Costumes are encouraged at the festival!The 15^th International Horror Hotel Film Festival—the annual celebration of independent horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and action filmmaking with opportunities to connect through screenings, lectures, competitions, and live events—returns to the Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport in Middleburg Heights today, Thursday, June 18.

The four-day event, running through Sunday, June 21, brings together filmmakers, screenwriters, fans, vendors, and industry guests for screenings, lectures, competitions, networking events, and special programming throughout the weekend.

“Our 15th year is bigger and with a lot of local shorts and features,” says festival cofounder Johnny K. Wu. “We want to give thanks to our community who continues to support us.”

This year, the festival received more than 240 horror film and script submissions. Festival organizers selected 175 films and scripts for the 2026 program. Additionally, organizers will nominate selected films and scripts for additional awards—recognizing standout work in the showcase.

Special guests, new events
Featured guests this year include Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated writer and producter Dan O’Shannon, whose credits include television shows “Modern Family,” “Frasier,” “Cheers,” and “Newhart.” O’Shannon has won six Emmy Awards and several Writers Guild honors for his television work.

New for 2026 is the free Filmmaker Bingo, a kickoff event today, Thursday, June 18 in connection with Women In Film & Television Ohio (WIFTOH). The event is meant to connect attending filmmakers early in the festival, as they pick up their badges, meet collaborators, and win prizes before the festival gets fully underway.

Also debuting this year is the Spooky Sunday Costume Competition on Sunday, June 21, which will award $100 in cash to the first-place winner and adds another fan-focused highlight to the final day of the festival.

The festival’s competition lineup features the popular Room 237 Competition, a timed filmmaking challenge based on based on Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film “The Shining” and designed to showcase creativity, speed, and originality under pressure.

Prizes for Room 237 winners include $300 for first place, $200 for runner up, and $100 for honorable mention. Additional production-support prizes include eight hours of studio time at Schoolyard Studio in Burton for the first place winner and up to $3,000 in free rental equipment from Liminal Space Rentals for second place.

Awards ceremony at the Horror Hotel Film FestivalAdditional competitions include the Visual FX/Makeup Competition, Monologue Competition, and Scream Queen & Scream King Competitions.

“Fifteen years in, this festival continues to create real opportunities for independent filmmakers while giving horror fans a one-of-a-kind experience,” said International Horror Hotel Film Festival co-owner Keith Collins II in a statement. “With 175 selected films and scripts, new additions like Filmmaker Bingo and the Spooky Sunday Costume Competition, valuable contests like Room 237, and the opportunity to learn from guests such as Dan O’Shannon, this year’s festival is designed to inspire, connect, and celebrate the genre community.”

Festival programming runs today, Thursday, June 18 at 5 p.m. and plows through a packed schedule of spooky and horrific fun through Sunday, June 21, when screenings and awards run from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The festival in the vendor room is free and open to the public. Specific events require ticket purchases.

Additional schedule details, ticketing information, and festival updates are all available on the Horror Hotel Film Fest site. Various ticket packages are still available.

The Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport is at 7230 Engle Road, Middleburg Heights, 44130. The festival takes place on the lower level of the hotel.