"We had an AMAZING time at the incredible Dark Carnival Film Festival! The event was extremely well organized and the venue was absolutely fantastic. We met so many talented people and the audience reception to W.O.R.M. was overwhelming."

Anthony Sumner
W.O.R.M.

Submission Guidelines:

The Dark Carnival is an international festival of horror. We're looking for unique, independent horror films of all kinds, from all over the world.

Short films & features, documentaries & music videos- we want 'em all!

Now accepting
SUBMISSIONS!

Film Submissions:

1. Film formats accepted for exhibition: DVD, VHS and 35mm.
(DVDs must be Region 0 or 1 and NTSC format.)

2. All films should have been produced after January 2004.

3. Foreign films must be dubbed in English or presented in their original language with English language subtitles.

4. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form. CLICK HERE for online submission form.

5. Each film must be on a separate DVD or videotape.

6. Do not send a film copy with “FOR SCREENING PURPOSES ONLY” protectors. If your film is selected, your preview submission copy will be used for exhibition screening. Also, please do not send us your master copy.

How to submit
Submissions can be completed online, or via the submission form that you can download and mail to us. Send us a clearly labeled DVD, VHS, or 35mm film for review, per the instructions on the submission form. Don’t forget to include your name, film title, and contact information on all submitted materials. We also recommend including a press kit with film synopsis, film stills, press release, etc., which will help us promote your film.

Agreements
Submission of your work confirms that the Dark Carnival Film Festival has permission to exhibit your film(s) during the Festival and/or at any other Festival event. Submission of a work implies that the Festival can employ moving image excerpts and reproduce stills for exhibition promotion. Credit will be given to any filmmaker, if such material is used in Festival promotion. Original copyright holder retains all rights to their work.

Additional Terms & Conditions: (the fine print...)

• Every precaution will be exercised in handling entries, but neither the Festival organizers, employees, sponsors, nor participating organizations can assume responsibility for damage to or loss of materials submitted.
• Submitting your film to Dark Carnival in no way implies ANY ownership rights by Dark Carnival to the submitted film.
• Your submission entry items (Fee, Application, Film) must be postmarked by the deadline date, and it all must be received by Dark Carnival before your film can be considered "submitted". We accept DVD (Regions 0, 1), VHS (NTSC) and 35mm. PLEASE, DO NOT send us a protected screener copy. Also, please don't send us your master copy.
• Short films must be 1-35 minutes, and long or feature films must be 36+ minutes. All films must be original or adapted works. Please make sure to test your DVD before sending it.
• Film award nominees will be posted by Dark Carnival approximately three weeks before the festival, and any further needed materials will be requested at that time.
• Please clearly label ALL of your materials with the movie title, your name, address, best contact phone number, email address, and the movie's total running time.
• Each movie is judged solely by its merit. All competition winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges provided by the sponsors. The judge's decisions are final.
• Fees: All fees are non-refundable. All checks & money orders must be made payable to Cinephile Film Arts. We accept checks, money orders, and online payments, in US Dollars only. Payments from outside the USA must be paid by certified check or International Money Order in US dollars only. No exceptions! We do not accept cash.
• Confidentiality: Dark Carnival agrees to use their best efforts and judgment in not releasing any personal and/or confidential information about any filmmaker and/or their material(s) and/or information, except for the purposes of promotion. You agree to not release any material(s) and/or information regarding Dark Carnival or any of its staff, associates, or affiliates, either verbally or in writing, in any derogatory and/or defamatory and/or negative manner.
• Public Statements: Either party may use the other party's name for the purpose of making public statements such as press releases and marketing materials and promotion, provided that each party adheres to reasonable standards for making such statements. In all cases, full consideration and representation of the respective roles and contributions of both parties shall be given in any such statement. You agree not to use any reference to Dark Carnival in any pornographic, illegal, abusive, defamatory, offensive, or negative way whatsoever.
• Partnership and Employment: Submitting material(s) and/or information, volunteering, or participating in anyway whatsoever with Dark Carnival in no way implies or constitutes employment or a partnership of any kind.
• Responsibility and Liability: Neither party shall owe any liability to the other party arising under this agreement for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages, including, without limitation, loss of profit or business opportunities, except as expressly set forth herein.
• Neither party makes any (and each party hereby specifically disclaims) any, representations or warrantees, express or implied, regarding the services contemplated by this agreement, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, implied warranties arising from a course of dealing or course of performance or any warranties relating to title or non-infringement of intellectual property.
• Neither party makes any representation, warranty or assurance concerning any minimum or maximum number of viewers or attendees or screenings or celebrities or special guests or events or seminars. Except for payments due collected by Dark Carnival as stated herein or on Dark Carnival's website(s), Dark Carnival's liability for any damages caused to You as a result of performance or non-performance or damage under, or not under, this agreement shall be limited in all circumstances to an amount no greater than one U.S. dollar ($1.00).
• Further, You agree to not hold Dark Carnival liable for any reason whatsoever, and to not bring or incite any legal action(s) against Dark Carnival for any reason whatsoever.
• Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to the choice of law principles. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All taxes on or connected with any prize and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of respective winners. By entering the competition, all entrants agree to the complete contents of these Terms and Conditions and General Rules. All entrants release and agree to hold Dark Carnival and/or all other Dark Carnival related activities harmless from and against any and all injuries, rights, damages, losses, claims and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the festival or participation in the festival and any festival related activity, in perpetuity. Further, all entrants release and waive any claims with regard to Dark Carnival and agree to hold harmless Dark Carnival and/or all Dark Carnival related competition entities from and against any and all claims of any kind that are or could be asserted with respect to any matter whatsoever, in perpetuity. All entrants further agree to indemnify, defend against and agree to hold harmless Dark Carnival and/or all other Dark Carnival related competition entities from any and all liabilities, damage, costs and/or fees incurred in defending against any third party claim(s) or threat(s) of claim(s) asserted against Dark Carnival and/or all other Dark Carnival related festival entities arising from any entrant's participation in or conduct associated with the festival, in perpetuity.
• Miscellaneous: All other situations will be considered on a situation by situation basis, at the sole discretion of Dark Carnival. All submission fees are one time only for each movie submitted. All payments and/or fees made to Dark Carnival must be in U.S. Currency only, and must be paid either online or by check or money order. All checks and/or money orders must be made payable to Atomic Age Cinema. All payments and/or fees paid to Dark Carnival are non-refundable.
• Neither Dark Carnival, the judges, organizers, employees, sponsors, participating organizations, assume any responsibility for any damage to or any loss of any material(s) submitted. Further, Dark Carnival does not assume any responsibility for any damage whatsoever to any person(s) participating in and/or attending any event associated with the Festival.
• Non-performance of any party shall be excused to the extent that performance is rendered impossible by strike, fire, flood, earthquakes, war, governmental acts or orders or restrictions, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond the reasonable control, and not caused by the negligence of, the non-performing party.
• It is your sole responsibility as a Dark Carnival Film Festival submitter to secure any licensing or permission to use any copyrighted materials in your submitted film.
• Participation in and/or attending Dark Carnival Film Festival implies understanding and acceptance of all the above terms, conditions and rules. Not adhering to these terms, conditions and rules is cause without prior notice for disqualification and/or from being selected by Dark Carnival, and we reserve the right to select and/or not select and/or disqualify any submitted materials, and refuse admission of any person(s) and/or material(s) to any Dark Carnival activity and/or event at our sole discretion.