The STARBURST International Film Festival is a celebration of genre movies; offering the best of independent cult, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy film - both classic revivals and new releases.
About the Film Festival:
STARBURST MAGAZINE is the world’s longest-running magazine of cult entertainment and has built a reputation of championing independent filmmaking and arts, particularly with the monthly column INDEPENDENTS DAY in the print edition, which profiles emerging talent.
As part of the main programme, we are looking for new and exciting films from all over the world. This continues to support the magazine’s remit of embracing the strange, aiming to showcase amazing features and spectacular shorts.
We only have limited screening slots available, so will sadly be unable to accept every entry.
Unsuccessful entrants are more than welcome to attend and promote their work during the festival via networking and flyers.
Our 2020 festival was a great success, and welcomed actor Laurence R. Harvey and illustrator Graham Humphreys as well as hosting filmmaker panels and Q&As.
At our previous festivals, cult screenwriter and director Luigi Cozzi was in attendance as well as the legendary President of Troma Entertainment himself, Lloyd Kaufman! In receipt of our hall of fame award, Lloyd was also around for the whole festival, including a very insightful Q&A. We have also hosted such luminaries as famed James Bond director John Glen and extreme horror legend Jörg Buttgereit, actors Virginia Hey, Caroline Munro, and Martine Beswick. As well as established names, we also support up and coming independent film, hosting panels with independent filmmakers from all over the world.
Get your Films Short-listed:
The STARBURST Fantasy Awards are a great way for indie shorts and features to get maximum exposure. If you have a suitable genre related short, no longer than 30 minutes in length, then you can simply enter via FilmFreeway.
Feature films should be over 60 minutes in length and not yet have had a commercial release. Premieres are preferred, but not essential.
To be considered for the awards a film cannot be available via a public link or available via a streaming service.
The STARBURST International Film Festival will be taking place in spring 2021.
All movies accepted through FilmFreeway will be considered for entry into the festival competition.
Categories include:
Best Feature
Best Short
Best Director
Best Screenplay*
Best Performance
Best Art and Design
Best Cinematography
Distinction in Sound
Independents Day Award
The Charlie Allbright award**
*To be eligible for the best screenplay award please ensure the screenplay is available for digital download via FilmFreeway.
**THE CHARLIE ALLBRIGHT AWARD is dedicated to a beloved member of the STARBURST team. Charlie was an academic that loved to write for STARBURST and quickly became a part of our family. Charlie was kind and loving to everyone. A lecturer that was adored by his students, and a prominent member of the LGBTQ community. Charlie gave much to STARBURST Magazine, and his loss is heartfelt. The Charlie Allbright Award will go to a movie that we feel honours Charlie’s legacy, by furthering LGBTQ values.