We're very happy to hear that Salem Horror Fest will be making its return in April 2023! Film submissions are already open and more details will be revealed in the coming months, but in the meantime, check out the official press release below and the killer artwork from David Dembowski!
Salem, Massachusetts - April 20, 2022 - Named by FilmFreeway as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” the aggressively, and unapologetically queer Salem Horror Fest will return to the Halloween capital of the world for it’s sixth year next April 20 - April 30, 2023.
Addressing the move, festival director Kay Lynch said, “ Salem is a nightmare. Every October, half a million visitors descend upon a city population of 50,000 - snarling traffic, crowding the streets, and commandeering an extremely low inventory of hotel rooms driving up prices so that no one can travel to Witch City for a weekend without dropping $2,500. This is not the experience, or limited accessibility, I started the festival for.”
All feature film submissions are eligible for a $1,000 jury prize and are considered for the George A. Romero Foundation Fellowship program. 2021 winners include Alice Maoi Mackay (So Vam), Gia Elliot (Take Back the Night), and Paul Owens (LandLocked).
“The team at Salem truly care about supporting indie films and filmmakers, are champions of diverse stories and storytellers, and were great at communicating both leading up to and throughout the festival,” said Krista Dzialoszynski, writer and producer of the 2020 jury winning SHUDDER Original, The Strings. “Cannot recommend Salem Horror Fest enough.”
To submit your film, please visit FilmFreeway. First deadline is June 21, 2022. For more information and announcements, visit salemhorror.com.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industries, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror entertainment. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who work tirelessly to explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also been consulted as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering his insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, radio stations, film festivals, and fan conventions.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industries, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror entertainment. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who work tirelessly to explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also been consulted as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering his insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, radio stations, film festivals, and fan conventions.
![[Comic-Con 2025] Interview: Michael Giacchino Talks Marvel’s WEREWOLF BY NIGHT: BLOOD MOON and Why He Loves Classic Monsters](https://dailydead.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Werewolf-1000-b-326x150.jpg)
![[Editorial] ANNIHILATION (2018): The Algorithm of Natural Selection Just Unfollowed You](https://dailydead.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Annihilation-1000-180x83.jpg)
