Romford Horror Film Festival

Romford Horror Film Festival (aka HORRHIFFIC) is an independent horror film festival founded in 2020 by festival director Spencer Hawken. The festival takes place annually in Romford, United Kingdom and is hosted at Premiere Cinemas inside The Mercury Mall.

The festival celebrates the showcasing of the best horror independent British and International films. The festival provides a platform for established and emerging filmmakers in showcasing their work, discover new talent, and network with industry professionals. The festival also bring a variety of horror themed workshops, talks and stalls as well as giving the audience opportunities to engage with filmmakers through live Q&A's. The festival includes screenings from first-time filmmakers to some of the most established names on the independent horror film circuit with features and short films. The festival recognises the achievements of filmmakers through awards in multiple categories.

The festival has attracted a growing audience of filmmakers and industry professionals over the years including Eileen Dietz, Dani Thompson, Ayvianna Snow, Silvia Collatina, Giovanni Lombardo Radice.

History
In 2020 the Romford Horror Festival announced to be taking place in summer 2021 and was taking submissions prior to the event. The festival Is developed by the festival director Spencer Hawken who also developed the Romford Film Festival.

In 2021, the 1st festival was held from 5–6 June 2021 and hosted 60 independent horror feature and short films. The festival was one of the first physical festivals in the UK post COVID-19 outbreak. As part of the festival that year Guns Akimbo was screened which starred Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe. It also saw Eileen Dietz introduce the special guest video introduction to ‘The Exorcist: Directors Cut’. The team behind the festival that year was invited to attend Tashkent Film Festival where they were the first UK film delegation to attend.

In 2022, the 2nd festival was held from 25 to 27 February 2022 and hosted 80 independent horror feature and short films. The short film Extraneous Matter which won best short film in 2022, was reimagined into a feature film by Kenichi Ugana. The festival recorded to have had over 400 audience members during the weekend event after restrictions was lifted as part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Artists Rick Melton and Noufaux was in attendance as part of the festivals meet and greet. As part of the 2021 festival season in the previous year Manos: The Hands of Fate was screened. As part of the 2022 festival season the sequel Manos Returns was screened at the festival. The festival screened “The Ogress” a 25-minute short film. The film is inspired by serial killer Amelia Dyer, who over a thirty-year period, is believed to have killed hundreds of babies through her work as a baby farmer.

In 2023, the 3rd festival was held from 23 to 26 February 2023 and hosted 101 independent horror feature and short films over two different screens. The festival was host to local talent with a screening of feature film Videoshop Tales of Terror, largely shot at the Mercury Mall where the festival takes place. Films included international Pou as South African film and the uncanny from United States. This also saw the director Clara Gabrielle and actress Marie Laurin fly in for the event. The festival also hosted a long unseen interview with acclaimed director Lucio Fulci which was recently uncovered. As part of this screening two Italian actors who worked with the director, Silvia Collatina and Giovanni Lombardo Radice, was at the festival throughout the weekend, both did exclusive interviews with Live Q&A along with public signings for festival pass holders. In an interview with Festival Director Spencer Hawken, Collatina revealed she didn't expect to still be going places and talking about The House by the Cemetery film 40 years later. Giovanni Lombardo Radice’s last public appearance was at the 2023 festival alongside Silvia Collatina.

In 2024, the 4th festival was held 29 February – 3 March 2024.

In 2025, the 5th festival will be held 28 February – 2 March 2025.

Awards
The Romford Horror Film Festival recognises the achievements of filmmakers in variety of the following awards.


 * Best Feature Film
 * Best Short Film
 * Best Director
 * Best Screenplay
 * Best Actor
 * Best Actress
 * Best Cinematography
 * Best Score
 * Best Visual Effects
 * Best International Film
 * Best Foreign Language Film
 * Best Local Film
 * Best Documentary Film
 * Best Animated Film
 * Best Anthology Film
 * Best Comedy-Horror Film
 * Best Film with a budget between £1,000 - £10,000
 * Best Film with a budget of between £10,000 - £100,000
 * Best Film Under 5 minutes
 * Best Cheap Thrills
 * Best Student Body Film
 * Best Short Sharp Shock
 * Jury Prize Award
 * Alternative Awards
 * Special Commendation