The seventh annual Frightfilm Competition Premiere and Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday October 25th beginning at 1pm at UC Clermont College in the Krueger Auditorium in Batavia.
While registrations had to be capped at 30 teams registered to compete, 25 film-making teams completed the task of making a short horror film within two months. Just in time for Halloween week and now in its seventh year, Frightfilm Competition challenges horror film enthusiasts to write, shoot and edit a thirteen minute or less horror film. Each film had to contain a poison, silhouette shot, and a line of dialogue, of their choosing, from a classic horror film.
“Our teams are made up of all kinds of people. There are professionals, people who just like horror films(and feel they can make one) and college students.” Said Frightfilm co-founder Bill Anderson. He went on to say, “Our judges had lots of challenges again year when judging the films. When we look at their scores, they are frightfully close.”
More than 79 industry professionals across the country, and now from England, volunteered to serve as judges in fourteen different categories.
“In addition to the awards determined by our judges, our audience members will choose three Audience Favorites at our premiere.” Jim Timmerman, co-founder explained how the public can attend the event. “Tickets are available only from our website at Frightfilmcompetition.com. Each ticket is only $15. It gets you more than four and a half-hour of short horror films. They will be presented in three blocks. The movies start at 1pm on Saturday October 25th. If you’re a horror film enthusiast, Frightfilm is perfect for you!”
The Skelly statuette is the award presented by Frightfilm Competition for outstanding achievement in horror short film-making. Jeff Winkelman, co-founder, summed up the event saying, “All our filmmakers where very creative. This is a great way to kick off your Halloween week. We’re very excited about recognizing their achievements with the Skelly award.”
Following the movie premieres, the Skelly Awards Ceremony will be presented. We're thrilled to reveal the nominees for this year's Frightfilm Competition.
Best Film
Brilliant Visionaries-One Last Ride
Isomation Pictures-PENUMBRA
Smokeydog Entertainment-Sardonic
The Freke Showe-Shady Lakes
Toxic Summer-Toxic Summer
Best Actress
Gayle Cobb-One Last Ride
Hannah Herzog-Toxic Summer
Tamara Villalon-Sardonic
Tenley Stitzer-Shady Lakes
Best Actor
Benny Kames-PENUMBRA
Clinton Graves-One Last Ride
R.J. Van Sickle-Penny for Your Soul
Rufus Malone-Shady Lakes
Best Supporting Actress
Alicia Spurlock-Shady Lakes
Bailey Sawyer-Toxic Summer
Danielle Coyne-Sardonic
Erin Taylor-Dunsligan Lake
Best Supporting Actor
Elijah Payne-Fed Up
John French-A Hidden Affair
Joran Lanier-Toxic Summer
Whitman Keith-Bedside Manor
Cinematography
Eric Maloney-One Last Ride
Joshua A. Crist-AVA
Kevin Minor-Sardonic
Lon Nease-A Hidden Affair
Paige Jones-Toxic Summer
William Roy-Sound of Darkness
Directing
B.J. Halsall & Ryan Chester-Shady Lakes
Dylan Anglin-Sardonic
Maggie Gallaway & Lauren Eileen Henke-Toxic Summer
Shannon & Lon Nease-A Hidden Affair
Tyler Becks-PENUMBRA
Editing
Dylan Anglin-Sardonic
Joshua A. Crist-AVA
Kimberly Dinh-Bedside Manor
Paige Jones-Toxic Summer
Tyler Becks-PENUMBRA
Makeup
Ohio Media School: Columbus-Sound of Darkness
Ron George-Dance Death Exorcism
Ron George-Penny for Your Soul
Skylar Buck-Shady Lakes
Original Music
Brilliant Visionaries-One Last Ride
Edwards Creative Studios-Dunsligan Lake
The Freke Showe-Shady Lakes
Toxic Summer-Toxic Summer
Poster
Camila Diaz-Bedside Manor
Dalton Felean-Shady Lakes
Maggie Gallaway-Toxic Summer
Stephanie Carlin-PENUMBRA
Screamplay
Derrick Stewart & B.J. Halsall-Shady Lakes
Dylan Anglin-Sardonic
Erica Bass-Penny for Your Soul
Shannon & Lon Nease-A Hidden Affair
Sound Design
Adam Gorman-Audio Visualis
Dylan Anglin-Sardonic
Paige Jones-Toxic Summer
Tyler Becks-PENUMBRA
Special Effects
Isomation Pictures-PENUMBRA
Joshua A. Crist-AVA
Kaitlyn Dankworth-Bedside Manor
Will Martin-Dead In The Woods
Trailer
Dropkick Productions-Penny for Your Soul
Hooliganz Productions-The Last Shot
Katdad Films-A Hidden Affair
Rejected Rejects-Dead in the Woods
Best Use of Cinematic Technique
Ohio Media School: Columbus-Sound Of Darkness
Junk Drawer-You See It Now
Smokeydog Entertainment-Sardonic
To purchase tickets to the October 25th event, click here.
Here is the line-up for the 2025 Frightfilm Competition Premiere.
Block A. 1 pm
A Hidden Affair
AVA
Color 11
Dance Death Exorcism
Dead In The Woods
Forecast
Sardonic
The Last Shot
Block B. 3:30pm
Amavasya
Audio Visualis
Fed Up
Mr. Man
Shady Lakes
Sound of Darkness
The Last Ride, A Final Farewell
Transport
You See It Now
Block C. 5:45pm
Bedside Manor
Dunsligan Lake
Ensnare
One Last Ride
Penny for Your Soul
PENUMBRA
The Unwanted
Toxic Summer
We will be returning this year to the UC Clermont College and the beautiful Krueger Auditorium. The address is 4200 University Lane, Batavia, Ohio 45103.
Please join us as we celebrate the creativity and talent of our filmmakers who have brought chilling stories to life.
As we did last year, we’ll have snacks available in the lobby throughout the entire day. Bean and Brew will be providing box meals starting after the first block of films. To place your order click here.
We will continue to make announcements about the event on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
We'd love to see the fun you had on location and in pre and post production. Post images on our Facebook page and/or send a download link to us in an email to info@frightfilmcompetition.com. We'd love to show them at the premiere during intermissions.
Thanks to all of you, this is our seventh year! We applaud you and all the hard work you and your team do by creating your original short horror film. We very much want to meet you at the premiere. Please look for us, we’d love to snap a picture with you.
You're keeping filmmaking alive by scaring us to death.
William Anderson, Jeff Winkelman and Jim Timmerman
Co-Founders
