Dark Side of the Net Goth and Halloween Links: Horror Film Festivals in 2012

Horror film festivals specialize in showing films, not just gathering horror film fans for autograph sessions, panels and vendors rooms.

Here's a list of horror film festivals taking place in 2012. Several on this list have already occurred - they're listed here so we can anticipate their return in 2013. As you can imagine, an overwhelming percentage of these festivals take place in the month of October.

This is not meant to be a complete, inclusive list of every horror film festival in the world. Following is a list of festivals I personally find interesting or intriguing.

Abertoir

November 6-11, 2012

"The national horror festival of Wales." They play shorts as well as films, plus stage panels and parties. (Last year there was a "Mask of the Red Death" party that sounded intriguing!)

http://www.abertoir.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/abertoir

http://twitter.com/AbertoirFest

Atlanta Horror Film Festival

September 28 - 30, 2012

This festival showcases independent horror, sci-fi, gore, and thriller films from all over the world.

http://atlantahorrorfilmfest.com/

http://www.facebook.com/atlantahorrorfilmfest

Bonebat Film Fest

April 21, 2012

This comedy horror film fest took place very close to my own neighborhood, at my favorite movie theater: The Big Picture. Sadly, I was too busy to attend, and I missed out on seeing "Dead Heads" and "Monster Brawl." Shucks.

http://bonehand.com/bonebatff.html

Boston Underground Film Fest

March 29-April 1, 2012

This festival featured shorts and music videos in addition to underground films.

http://bostonunderground.org/

http://www.facebook.com/bostonunderground

http://twitter.com/BOSunderground

Bram Stoker Film Festival

October 25-28, 2012

Held in Whitby, this year's festival marks the 100th anniversary of Bram Stoker's death. Besides the films, the festival features a fashion show, a Vampires Ball, and an "1880s night."

http://www.bramstokerfilmfestival.com/

http://www.facebook.com/BSIFF

http://twitter.com/BramStokerFest

Buried Alive Film Fest

November 9-11, 2012

Held in Atlanta at the Plaza Theatre.

http://buriedalivefilmfest.com/

Buried Alive Horror Film Festival on Facebook

http://twitter.com/buriedaliveff

Celluloid Screams

October 26-28, 2012

Held in Sheffield in the UK every autumn.

http://www.celluloidscreams.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/celluloidscreamshorrorfestival

http://twitter.com/sheffhorrorfest

Chicago Horror Fest

September 28-30, 2012

"Babes, blood, booze." Chicago is a fantastic city to live in if you like horror, goth, steampunk, zombies and the like. There's always something cool going on, like this upcoming horror film festival. They'll announce this year's guest host shortly.

http://chicagohorrorfest.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ChicagoHorrorFestival

http://twitter.com/ChicagoHorror

Dark Carnival Film Fest

October 19-21, 2012

Held in Bloomington, Indiana. This is the festival's sixth year. In addition to horror films, they show dark fantasy and sci-fi films.

http://www.darkcarnivalfilmfest.com/

http://www.facebook.com/dcfest

https://twitter.com/dcfilmfest

Eerie Horror Film Festival

October 11-14, 2012

Erie, Pennsylvania is the location of this horror film fest.

http://eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com/

http://www.facebook.com/EerieHorrorFest

Everybody Dies Film Fest

October 12-13, 2012

Held in Brea, California.

http://www.everybodydiesfilmfest.com/

http://www.facebook.com/everybodydiesfilmfest

http://twitter.com/everybodydiesff

Fear Fete

October 5-7, 2012

Baton Rouge, Louisiana's horror film festival. It's held at the Mall of Louisiana.

http://www.fearfete.com/

http://www.facebook.com/fearfete

http://twitter.com/fearfete

Festival of Terror

October 25-31, 2012

Held in Montezuma, Costa Rica. Besides horror, they showcase sci-fi, suspense, thriller and animation shorts and features.

http://festivalterror.com/

Freakshow Film Fest

October 26-28, 2012

Held in Orlando, Florida. Last year they presented Clive Barker with a Lifetime Achievement award during their gala.

http://www.freakshowfilmfest.com/

http://www.facebook.com/freakshowhorrorfest

http://twitter.com/freakshowhorror

Frightfest

August 23-27, 2012

London's horror and fantasy film festival is in its twelfth year.

http://www.frightfest.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/film4frightfest

https://twitter.com/Film4FrightFest

Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival

April 6-8, 2012

This was held back in April in Nashville. True Blood's Kristin Bauer was the guest of honor, and Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead made an appearance too.

http://www.fullmoontattooandhorrorfestival.com/

Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival, on Facebook

Horror Sci Fi

March 29-April 5, 2012

Phoenix, Arizona-based horror and sci fi film festival.

http://www.horrorscifi.com/

H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival

May 11-13, 2012

A really cool film festival that's part of CthulhuCon.

http://www.hplfilmfestival.com/

Hudson Horror Show

May 19, 2012

Held in Poughkeepsie, New York. They screened classics such as Day of the Dead, Phantasm and Friday the 13th along with cheesy fare like The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires.

http://www.hudsonhorror.com/