Indie Horror Junkie is thrilled to present the first annual Dances With Blood: 2 Week Horror Film Challenge, a competition for the horror-loving masses designed to ignite the creative fire within its participants while electrifying horror fans with bold, fresh, and original nightmares.
This is more than a challenge; it’s a call to awaken, formulate, and leave a long-lasting mark on the genre. Through their Indie Horror Junkie platform, Rick Danford and Aimee Rolfsen have teamed up once again to define this film challenge, driven by their shared desire to see the horror genre grow and evolve while supporting and showcasing emerging talent.
At its core, this competition continues the Indie Horror Junkie mission, delivering thrilling new content to horror audiences and giving creators the opportunity to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, all within an intense, time-pressured format that fuels creativity, passion, and collaboration, pushing filmmakers to bring bold ideas to life against the ticking clock. This opening phase provides filmmakers, actors, and creatives with a clear timeline for the Challenge.
Registration will open on May 31, 2026, marking the first day teams can officially enter. Submissions will follow a structured deadline format, with entries offered at Early Bird, Regular, and Late submission levels.
Registration will remain open through the Final Late Deadline of December 31st, 2026, after which the field will be set. On January 16, 2027, the Kickoff Event will take place.
Participating teams will be announced, along with their randomly assigned Sub-Genre, Prop, and Line of Dialogue required for their film. At the conclusion of the kickoff event, the official 14-day production period will begin. Teams will have until midnight on January 29th to write, produce, and submit a completed film.
Each submission must have a strict runtime of exactly 10 minutes, with no deviations. Team Captains must also provide the exact timestamps where the assigned prop and line of dialogue appear within the film. All submitted films will be reviewed to ensure they meet the competition requirements. All qualifying films will be streamed online, allowing teams to promote their work and engage audiences.
At the close of the streaming period, the film with the highest number of likes will receive the Audience Choice Award, which includes an award certificate, entry into the Indie Horror Junkie Film Fest, a feature in the Indie Horror Junkie magazine, and a $100 cash prize.
Filmmakers will also have the opportunity to incorporate the Indie Horror Junkie logo into their films. The most creative use will be recognized with the Indie Horror Junkie Logo Award, which includes an award certificate, Film Fest entry, a magazine feature, and a $200 cash prize.
A panel of judges will evaluate all qualifying films and select the Final 13 films. These 13 films will be screened during the Dances With Blood: 2 Week Horror Film Challenge Block at the Indie Horror Junkie Film Fest, where the Dark Arts Grand Champion will be crowned.
The winning team will receive a custom trophy, multiple film festival entries including the Indie Horror Junkie Film Fest, Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival, and Lakeland Horror Film Festival, and a full-page feature in Indie Horror Junkie magazine, along with a $1,000 cash prize.
Each of the Final 13 finalists will also receive digital trading cards created by Terror Cards for use in their mobile app, along with feedback from select industry professionals.
Teams will register using FilmFreeway once registration opens. Instructions will be posted prior to registration opening. We recommend using this time before the opening bell to assemble your teams and selecting a team name and captain.
On Wednesday April 29th on the Indie Horror Junkie Podcast Rick and Aimee will be going over more details and fielding any questions you may have to help you prepare.
SPONSORED BY JOYHORROR ENTERTAINMENT / MARKETING MACABRE
Marketing Macabre is a boutique public relations and digital marketing agency specifically tailored for the independent horror industry. Founded and led by horror industry veteran Michael Joy, the firm provides affordable alternatives for filmmakers, authors, and other horror professionals to get their projects seen by a dedicated, niche audience. They offer specialized services such as custom press release campaigns, social media management, crowdfunding support, and brand development for individuals aiming to become “Scream Queens” or recognized directors. By leveraging deep connections with major genre sites like HorrorNews.net and IMDb, Marketing Macabre acts as a bridge between low-budget indie creations and the most devoted fans in entertainment. | Contact: joyhorror@msn.com
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