Festival dossier

International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival

Phoenix, United States · Est. 2005 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals

Tier ATrusted
Phoenix, United States
100
Legitimacy Score

Should 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.

  • 21 years of verifiable history
  • Physical screenings at 7000 E Mayo Blvd Suite 1059 Phoenix, Arizona 85054 United States
  • Press/industry coverage

Overview

The International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival is a Phoenix-based event dedicated exclusively to horror and science fiction genres, showcasing independent competition films alongside select studio releases from around the world. Notable for its 22-year history (founded in 2005 by fans), it features celebrity guests from the genre, awards for best features and shorts, and a screenplay competition, fostering a community of filmmakers and fans. As a program of the Phoenix Film Foundation, it holds significance in the festival circuit by promoting independent filmmaking and educating the public on horror and sci-fi cinema.

Last updated Oct 4, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Positive Indicators (+63 pts)

  • 21 years of verifiable history
  • Physical screenings at 7000 E Mayo Blvd Suite 1059 Phoenix, Arizona 85054 United States
  • Press/industry coverage
  • Wikipedia-verified (54 refs, 2 languages)
  • 5 verified pro signals
  • Verified trusted status
  • Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (6 vs 0)

Red Flags (-0 pts)

No red flags found

Trust Signals

Positive Signals

  • FilmFreeway Gold festival
  • Has FilmFreeway community ratings
  • Documented history with archived programs
  • PRESS_COVERAGE
  • WIKIDATA_VERIFIED

Festival Details

Founded

2005

Venue

7000 E Mayo Blvd Suite 1059 Phoenix, Arizona 85054 United States

Screenings

Physical screenings confirmed

Award Categories

1

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At a glance

Legitimacy Score100/100
TierTier A
Reviews0
Community Reports0

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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