HORROR ISLAND 2026 EXPANDS ITS INTERNATIONAL NETWORK WITH NEW PARTNERSHIPS, AN OUTSTANDING JURY AND EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FILMMAKERS
Founded by Italian filmmaker Domiziano Cristopharo (Red Krokodil, House of Flesh Mannequins), Horror Island International Horror Film Festival continues to strengthen its position as an international platform dedicated to independent, underground and transgressive horror cinema.
For its 2026 edition, the festival proudly announces a new collaboration with INTERMITENCIA – Festival Internacional de Cine Experimental, held in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. The partnership establishes a cultural bridge between Europe and Latin America, encouraging the exchange of filmmakers, artistic visions and experimental genre cinema.
The Last edition of Intermitencia welcomed more than 700 attendees across three screenings, highlighting the growing international interest in bold, independent filmmaking and marking the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the two festivals.
Horror Island is also proud to unveil the first members of its 2026 Official Jury, bringing together internationally acclaimed figures from the worlds of horror cinema and genre filmmaking. The first confirmed guests are legendary composer Fabio Frizzi (Zombie 2, The Beyond, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich), celebrated screenwriter Antonio Tentori (Demonia, A Cat in the Brain, Dracula 3D), and filmmaker Poison Rouge (American Guinea Pig: Sacrifice, A Taste of Phobia). Additional special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
Further expanding the opportunities available to participating filmmakers, Horror Island is delighted to welcome DAGON FILMS as its official boutique distribution partner. Renowned for its handcrafted, numbered collector’s editions dedicated to cult and underground cinema, DAGON FILMS will consider selected festival entries for exclusive physical distribution, offering filmmakers the opportunity to reach an international community of collectors and genre enthusiasts.
Building on the legacy of The Optical Theatre and its growing network of international collaborations, Horror Island continues to champion fearless independent voices while creating meaningful connections between festivals, filmmakers, distributors and audiences across Europe and Latin America.
Submissions for Horror Island 2026 are now officially open. Submit your short film today: https://filmfreeway.com/HorrorIsland
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