Dreadline Film Festival

06/02/2026

Due to an increase in submissions, we’ve extended our final deadline to June 5th! 🎬💀

Thank you to everyone who has submitted so far. We’re thrilled by the response and can’t wait to share these incredible films with our audience.

If you haven’t submitted yet, this is your chance to join the dread and be part of the inaugural Dreadline Film Festival.

Final Deadline: June 5th
Submit your short film before it’s too late🩸

04/27/2026

Will it be yours? Submit your film 🎬🩸

04/08/2026

We amplify the voices behind the work.

We’re proud to offer filmmakers the opportunity to participate in on-camera interviews during the festival, creating high-quality video content to support your film, your story, and your journey beyond the screen.

Your work doesn’t end when the credits roll and neither should the conversation around it.

🎬 Submissions are open

03/17/2026

Dreadline Film Festival is for the filmmaker. 👏🏻

We understand what it takes to bring a film to life because we’ve lived it.

That’s why we offer:
Prizes designed to help you keep creating.
Social media content to promote your film and your voice.
Distribution opportunities for select films.

This is more than a festival, it’s a platform built to support you.

Submit to be part of our inaugural year and join a community that puts filmmakers first.

Comment 🎥 for 50% off your submission fee (available through April 30th).

03/03/2026

🩸 Introducing Dreadline Judge: Corey Norman

We’re honored to welcome Maine-based horror filmmaker and educator Corey Norman as one of our first official judges for the inaugural year of Dreadline Film Festival.

Corey is known for his atmospheric storytelling, practical effects, and character-driven suspense. His filmography includes The Hanover House, Monsterland 1 & 2, The Invoking 2, Charlotte, Suffer the Little Children (an adaptation of the Stephen King short story), and The Witching. His work embraces psychological tension and slow-burn supernatural horror, drawing from both classic genre cinema and contemporary independent filmmaking.

Beyond independent horror, Corey has contributed to productions for the History Channel, National Geographic, NBC Sports, Discovery, and WGBH; bringing a production-focused, technically grounded perspective to every project he touches.

He currently teaches filmmaking and media production at Southern Maine Community College, where he champions hands-on learning and emphasizes cinematography, lighting, and sound as powerful storytelling tools. In addition, he serves on the Maine Film Commission, supporting creative development and film production across the state.

Corey’s commitment to craft, community, and the future of filmmaking makes him an incredible addition to the Dreadline family.

Please join us in welcoming him! 👏🏻👏🏻

02/06/2026

See you on the big scream 👻

Dreadline Film Festival was created for the strange, the dark, and the thrilling but just as importantly, for the filmmakers behind the stories.

The festival proudly offer awards, prize packages, and select distribution opportunities designed to support your film throughout its festival circuit and beyond. At Dreadline, they believe deeply in the power of the stories being told and the creators bringing them to life.

Submissions are now open for our inaugural year, and they're committed to celebrating the spooky and the strange for years to come. They're looking forward to showcasing local, national, and international films that thrill, unsettle, and chill.

Become part of Dreadline’s establishing year and submit today.
Submission page: https://filmfreeway.com/f/DreadlineFilmFestival
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01/06/2026

What’s your favorite stage of creating a film? 🎥
Writing the story?
Planning for a successful shoot?
Creating the magic in the moment?

Bet you didn’t see that last slide coming 🫣 Or did you?

Distribution is often the part of the process that feels unattainable, intimidating, or unknown to filmmakers. Here at Dreadline Film Festival, in partnership with , we don’t gatekeep.

We believe in celebrating every stage of the filmmaking journey, while offering real opportunities that extend beyond the festival.

Tell us which stage of filmmaking makes you feel alive 🎬🩸

12/15/2025

We know what it takes to make a film that bleeds.
Now it’s your turn. 🩸

Early Bird submissions for the Dreadline Film Festival are officially LIVE! These are our lowest submission prices until February 1st. As a filmmaker-run festival, we’re here to champion bold stories, new voices, and the dark corners of indie cinema.

Join us in our Founding Year!

Submit via FilmFreeway 🔗 https://filmfreeway.com/DreadlineFilmFestival

Photo Still credit: Silent System short film🩸

12/11/2025

We celebrate the creators who dare to dig into the dark 💀
Here are five standout award categories for the 2026 Dreadline Film Festival:

🏆 Best of Dreadline Fest
🏔 Best of New England
🎓 Best Student Short
🩸 Women in Horror
🎬 First-Time Filmmaker

With 18 total awards, Dreadline is ready to honor the best in horror, thriller, and experimental storytelling. Our additional award categories include:

• Best Horror
• Best Thriller
• Best Experimental
• Best National
• Best International
• Best Animation
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Cinematography
• Best Editing
• Best Sound Design
• …and of course, Audience Choice!

🎞 Submissions are now open on FilmFreeway!
Submit during Earlybird pricing before our Regular Deadline increases on February 1st.
For more information about Dreadline, visit us online!

12/08/2025

Where dread is welcome, horror is celebrated, and filmmakers are championed 🫀🎬💥

🩸Dreadline Film Festival is open for submissions🩸

In partnership with Gemini Entertainment and Portland Media Center, we’re thrilled to bring a brand-new horror, thriller, and experimental film festival to life, right here in Maine! Crafted for indie filmmakers, genre lovers, and stories that haunt, linger, and inspire.

🎬 Official Selections will be notified on July 1st and celebrated on August 22nd, 2026!

This year, we’re proud to offer 18 awards, including special categories honoring:
• New England Filmmakers
• Women in Horror
• First-Time Filmmakers
• …and more designed to uplift emerging voices in the genre.

💀 Plus: Prize packages created to fuel creative pursuits, elevate your work, and celebrate your artistic courage. More on this to come!

🔥 Earlybird submissions are now open! Enter before the regular deadline creeps in…

Submit now on FilmFreeway 🪦
https://filmfreeway.com/DreadlineFilmFestival

We look forward to stepping into the dread with you 🩸