Abruzzo Horror Film Festival

The festival of thrills in the heart of L'Aquila

The Abruzzo Horror Film Festival is the premier event dedicated to horror and fantasy cinema in Abruzzo. Established in 2015, the festival takes place every autumn in the historic center of L'Aquila, transforming the Halloween weekend into an immersive experience that blends cinema, literature, and gothic vibes. The festival's headquarters is the Palazzetto dei Nobili, where the evocative Sala Lignea hosts free screenings of the films in competition.

An international genre competition

At the heart of the festival is the film competition, a showcase dedicated to the horror and fantasy genre that attracts independent productions and emerging filmmakers from around the globe. The program is divided into two main sections:

• Feature films in competition, including fiction works and documentaries from various countries;
• Short films in competition, selected from numerous international submissions.

Winners are awarded cash prizes for the best short and feature film, alongside audience choice awards. Submissions are received through major industry platforms, confirming the festival's international reach.

Beyond cinema: the Horror Museum and contests

Alongside the screenings, the festival features the Temporary Horror Museum, set up in the basement of the Palazzetto dei Nobili with themed photography exhibitions, specialized bookstores, and installations. The calendar is also rich with parallel contests: the Abruzzo Horror Literary Contest, dedicated to tales of terror through screenplays, short stories, and poetry, and the more recent Fanzine Contest.

Noir L'Aquila: side events and atmosphere

The festival extends beyond the screening rooms, animating the city with a program of widespread events: open-air screenings of great horror classics, evening walks at the Monumental Cemetery, themed guided tours through the alleys of the Abruzzo capital, and scenic lighting that bathes L'Aquila's iconic monuments in red. This offering combines a passion for genre cinema with the rediscovery of the city's historical and artistic heritage, making the Abruzzo Horror Film Festival an unmissable appointment for thrill-seekers across the entire Abruzzo region.