films

  The Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute and the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival, woudl like to express our gratitude to every filmmaker who submitted a film to our event. We believe that every film screened at our festival is deserving of recognition.

Films are an art form, and great art is subjective. It's incredibly challenging to compare and judge one film against another, as there are so many factors that contribute to the making of a film, such as budget, experience, timeliness, and more. That's why we believe that if your film was selected to be featured at our festival, it's a winner in itself and deserving of recognition.

We wish we could give actual awards to every participant, but unfortunately, we can't. Our judges faced the unenviable task of selecting one film from each of the categories. We are thrilled to congratulate the winners and all filmmakers whose work was featured at our festival for their contribution to the world of cinema. Your creativity, passion, and dedication have inspired us and enriched our lives, and we look forward to seeing more of your work in the future,. Thank you for being part of this year's festival.

2023 WINNERS

Feature Films

Feature Films

Best Feature Film Horror
The Vampire Project

Yvan Gauthier, Jane Gauthier,  

Best Feature Film Thriller 
Pursued

Jeffrey David Obrow, Peter Leidel

Best Feature Film Sci fi
The  Quantum Devil

Larry Wade Carrell, Loris Curci, Patricia Keith Bursiel Daniel

Directors Rising Star
Brain Tumor

Glen Coburn, Kay Bay,

Short Films

Best Film Short Horror
Escalation

Christian Bachini,

Best Film Short Thriller
Hitched

Keir Beck, Kelly Marie, Rachael Bagley, Nathan Kannegiesser, Emily Thallon,

Best Film Short Sci fi
Middle City

Airon Armstrong, Jamie Rutledge Northrup,

Arkansas made

Best Arkansas Made Film
Lemniscate      

Chuck Meré, Blake Elder, Anthony Oseguera, Nate O'Guin, Frank B Miller," 

                                      www.hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com 

2022 Festival Winners

BEST HORROR FEATURE FILM
A Place Among the Dead
Director Juliet Landau

BEST HORROR SHORT
#NOFILTER
Director Nathan Crooker

BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER
FRESH HELL
Directors Ryan Imhoff & Matt Neal

BEST THRILLER
STRANDED
Director Shawn Burkett

BEST SCI-FI
ULFHEDNAR
Director Scott Niel

BEST STUDENT
Nowhere to Escape
Director ZIYAN WANG

BEST ARKANSAS MADE
Masquerade
Director Jason Pitts

2021 awards

Girl Next,  BEST Horror Feature, Larry Carrell, Loris Curci, Marcus Jean Pirae, Lacey Cofran, Rachel Alig, Paula Marcenaro Solinger, United States

The History of Metal and Horror,  BEST Horror Documentary, Heavy Metal, Horror, Mike Schiff, Robert L. Lucas, Michael Berryman, Alex Rafala, Alice Cooper, Kirk Hammett, Tom Savini, John Carpenter, Corey Taylor, Dave Mustaine, Rob Zombie, Kane Hodder, Doug Bradley, United States

Vodi,  BEST Short Horror, Nath Milburn, Luke Baker, Chase Mullins, Renee Gagner, Alicia Blasingame, Brett Lawrence, Chad Higgs, Drew Arnett, Rudolph Whitcomb, Monika Vidakovic, Nina Nikolic, Jesse James Dean, United States

BECKY,  BEST First Time Filmmaker Short Horror, Nicole Ihasz, Marco De Molina, Brian Krause, Joi Liaye, United States

Thrall,  BEST Student Short Horror,  Xanthe Pajarillo, Nana Adwoa Frimpong, McKenzi Vanderberg, Haeleigh Royall, Susan Deming, United States

SURGE,  BEST Thriller Feature,  Film Rise, Garineh Nazarian, United Kingdom

The Parker Sessions,  BEST First Time Filmmaker Thriller, Stephen king Simmons, Mario DeAngelis, Matt Tucker, Rachell Sean, Danny James, Rachell Sean, Danny James, United States

Waterwick: Prologue,  BEST Student Short Thriller, Lionel R Jeffries, Alyssa Botelho, Carter Goodrich,Paul Kandarian, James Groh, Hayley Phillips, Marion O'Sullivan, United States

Human Trash,  BEST Sci-Fi Short, Aitor Almuedo Esteban, Francisco Javier Almuedo Esteban, Aitor Almuedo Esteban, Guillermo Llans,  Karlos Aurrekoetxea, Spain

The Man From Boggy Creek,  Documentary  Horror,  Honorable Mention, Scott McKinnon, Paul Glover, United States

Rondo and Bob,  Documentary Horror, Honorable Mention, Classic Horror,

 Joe O'Connell, Ed Toutant, Kelsey Pribilski, Ryan Williams, Joseph Middleton, Sonny Carl Davis, Margaret Hoard, Gary Kent, United States

 SOLUS,  Sci-fi Short, Honorable Mention
Rachel M. Taylor, United States

                                             www.hotspringshorrorfilmfestival.com