Festival director shares update on upcoming festival
Following the overwhelming success of the Glowflare Short Film Festival in January, we are thrilled to now bring you our next evolution: the inaugural Glowflare Horror Film Festival, taking place over two days this May in Beverley. The January event exceeded all expectations, welcoming a passionate audience, showcasing a wide range of voices, and proving just how much hunger there is for fresh, independent storytelling. We’re incredibly proud of what was achieved, and we’re excited to carry that momentum into this new chapter.
8 Feature and 20 Short Films Selected
We are proud to officially announce the incredible horror films, both shorts and features have been selected for the 2025 Glowflare Horror Film Festival. All filmmakers have now been notified. Please check your FilmFreeway accounts and emails for updates.
Expanding to include feature-length horror films marks a major step forward for us, allowing for even deeper storytelling, broader creative exploration, and a greater platform for our community of filmmakers. From high-concept shorts to immersive full-length nightmares, our lineup represents the full spectrum of horror cinema, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.
A Diverse Celebration of Horror
This year’s selection includes work made on shoestring budgets and films with professional backing, some created for under £1,000, others exceeding £280,000. That range speaks volumes about the talent, dedication, and resourcefulness of today’s horror filmmakers.
Every film in our programme was selected based on its originality, vision, and impact. Whether it was built with DIY effects and raw energy, or crafted with cinematic polish, each film earned its place in our festival through sheer creativity and storytelling power.
Gratitude to Every Filmmaker Who Submitted
We want to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who submitted, whether your film was selected or not. Programming this festival is never easy, and narrowing down the submissions was especially challenging. We received an extraordinary amount of quality work, and while we could only select a limited number of films for this year’s two day schedule, every entry was viewed, discussed, and valued.
If your film wasn’t chosen this time, please know this: your work matters, and we want to see more from you in the future. We’re building something that we hope will grow with you.
Looking Ahead 2026 and Beyond
The Glowflare Horror Film Festival is only just getting started. We’re already looking ahead to 2026, where we plan to expand even further, more films, more screens, more time, and more ways to bring your stories to audiences hungry for new horror.
Submissions for the 2026 festival will officially open on 1st May 2025 and remain open until March 2026. Mark your calendars, and start planning your next horrific masterpiece, we can’t wait to see what you create.
Thank You
To all the filmmakers who trusted us with their work, thank you. Whether your film made it into the final lineup or not, your voice contributes to the ongoing evolution of horror cinema. Your imagination, courage, and willingness to explore fear in all its forms are what make this festival possible.
We are committed to growing the festival into a lasting home for horror filmmakers across the world, and we’re just getting started.
See you in May.
Daniel Smales
Festival Director
Glowflare Horror Film Festival