original horror concepts before a live panel of judges and industry insiders. They will be competing for the coveted top pitch award.

Must-See Feature Screenings

This year’s feature lineup boasts a diverse selection of terrifying narratives. Highlights include Troy Escamilla’s queer horror feature Hollow Lake, which follows a newlywed couple whose serene lakeside getaway turns into a bloody nightmare. The lineup also includes The Ritual of Huasao. It marks the feature debut of Isaac Berrocal, which follows a woman haunted by the fallout of a Peruvian spiritual cleansing.

Also headlining the festival is Mitch McLeod’s psychological thriller Marrow, starring Jessica Dawn Willis, Danielle Harris, and Michael Ironside, which centers on a fading true-crime host pulled into the dangerous realm of a mysterious stranger. Rounding out the feature slate are Friday the 69th, The Barn Part 3, and Séance.

Curated Shorts Blocks and Showcases

Ethereal’s signature programming blocks return with targeted themes designed to spotlight bold storytelling. The Pride of Terror program features short films He’s Sick, Itch, Get Into the Spirit, Nowhere Coast, and The Widowmaker. Additional themed blocks throughout the weekend include From the Abyss, Echoes from Elsewhere, Texas After Dark, Between Channels, and Global Signals. The weekend also includes a dedicated Alliance of Women Directors showcase.

Events and Industry Connections

In addition to film screenings, attendees can participate in filmmaker Q&As, conference panels, and networking opportunities. The weekend will also feature a live table read showcasing selected works from the festival’s annual screenplay competition.

“For seven years, we’ve wanted Ethereal to be a place where filmmakers can take risks and audiences can discover something they weren’t expecting,” said festival founder and president Elizabeth Lloyd. “Horror can be frightening, but it can also be funny, heartbreaking, surreal, socially conscious, or deeply personal. That range is what this festival celebrates.”