Atlanta Horrorfest Awards
Atlanta Horrorfest Awards
Atlanta Horrorfest celebrates excellence in independent horror filmmaking.
We honor outstanding work across features, shorts, directing, cinematography, and unforgettable moments in horror.
Winners are selected by our programming team and guest judges each year.
Each winner receives a custom trophy.
Films are judged based on creativity, storytelling, technical skill, originality, and audience impact.
Both short films and feature films are eligible across multiple award categories.
Awards for the 2025 film Festival
Award Categories
We present 15 Awards in 2025.
Winners in each category will receive a crystal trophy to mark their achievement.
Best Feature Film
Presented to the standout feature-length horror film, recognized for storytelling, craft, and overall impact.
Best Short Film
Awarded to a short horror film that shows originality, tension, and the ability to scare, disturb, or surprise in a compact format.
Best Director – Feature
Recognizes outstanding direction in a feature film, with special attention to pacing, mood, and vision.
Best Director – Short
Recognizes outstanding direction in a short film, highlighting creativity, atmosphere, and storytelling within a limited runtime.
Best Local Feature
Celebrates a Georgia-made feature film or filmmaker, showcasing local talent and creativity.
Best Local Short
Celebrates a Georgia-made short film or filmmaker, honoring the strength of the local horror community.
Best Blood & Gore
Recognizes outstanding use of practical or digital effects to deliver unforgettable moments of carnage, horror makeup, and gruesome visuals that embody the spirit of horror.
Twisted Vision Award
Given to the film with a dark, unsettling, and wildly original idea that pushes horror into bold new territory.
Nightmare Fuel Award
For the film that gets under your skin and lingers long after the credits roll.
Best Horror Comedy
Presented to a film that masterfully blends horror and humor, delivering scares and laughs in equal measure.
Breakout Filmmaker
Recognizes an emerging filmmaker whose vision, creativity, and execution mark them as a rising force in horror.
Audience Choice - Feature
Chosen by festival audiences, this award highlights the feature film that connected most strongly with viewers.
Audience Choice - Short
Chosen by festival audiences, this award highlights the short film that connected most strongly with viewers.
Jury Award - Feature
Special recognition from the festival jury for a feature film that demonstrates exceptional quality or innovation.
Jury Award - Short
Special recognition from the festival jury for a short film that demonstrates exceptional quality or innovation.