Reaper Film Festival

California, Los Angeles, United States · 0 screenings & events

Presented by BLOODSTREAM TV, the Reaper Film Festival is an inaugural Los Angeles horror and genre event created to help short filmmakers reach the audiences their work deserves. Reaper is built for creators without industry connections, large festival budgets, or an inside track, keeping entry accessible, judging honest, and the focus on the work. Every Official Film Selection receives non-exclusive worldwide distribution on BLOODSTREAM TV, allowing filmmakers to retain ownership while giving their films a life beyond festival night. Reaper accepts completed horror and horror-adjacent short films under 15 minutes, as well as original short screenplays of 10 pages or fewer. Eligible submissions are reviewed in full by working filmmakers and industry professionals, with blind judging wherever practical, at least two independent reviewers, defined scoring criteria, and additional review when significant disagreements occur. Top-scoring projects advance to jury deliberation, with the Top Five screenplay finalists receiving one-on-one consultations and first-look consideration. The 2026 jury includes actor and Scream Queen Judge Jenna Kanell (*Terrifier, The Bye Bye Man, Renfield*), alongside producers, directors, casting professionals, agents, development executives, and other industry professionals, with additional judges to be announced. Reaper is supported by filmmaking and creative technology partners including Dehancer, FilmConvert, FilmLocal, FrameForge, Imagine Products, Shot Lister, Twixtor, WriterDuet, and others, offering prizes and opportunities for selected filmmakers. The festival's founding partners include BLOODSTREAM TV and Studio Dome, providing distribution, development, and industry opportunities. The inaugural in-person event takes place October 22, 2026, at The Earl in Los Angeles, featuring three screening blocks, filmmaker Q&As, awards, networking, sponsor giveaways, a costume contest, and an after-party. Attendance is encouraged but never required for judging, selection, winning, or applicable distribution. With seating limited to 200, Reaper aims to create an intimate night where filmmakers, genre fans, producers, actors, writers, executives, and distributors can connect. Get Distributed. Get Seen. Get Ahead.