All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival
Austin, United States
79
Tier BScreenings
Festival dossier
Chicago Horror Film Festival
Dekalb, United States · Est. 2000 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Tier ATrusted
Dekalb, United States
86
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
- 26 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at 1212 W Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb, IL 60115
- 2 verified pro signals
Overview
The Chicago Horror Film Festival is an annual independent film festival showcasing feature and short horror films, held at the Logan Theatre in Chicago.
Last updated Aug 27, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+41 pts)
- 26 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at 1212 W Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb, IL 60115
- 2 verified pro signals
- Verified trusted status
- Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (4 vs 1)
Red Flags (-5 pts)
- Extended submission window (9 months)
Trust Signals
Positive Signals
- FilmFreeway Gold festival
- Documented history with archived programs
Festival Details
Founded
2000
Venue
1212 W Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb, IL 60115
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
Award Categories
1
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Research
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In the News
- My first short film (writer/director) just won Best Short Film at a festival in Las Vegas!redditOct 12, 2025Neutral
Long story. It took me quite a while to get my first short film made (4 years to be specific) and I’ve done nothing but study writing since so, to me, I’m not a huge huge fan of the film but I’m happy for the team to get some recognition and I’m definitely proud of it, for it being my first try. I made it originally just to practice longer format storytelling. The short film is 30 minutes, and when I was making it, almost EVERYONE told me not to make my first short film 30 m…
At a glance
How scoring works
Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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