Portland Horror Film Festival’s 11th year was chock full of extremely accomplished films that ranged from dark and moody to smart and moving, and funny and ridiculous, to grotesquely beautiful and weird. We screened 61 films from around the world at the Hollywood Theatre and Clinton Street Theater, and an addition 22 streaming exclusive films in our Streaming edition on the Eventive platform. Many of this year’s films were written and directed by Black, Asian, Latine, and Women directors. As always, our main goal was to present the most diverse and inclusive lineup of international independent Horror films to our audience.
The 2026 Awards were presented Sunday night, June 7th, at Dots Cafe with a crowd of visiting and local filmmakers and attendees! Deciding the recipients of the awards is a herculean task, with the creativity and level of skill on display climbing ever higher! All of the films in this year’s program deserve accolades, but a few films made a notable impression on our judges and audience.
And the Winners Are…
Goule D’or Best Feature: Dracula: The Night Around Us – dir. by Chris Schwab
In this modern reimagining, Dr. John Seward regains his hope for humanity through a bond with Mina and her young daughter Lucy. However, his regained faith is systemically destroyed by an ancient evil. Based on the novel by Bram Stoker.
Writer/Director Chris Schwab give the classic Bram Stoker story an update with a modern twist, introducing an element of child predation that ratchets up the tension and drives the stakes ever higher. Schwab’s use of digital and 8mm film formats creates a highly textured environment than often blurs the lines between waking reality and nightmarish fugue state. Leads Marlene Mc’Cohen as Mina and Eric Toms as Dr. Seward anchor the story, conveying anxiety and nuanced panic as events take the most sinister turns.
Written and Directed by Chris Schwab
Starring Marlene Mc’Cohen, Eric Toms, Spencer Weitzel, Raelan Mackiewicz
Goule D’or Best Short: “Nurture” – dir. by Nick Snyder
On a remote Oregon farm, a couple grieving from a miscarriage finds hope in a mysterious flower. But as it heals her, the flower takes root in him. Nurture is a dialogue-free folk-horror fable about love, grief, and the consequences of taking too much from nature.
Written and Directed by Nick Snyder
Starring Travis Bilenski, Kailey Rhodes
Main de Gloire: “In Sickness and In Health” – dir. by Alexandria Collins
The Main de Gloire award is reserved for the film that utilizes horror to deliver a message, whether it be a social justice one, or an emotional one.
Troubled couple Veronica and Luis go on a romantic weekend getaway to reconnect after Luis’s grueling exorcism. But as they settle in, Veronica begins to worry if the ritual drove out the demon or only revealed the one she married, leaving her trapped with a malignant force she cannot escape.
Directed by Alexandria Collins
Written by Montserrat Luna-Ballantyne
Starring Yumarie Morales, Rufino Romero, Luis Fernandez-Gil
Bloody Judge Award: “The Bargain” – dir. by Alec Patchin
Each year we invite a notable figure in the film industry to be a guest judge, reviewing our top short films and choosing one for a special award. This year, we tapped Andrea Subissati, Executive Editor of Rue Morgue Magazine to be our Bloody Judge! Runners up included “Nurture,” “Famous,” and “Favela Amarela”.
A young girl summons the Devil to get justice from her abusive foster father. The Devil is willing to make a deal but in Ruth’s desire for revenge exceeds her nerve. A chilling tale of revenge, religion and desperation in our lowest moments.
Written and Directed by Alec Patchin
Starring Leana Gardella, Michael David Wilson
Horde Award: Audience Choice: Frogman Returns – dir. by Anthony Cousins
This award is ENTIRELY decided by Audience vote!
There’s unfinished business in Loveland. Dallas, Amy, and Frogman are back to settle the score.
Directed by Anthony Cousins
Written by John Karsko, Anthony Cousins
Starring Nathan Tymoshuk, Natalie Tran, Alexis Allotta, Chelsey Grant
Creature Feature: The Demonatrix – dir. by Aurelio Voltaire & Jeff Ferrell
A dominatrix looking to make some extra money holds a phony seance. When she unwittingly summons an incubus demon during the seance, the priest who presides over the church across the street and his demonologist mentor join forces in an attempt to help her send the demon back to hell.
Written and Directed by Aurelio Voltaire, Jeff Ferrell
Starring Hannah Fierman, Aurelio Voltaire, Doug Bradley, Nivek Ogre, Larry Fessenden
Abby Normal Award: for the exceptionally weird and disturbing: “Tooth-Hurty!” – dir. by Jude Madonna
A people-pleasing writer-photographer makes an appointment for a dental checkup for the first time in years with the mysterious yet heavily advertised Big Smiles Dentistry.
Directed by Jude Madonna
Written by Katie Small
Starring Katie Small, Jude Madonna, Brook Hogan, Tommy Harden
Masque Rouge Award for Best Performance: Krsy Fox in Big Baby
A horror screenwriter’s violent new creation—a hulking killer called “Big Baby”—begins bleeding from the page into real life.
Written and Directed by Spider One
Starring Brandon Scott, Krsy Fox, Sierra McCormick, Catherine Corcoran, Adam Marcinowski, Jordan Elsass, Kate Freund, Torio Van Grol, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Kirby Bliss Blanton, David Howard Thornton
Funny Bone Award (Exceptional Horror Comedy): “My Severed Arm” – dir. by Casey de Fremery
After a brutal encounter with a masked killer leaves her trapped and alone, a woman turns to unconventional methods to survive the night: YouTube tutorials.
Written and Directed by Casey de Fremery
Starring Olivia Rose Prince, Ryan Romine, Julia Linger, Claire Rice, Jacob Dalton
Caméra de Sang (Best Cinematography): “Behold and Hear” – dir. by Malcolm and Ray DeSoto
Four friends embark on a fated road trip that changes their lives forever.
Written and Directed by Malcolm DeSoto Ray Desoto
Director of Photography: Malcolm DeSoto
Starring William English III, Rachel Houska, Tex Kelly, Izzy Villarreal
Devil’s Discord (Best Sound Design): “Blindsided” – dir. by P. Patrick Hogan
A blind schoolteacher struggles to survive through a nightmarish night when an alien spaceship crashes and unleashes a monstrous predator. This unique horror short film features an all low-vision cast and places the audience in the POV of a blind protagonist.
Written and Directed by P. Patrick Hogan
Starring Crystal Loverro
Trompe L’Oeil Award for best special effects: “The Bones Exist” – dir. by Kelsey Bollig & Matthew DuVall
In the unforgiving wilderness of 1850s Alta California, a dwindling group of gold prospectors encounters a feral boy who forces the men to confront the horrors lurking in the woods and the sins of their past.
Directed by Kelsey Bollig, Matthew DuVall
Written by Matthew DuVall
Starring Alex Peńa, Siya Maleki, Jack Campbell, Michael Mazanko
Best Screenplay: Bodiless – by Edward Martin III
NEW for 2026! The Portland Horror Film Festival launched a Screenplay competition this year and the entries for both short and feature screenplays were highly original, inventive, and sparked the imagination.
Weaver DuPaul is a complex man with a fractured past, running away from his demons. Back at home, he tries to find peace, but he can’t fit in, and he cannot sleep, and he starts to hallucinate. Ultimately, he befriends a group of homeless folks, all of whom are finding their own answers in some strange new religion. While he is drawn into it, Weaver is also drawn into a much darker trap.
Written by Edward Martin III
Best Bumper: “Sleep Paralysis Demon” – dir. by Ty Huffer
Bumpers serve as an intro or lead-in to a film block. Each year we challenge filmmakers to create one of these micro-short horror films of 60 seconds or less, to be an amuse-bouche before our short film blocks with a PHFF logo drop at the end. Bumpers, though short, must still be well-produced and capture our attention.
A guy gets unlikely inspiration on how to battle The Evil Bride, his teeth chomping sleep paralysis demon.
Written and Directed by Ty Huffer
Starring Clinton Moore, Amber Huffer, Archie Burtner