Laredo Film Society (LFS) has announced a call for short film submissions for Fronterror Film Fest, an annual Texas-Mexico border-wide horror short film festival. The call is for short Slasher Era submissions. The $5 entry fee can be paid at filmfreeway.com/FronterrorFilmFest by October 1, 11:59 p.m. CST.
The festival date is October 17 at the Alamo Drafthouse.
Fronterror grew from LFS’s annual October horror short film challenge and showcase. Since 2021, filmmakers have been invited to create an original horror short inspired by a specific horror theme.
The annual event draws new work that pushes the genre in exciting, new directions. The 70s, 80s, and 90s slasher-era themes fell out of popularity for outdated tropes and stereotypes, as well as a history of racism, transphobia, and misogyny.
According to LFS board member Andrea Ortiz, “It’s time to reinvent this horror genre with more subversive storytelling, but in ways that still fulfill the promise of the premise. There’s a lot to love about the slasher spirit, including inventive practical special effects and creative camera work. Its roots are in line with LFS’s value of indie/low-budget/DIY filmmaking. It’s time for a more modern, inclusive, border-based crop of filmmakers to put their own spin on the slasher genre.”
The submissions are limited to filmmakers on the Texas-Mexico border. Runtime per film is 3 to 15 minutes, including credits. Films made in the last two years may be submitted. Use of AI will disqualify submissions. Films in Spanish must include English subtitles. Films in English must include Spanish subtitles.
Award categories are: 70s category – Best Blood; 80s category – Best Hair, Makeup, and Costumes; 90s category – Best Ensemble Cast; Best Festival-wide – Jury Selection; and Festival-wide – Audience Choice.
Short films can be submitted to filmfreeway.com/FronterrorFilmFest Graphics.
(LFS is a non-profit organization that makes cinema accessible in South Texas through exhibition, education, and production. It was established in 2018 to cultivate a film culture by connecting movie lovers with indie cinema while creating opportunities for emerging border filmmakers to learn, create, and share their work.)
