16OCT
Prepare your nightmare
OCTOBER 16 / APPLICATIONS OPEN
Presented by
The inaugural winnerMake fear.
Make fear.
Make history.
- $100 cash. Yours to claim.
- The first-ever 5 Minutes of Fear trophy.
- One year of Kontagion.
- Celebrated at Kontagion’s public launch. Date and location TBD.
- A voice in shaping next year’s festival.
Before the world gets in
Kontagion is not yet available to the public. Every participating filmmaker gets 90 days of access. Be among the first to create with it.
12 filmmaker spots · No entry fee
Apply nowOCTOBER 30, 2026 / 12 FILMMAKERS / NO ENTRY FEE
Twenty-four hours to
make them scream
Your story. Their sleepless night
Applications are open — no entry fee
Festival schedule
24OCT
Participant access opens
PRACTICE ACCESS / NO COMPETITION ASSETS
30OCT
Create your nightmare
24-HOUR CHALLENGE / START AT 12:00 AM ET
31OCT
Halloween. Lights down
ONLINE / HALLOWEEN PREMIERE
5 MINUTES OF FEAR / HALLOWEEN 2026
24 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL
YOUR NEXT
NIGHTMARE
Made by you. Premiering online October 31
Watch from wherever you are / Time to be announced
YOUR TEAM
ONE UNFORGETTABLE FILM
ONE UNFORGETTABLE FILM
Festival posters
The Signal
Festival artwork / Psychological
The last door
Festival artwork / Supernatural
No way home
Festival artwork / Supernatural
Final frame
Festival artwork / Psychological
Finally, a film festival that appreciates my work. I’m thrilled to be involved—5 Minutes of Fear, a whole new generation of filmmakers, and absolutely no overnight parking under your bed.
The Boogeyman / Under-bed enthusiast
02 / 03
Festival partners
