The Eighth Annual Frightfilm Competition Premiere and Awards Ceremony was held Saturday October 24th at the historic Mariemont Theatre in Mariemont, Ohio.
While registrations had to be capped at 30 teams registered to compete, 21 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 eighth year, Frightfilm Competition, challenges horror film enthusiasts to write, shoot and edit a thirteen minute or less horror film. Each film must contain a predetermined prop(duct tape), specific cinematographic technique(360 degree continuous move) and a line of dialogue, of their choosing, from a classic horror film.
“Our teams were 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 this year when judging the films. When we look at their scores, they are frightfully close.”
More than 72 industry professionals across the country, and Great Britain, volunteered to serve as judges in fourteen different categories.
“In addition to the awards determined by our judges, our audience members chose three Audience Favorites award winners.” James Timmerman, co-founder explained "Each ticket was only $16. It gave our patrons more than four and a half-hour of short horror films which was presented in three blocks. The movie premieres started around 12:15pm".
In addition there is a special showing of “the Best of Frightfilm”. Ten of the outstanding films from the previous eight years were premiered on Friday night October 23th at 7pm at the Mariemont Theatre.”
Jonny Shenk, Director of Curation at the Mariemont Theatre said “We’re proud to welcome the FrightFilm Competition to the Mariemont Theatre for the next three years. This partnership will champion the next generation of horror filmmakers and their bold, inventive work.”
The Skelly Awards ceremony was presented immediately after the premieres. Jeff Winkelman presented awards in 16 categories for outstanding achievement in film-making. Mr. Winkelman, co-founder, summed up the day long event saying, “All our filmmakers where very creative. This is Cincinnati’s best kept Halloween secret. If you’re a horror fan, you can’t miss this!”
Here are the 2026 Frightfilm Competition Skelly Award nominations. The Skelly Award winner in each category is underlined.
Directing:
B.J. Halsall & Ryan Chester, Reunited
Caleb Webber, Stalled
Heather Bayles, Victoria
Justin Rose, Communion
Sam Rosenthal, Submergence
Shannon Nease & Lon Nease, Dark Sky
Cinematography:
Justin Rose, Communion
Logan Moore, Shadows On My Wall
Lon Lease, Dark Sky
Ryan Chester & William M. Johns, Reunited
Editing:
Justin Rose, Communion
Ryan Chester, Reunited
Sam Watson, Spectral Photography
Sebastian Hahn, Submergence
Make-Up:
Jessica Buckley, The Evaluation
Ron George, Brutal Truth
Ron George, Perfection
Ron George, Victoria
TJ Cooley, The Replacement
Special Effects:
Caleb Webber, Stalled
Justin Rose, Communion
Lon Lease, Dark Sky
Ron George, Victoria
Ron George, Brutal Truth
TJ Cooley, The Replacement
Sound Design:
Adam Gorman, The Evaluation
Carly Baker, Spectral Photography
Justin Rose, Communion
Lon Nease & Sergio Falaguerra, Dark Sky
Sebastian Hahn, Submergence
Original Music:
Justin Rose, Communion
Sandro Wagner, Shadows On My Wall
Sergio Falaguerra, Dark Sky
William Joseph Puchot, Submergence
Best Actor:
Jack Graves, Submergence
Richie Verito, The Replacement
Samual Bowen Partridge, Communion
Timothy J. Cox, The Evaluation
Best Actress:
Claire Ofotokun, Perfection
Heather Bayles, Victoria
Janna Huddleston-Gerke, Spectral Photography
Katerina Camp, Dark Sky
Leslie Hobbins, The Replacement
Olivia Griffin, Shadows On My Wall
Best Supporting Actor:
Baxter Whitehead, Spectral Photography
Elliot Handkins, Dark Sky
Simon Freitas, The Evaluation
Wyatt Gillespie, Submergence
Zane Holzapfel, Communion
Best Supporting Actress:
Bailey Sawyer, Spectral Photography
Faye Book, Perfection
Mary Manos-Mitchem, Brutal Truth
Torian Hawkins, Dark Sky
Best Screamplay:
Bryan Harsh, Spectral Photography
Derek Stewart & B.J. Halsall, Reunited
Mary Manos-Mitchem & Ron George, Do Not Open
Sam Rosenthal, Submergence
Best Poster:
Austin Giles, Victoria
Elias Dean, Whisper Through the Wall
Bryan Harsh, Spectral Photography
Justin Rose, Communion
Mary Manos-Mitchem, Do Not Open
Best Cinematic Element:
A Ron George Film, Brutal Truth
Big Apple Studios, The Replacement
Capsule Media, The Evaluation
Best Trailer:
Arcadia Street Productions, Victoria
Katdad Films, Dark Sky
Miami Film Collective, Submergence
Smoking Werewolf Productions, Spectral Photography
The Freke Showe, Reunited
Best Film:
A.M. Films, Shadows On My Wall
Katdad Films, Dark Sky
The Freke Showe, Reunited
TLA (Three Letter Acronym), Communion
