DATES:

KICK OFF EVENT & Film Mixer

Sun, 08/30/2026  5pm - 8pm ( Team Announcements at 7:00pm)

LOCATION: 

Mayer Garden 

2422 N. Henderson Ave.

Dallas, TX. 75206

DROP OFF EVENT: 

Monday  10/11/2026 12pm - 11:59pm Midnight (cut off time) 

Email (google drive) completed films and release forms texashorrorcult@gmail.com   

PREMIERE SCREENING / AWARDS: 

DATE: 

Monday Oct 26th, 2026 

Time: 7pm - 10pm (Doors open at 7pm no earlier. Screening usually starts around 8pm or sooner)

LOCATION: 

Texas Theatre

231 Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX 75208DATES:

The Possession subgenre of horror centers around a person, child, object, or even a place being taken over by an outside force—usually a demon, evil spirit, ghost, or supernatural entity. The fear comes from losing control of one's body, mind, or soul. 

• Sudden personality changes
• Blackouts or memory loss
• Strange voices or speaking unknown languages
• Violent or self-destructive behavior
• Religious themes, especially exorcisms
• Family members trying to save the possessed person
• The question: Can the person be brought back?

• Demonic Possession – A demon takes over a person.
  • The Exorcist
  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose
• Cursed Object Possession – An object becomes inhabited by an evil force.
  • Oculus
  • The Possession
• Spiritual or Ghost Possession – A spirit inhabits a person for revenge or unfinished business.
  • Talk to Me
• Possession as Metaphor – The possession represents grief, addiction, trauma, or mental breakdown.
  • Hereditary
  • Possession

Team Leaders must register their teams online through the Team Registration page on the Texas Horror Cult website.

Sponsors are welcome to register a team in the competition; however, sponsors are not eligible to win any prize that they have personally sponsored.

There is no limit on team size. Registration forms and payment services are available through Texas Horror Cult. Team Leaders must provide their team with a name (i.e., a production company name).

A $125 Regular Entry Fee is required with team registration.

All fees are used toward competition costs, film awards, prizes, and marketing materials.

All teams must be fully registered and all required entry fees must be collected prior to attending the Main Kick-Off Event.

If the event is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, each team will be offered either:

• A credit toward the next film competition; or
• A full refund within sixty (60) days of the event cancellation.

Outside of these circumstances, there are no refunds.

NO REFUNDS

Team Leaders must submit a signed Team Leader Agreement and Materials Release Form to the Texas Horror Cult event organizers at the Kick-Off Event.

NOTE: Failure to do so will disqualify teams from participating in the Close Encounters – Film Competition.

Prior to the disclosure of the required competition elements, Film Competition Organizers will clarify all competition rules and answer any questions from Team Leaders.

The short films are narrative fiction, and filmmakers are solely responsible for their own actions. The required elements will not be revealed until the day of the Kick-Off Event.

An exception to the in-person pick-up and drop-off requirements will be made for filmmakers who live too far outside of town, including but not limited to:

• Austin
• Houston
• San Antonio
• El Paso
• Other qualifying locations

Out-of-town filmmakers will receive the Team Leader Agreement, Materials Release Form, and any additional required information via email on the day of the Kick-Off Event.

Out-of-town teams must discuss these arrangements with the event organizers beforehand via email in order to properly prepare for and approve the exception.

All registered teams are responsible for attending the screening to receive their awards if they win. If a team cannot attend, they must designate someone to accept the award on their behalf and notify the event organizers by email at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the screening.

If prizes are required to be shipped, the contestant is responsible for all shipping costs associated with receiving their prize.

Each team is responsible for providing its own:

• Production equipment
• Cast and crew
• Talent release forms
• Production insurance
• Post-production needs
• Location releases
• Music licenses
• Stock footage licenses
• Any other required release forms or permissions

Texas Horror Cult does not provide these forms.

Completed films must have a minimum running time of 5 minutes and a maximum running time of 7 minutes, including credits.

(The running time requirements may be adjusted by the event organizers prior to the Kick-Off Event depending on the number of teams registered.)

Opening credits are considered part of the film and therefore count toward the seven (7) minute maximum running time.

End credits are limited to a maximum of 30 seconds and also count toward the seven (7) minute maximum running time.

(The credit length requirements may be adjusted by the event organizers prior to the Kick-Off Event depending on the number of teams registered.)

Films must include all specified competition elements.

Completed films may not contain copyrighted images, characters, logos, music, or any other unauthorized materials.

If completed film submissions contain questionable content, including but not limited to pornography, recordings of illegal activity, or other inappropriate materials, the event organizers reserve the right to disqualify the submission.

No refunds will be granted.

Texas Horror Cult Event Organizers reserve the exclusive right to make the final determination regarding which film submissions are eligible for entry, screening, and/or competition.

Film Competition Organizers also reserve the right to refuse to screen a film or to make an announcement at the screening regarding the content of a film.

This right also extends to any exhibition, promotional use, or distribution of the submitted films.

All completed films must be submitted as one of the following formats:

• QuickTime (.MOV) file compressed with H.264 at 1080p, 23.97 fps
• MP4 format (preferred)

Any other file format will be rejected.

All films must be submitted by emailing a Google Drive link only.

Submissions are due on Drop-Off Day only, October 11th, 2026.

Any submissions received before this date will not be considered.

NOTE: If a completed film submission file cannot be opened by the Film Competition Event Organizers, it will not be screened and will therefore be ineligible for awards and prizes.

Completed films must be submitted to the Film Competition Event Organizers no later than the specified deadline.

Any film submitted after the deadline may still have the opportunity to be screened; however, it will be excluded from competition awards and prizes.

During the Kick-Off Event, Film Competition Event Organizers will define a limited post-deadline "Grace Period"during which completed film submissions may still be accepted for screening eligibility.

Team Leaders must submit all required paperwork and release forms with their completed film submission.

The following forms will be provided on the day of the Kick-Off Event only, unless arrangements have been made with the Film Competition Organizers due to the filmmaker being from out of town:

• Team Leader Agreement
• Materials Release Form

The Team Leader is required to sign these forms before the start of the Film Competition and before any announcements are made.

Please arrive at the Kick-Off Event early enough to complete and sign all required paperwork.

These forms are not printable from this website and must be signed in person by a Team Leader representing the project being made.

Required forms include:

• Team Leader Agreement
• Materials Release Form

The Team Leader is responsible for providing Film Competition Event Organizers with copies of all required release forms when turning in their completed film on Drop-Off Day.

All additional release forms must be created and provided by the Team Leader and submitted by email along with the completed film.

Texas Horror Cult does not provide these forms.

Required forms may include, but are not limited to:

• Talent or Crew Waiver and Release Forms
• Location Agreement Forms
• Music and Stock Footage Release Forms

These release forms must be provided by you.

Film Competition Event Organizers reserve the right to refuse any completed film submission that:

• Has exceeded the limited post-deadline Grace Period;
• Is missing any required paperwork or release forms; and/or
• Otherwise fails to comply with the Competition Rules and Requirements.

Film Competition Event Organizers reserve the right to add to, amend, or modify these rules at any time prior to the beginning of the Film Competition.

DATES:

KICK OFF EVENT & Film Mixer

Sun, 08/30/2026  5pm - 8pm ( Team Announcements at 7:00pm)

LOCATION: 

Mayer Garden 

2422 N. Henderson Ave.

Dallas, TX. 75206

DROP OFF EVENT: 

Monday  10/11/2026 12pm - 11:59pm Midnight (cut off time) 

Email (google drive) completed films and release forms texashorrorcult@gmail.com   

PREMIERE SCREENING / AWARDS: 

DATE: 

Monday Oct 26th, 2026 

Time: 7pm - 10pm (Doors open at 7pm no earlier. Screening usually starts around 8pm or sooner)

LOCATION: 

Texas Theatre

231 Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX 75208