Submissions must be made by filmmakers who live or work in the Central Valley region of California. Filmmakers must live or work in the following counties: Butte, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, Yuba

All films must be 20 minutes or under in runtime, including credits.

Films may have been previously screened or submitted to other festivals.

Films must have been completed after January 1, 2023. Films may be submitted starting May 1 but must be submitted by the October 16 deadline. Finalists will be notified by November 6, and the winning films will be screened on November 19.

Awards and prizes will be announced at a later date.

The categories are:

• Short Narrative: Fiction films telling a story through character, dialogue, and dramatic structure.
• Short Documentary: Nonfiction films exploring real people, events, or ideas through a cinematic lens.
• Short Animation: Animated films in any style — 2D, 3D, stop-motion, or mixed media.
• Central Valley Spotlight: Open to all genres. Films must feature a story rooted in the region’s people, culture, or landscape.

The festival is free to submit and free to attend.

Submission Requirements

All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.

Films must be submitted in English or include English subtitles.

Submission files must be high-definition (1080p minimum).

A still image and a short synopsis must accompany each submission.

Filmmakers must be able to provide a download of the film.

Selection & Judging

All submissions will be reviewed by the programming committee.

Finalists will be evaluated by a panel of judges.

Decisions of the judges are final.

Filmmakers will be notified of their selection status by email.

Screening Rights

By submitting, filmmakers grant the festival non-exclusive rights to screen the film during the festival.

The festival may use short clips or stills for promotional purposes with filmmaker credit.

No monetary compensation is provided for screening.

General Information

The festival reserves the right to disqualify any submission that does not meet eligibility requirements.

Films containing hate speech or content that demeans individuals based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation will not be considered.

Films containing explicit sexual content or material deemed grossly offensive will not be considered.

The festival director’s decision regarding content suitability is final.

The festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and operates on a volunteer basis.

Deadlines are final. No exceptions.

Film must be complete when submitted – No “works in progress” nor changes after submission. No exceptions.

No vertical, portrait or 9:16 ratio submissions.

Got Questions?

Information: info@fresnofilmworks.org or goldsteinsevents@gmail.com

The post Spooktacular Returns! appeared first on Fresno Filmworks.

We love international horror and can’t wait to share these great films with you in our second annual Spooktacular event! We will have vendors in the courtyard, spooky beverages for sale by us, Fresno Filmworks, and an on-site food truck with delicious offerings.

There’s no cost to visit the vendors in the courtyard or to get some great food at the food truck! Even if horror movies are not your thing, come visit us in the courtyard and hang out. Tickets are available in person day of the event or online via Eventbrite.

Spooktacular is presented by Fresno Filmworks and the Fresno City College Film Appreciation Club. Event donors are Acme Printing Company, Donaghy Sales, Fresno City College, KVPR, and Quady Winery.

Showtimes

1:30 PM – Deep Red (Dario Argento, 1979) – FREE
5 PM – Never After Dark (Dave Boyle, 2026) – $8
7:30 PM – Mārama (Taratoa Stappard, 2025) – $8

Ticket Prices

General Admission Tickets $8
Student/Senior/Veteran Tickets $5
Day Pass $14

The Films

Deep Red (1976) 127 minutes

Deep Red, also known as The Hatchet Murders, is a 1975 Italian giallo film directed by Dario Argento. The film follows a pianist who investigates a series of murders performed by a mysterious figure wearing black leather gloves. Deep Red’s score is composed and performed by Goblin, the first in a long-running collaboration with Argento.

Never After Dark (2026) 105 minutes

Winner of the SXSW Midnighter Audience Award and the Overlook Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize. Never After Dark follows Airi, a wandering medium who guides restless spirits out of the world of the living. Called to an isolated country house, she meets an apparition unlike anything she has faced before. As she uncovers the house’s past, she learns the real danger may not be the dead. Written and directed by Dave Boyle.

Mārama (2025) 89 minutes

When a young Maori woman is summoned from New Zealand to North Yorkshire, she uncovers her horrific colonial heritage and is compelled to confront and destroy the titled Englishman who devastated her family. Written and directed by Taratoa Stappard.

The post Spooktacular Returns! appeared first on Fresno Filmworks.