What is Salty Horror Film Festival?

SHFF is Utah’s first ever film festival for horror and sci-fi/horror submissions. Salt Lake City will host this kind of festival for the first time accepting horror AND science fiction/horror themed screenplays, short and feature length films. Remember when we say horror we want YOU to give us the next “Alien” or “Jason X.” Send us the next horror film in space that doesn’t suck. You’re also welcome to send us the next horror film with sci-fi themes that does suck. We don’t care.

We are a festival covering three sub-genres of the overall horror genre.  Submit your projects to:

• Traditional Horror
• Science Fiction Horror (horror with some element from the sci-fi genre… such as ALIEN)
• Comedic Horror (horror with a comedic twist… such as SHAUN OF THE DEAD)

Back to Top

What kind of categories are there?

• Feature Length Films
  • Running length over 45 minutes
• Short Films
  • Running length under 45 minutes
• Feature Length Screenplays
  • Running length over 45 minutes
• Short Screenplays
  • Running length under 45 minutes
• Horror Film Documentary
  • Including behind-the-scenes and making-of documentaries such as FULL TILT BOOGIE, a behind-the-scenes documentary about FROM DUSK TILL DAWN
• Horror Film Music
  • We will recognize the best horror music and that category will be judged by a special guest panel of horror film music composers
• Trailers
  • Trailers can be submitted whether or not the film behind the trailer is actually being made or not. Can you make a trailer like Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving trailer?
• Music Videos
  • Send us your music videos of artists that represent the darker side of music.

There are three levels to which you can enter and be awarded

• Student (17 and younger)
• Novice (Amateur / College Student (18 and older / budget under $50k)
• Professional (budgets over $50k)

Back to Top

How much does it cost to submit screenplays and films?

Each deadline has a certain charge to submit screenplays and films.

• July 1, 2010 – $25

  • Early deadline with a charge of $25 for screenplays, short films and feature-length films.

• August 1, 2010 – $40

  • Regular deadline with a charge of $40 for screenplays, short films and feature-length films.

• September 10, 2010 – $60

  • Late deadline with a charge of $60 for screenplays, short films and feature-length films.

Back to Top

Will film screenings be the only attraction?

No- Every day has one big event along with screenings. Depending on the venue, there may be tie in events with local haunted attractions. You will be able to attend a Utah haunted attraction at a discounted price for attending a Salty Horror film. Also, at midnight on Thursday, Friday, Saturday of the festival there will be a screening of some classic horror movie. (schedule TBA). Winning Short screenplays will be acted out ON STAGE Thursday night of the festival.

Click to see the tentative schedule of the 2010 Salty Horror Film Festival

The dates of the Salty Horror Film Festival will not change (Nov 4-7 2010), but some events or venues may change due to scheduling issues.  The Tower Theater (876 east 900 south Salt Lake City) is the tentative home for the festival

Back to Top

Will there be contests associated with this festival?

Yes. There are three tentative contests being run between October 2009 and October 2010.

• Miss Salty Horror Film Festival Model Search
  • This will be an open call and filmed as a reality TV show before the festival as part of the aggressive marketing campaign. Contestants will be eliminated and the winner will be Miss Salty Horror and she will win front and center attention in the marketing campaign involving posters, T-shirts, Internet presence, commercials and whatever other exposure we can afford.

• Bloody 72 Make a Horror Film in 3 days
  • Small groups will pay only $180 to enter the contest that they have 72 hours to make a short horror film during festival. On Nov. 2 at noon groups will form, get a word that must be in the script somewhere and they will be off and running to make a less than 9 minute short film. On Nov. 4 at noon the film is due. The winning films will be shown that night of festival and the group could win over $500 and a surprise collection of films

Back to Top

Are there content restrictions?

Yes, There are 2 content restrictions for submission. Please do not send the film if there is:

1. Anything that enters the realm deemed to glorify aberrant sexual acts such as beastiality or rape. If scenes of violent torture cross the line and deemed to be gratuitous “torture porn” and NOT necessary to story or plot, the film may be disqualified. Comparison scenes that are acceptable are from the “Saw” and “Hostel” series but crossing into rape will not be acceptable.
2. Scenes that glorify any illegal activity involving those under 17 such as pervasive aberrant sexual acts, crime, gangs, alcohol or drug use. Any of these elements that are used could be deemed gratuitous by the film festival committee will disqualify your film.

IF YOU CONTINUE TO SEND YOUR FILM AND IT CONTAINS THESE KIND OF SCENES, PLEASE SUBMIT A LETTER EXPLAINING WHY THAT IS A PART OF THE FILM AND WHY YOU BELIEVE THE FILM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPETITION.

This is a horror film festival so anything other than the two golden rules will not disqualify your film. If your film is accepted and contains “R” rated themes, nudity, pervasive adult language, the screening times will be later and the film will be flagged for families so they can decide if it is appropriate for their children.

Back to Top