Four Days of Films, Frights, and Filmmakers: Horror Hotel Returns June 18-21

Every year, there are a handful of events that remind me why I fell in love with independent filmmaking in the first place.

The International Horror Hotel Film Festival is one of them.

From June 18-21, filmmakers, writers, actors, artists, and horror fans from around the world will descend upon Cleveland for four days packed with screenings, networking, panels, vendors, competitions, and enough creative energy to fuel an entire year of projects. The festival is celebrating its 15th year in 2026, and if you’ve never experienced Horror Hotel before, this might be the perfect time to check in.

What makes Horror Hotel special is that it isn’t just about watching movies. It’s about meeting the people behind them.

Throughout the weekend, attendees will have opportunities to connect with filmmakers from across the globe, sit in on educational panels and lectures, browse the vendor area, and discover new voices in horror, science fiction, fantasy, suspense, and genre filmmaking. Whether you’re an aspiring creator looking to learn from others or a fan searching for your next favorite indie film, there is always something happening around every corner.

And when the screenings end, the networking doesn’t stop.

Friday and Saturday nights, we’ll be keeping the conversations going with the annual networking parties. If you’ve attended before, you already know these gatherings have become one of the festival’s most memorable traditions. New collaborations are born, future projects are discussed, and friendships are formed long after the final credits roll. Sometimes the best thing you take home from a film festival isn’t an award. It’s a connection.

I’ll also be filming throughout the weekend for Saturday Fright Theater, conducting interviews and capturing the sights, sounds, and stories that make Horror Hotel such a unique event. If you’re attending with a film, a project, or simply a story worth sharing, there’s a good chance we’ll cross paths.

What I love most about Horror Hotel is that it feels like a festival built by filmmakers for filmmakers. The atmosphere is welcoming, the community is supportive, and everyone is there because they genuinely love genre storytelling. You can spend the day discovering incredible independent films and end the night talking shop with the people who made them.

So if you’re looking for a weekend filled with horror, creativity, networking, and a whole lot of fun, make plans to join us June 18-21 at the International Horror Hotel Film Festival.

Bring your business cards.

Bring your passion.

And most importantly, bring your love of independent horror.

We’ll see you at the hotel.