Fear Screen Horror Film Festival is committed to supporting filmmakers at all stages of their careers. We offer competitive entry fees with multiple pricing tiers and provide fee waivers and reduced-rate submissions to ensure financial barriers do not prevent talented filmmakers from participating. Entry Fee Structure Our entry fees vary based on submission timing and film category. Early submissions are encouraged through discounted rates, whilst late submissions incur additional costs to reflect the compressed review timeline, you can find our fees on our FilmFreeway page or here: https://fearscreen.com/filmmakers/submit Payment Methods Film Freeway accepts the following payment methods: Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express PayPal: Direct PayPal account transfers Debit Cards: UK and international debit cards compatible with major payment networks Your payment information is processed securely through Film Freeway's encrypted payment gateway. Fear Screen does not retain or store your payment details; all transactions are handled exclusively by Film Freeway. Fee Waivers and Reduced-Rate Submissions Fear Screen recognises that submission fees can create financial barriers for emerging filmmakers, students, and creators from underrepresented communities. We therefore offer fee waivers and reduced-rate submissions to qualified applicants. Full Fee Waiver Applicants may request a complete waiver of their submission fee if they meet one or more of the following criteria: Financial Hardship: You are unable to afford the submission fee due to genuine financial difficulty. This may include students, unemployed individuals, or creators experiencing temporary financial constraints. Student Status: You are currently enrolled in an accredited film school, university, or arts institution and can provide proof of enrolment. Emerging Filmmaker Status: This is your first feature film submission, or you have completed fewer than five professional film projects. Early Career Status: You are a resident of the UK and your primary employment income falls below the Living Wage Foundation's defined threshold for your region. A full fee waiver covers the entire entry fee, allowing you to submit your film at no cost. Reduced-Rate Submissions If you do not qualify for a full fee waiver but face financial constraints, you may request a reduced submission rate. Reduced rates typically offer a 50 percent discount on the standard entry fee for your film category. Reduced rates are available to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria: Limited Budget: Your film's production budget was under £10,000. Independent Production: Your film was produced independently without backing from a major studio, production company, or significant funding body. Underrepresented Communities: You identify as part of a community historically underrepresented in the film industry, including women filmmakers, LGBTQ+ creators, filmmakers of colour, or creators from economically disadvantaged regions. Disability or Neurodivergence: You or a key member of your creative team identifies as disabled or neurodivergent. How to Apply for Fee Waivers or Reduced Rates Application Process Fee waiver and reduced-rate applications are administered outside of the Film Freeway platform to protect your privacy and ensure confidential consideration. Step 1: Visit the Fear Screen Financial Support Page Navigate to the Financial Support page on the Fear Screen website at https://fearscreen.com/financial/support. This page contains the full application form and detailed guidance on eligibility criteria. Step 2: Complete the Application Form Fill out the fee waiver or reduced-rate application form completely. You will be asked to provide: Your name and contact information The title of your film Your film category (short, medium-length, or feature) A brief written explanation of your circumstances (typically 100 to 200 words) Step 3: Submit Supporting Documentation Depending on the criterion you are claiming, you may be asked to provide supporting documentation. Examples include: For Student Status: A digital copy of your current student ID card or an enrolment letter from your institution For Financial Hardship: A brief confidential statement explaining your circumstances. No financial documentation such as tax returns or bank statements is required. For Production Budget: A brief summary of your film's production costs For Underrepresented Status: A statement of self-identification (no documentation is required; your word is sufficient) For Disability or Neurodivergence: Optional documentation if you wish to provide it; self-identification is also accepted Step 4: Submit Your Application Submit your completed application form and any supporting documentation via the Fear Screen website. Our team will confirm receipt of your application via email. Step 5: Receive Your Decision and Waiver Code Our team reviews applications within 7 to 10 working days. You will receive an email notification of the outcome, which will either confirm your fee waiver or reduced rate. If your application is approved, you will receive a unique waiver or discount code. This code must be entered during the Film Freeway submission process to apply your waiver or reduced rate. Step 6: Submit Your Film on Film Freeway Once you have received your waiver or discount code, proceed with your submission on Film Freeway as normal. When you reach the fee selection screen, enter your code into the designated field. Your submission fee will be reduced or eliminated accordingly, and you will see the updated total before payment. Note: All applications are handled in strict confidence and assessed on a case-by-case basis. We are committed to supporting those with genuine financial need while also ensuring the continued sustainability of our festival. Once a decision has been made on your application, all personal information you have provided will be securely removed from our system. Confidentiality and Privacy All fee waiver and reduced-rate applications are handled with complete confidentiality. Your personal circumstances are reviewed only by our core festival administration team and are not shared with the selection committee or made public in any form. Your submission will be evaluated on artistic merit alone, without knowledge of whether you received a fee waiver or discount. Multiple Submissions If you wish to submit more than one film to Fear Screen, each submission incurs a separate entry fee. However, multiple fee waivers may be granted if you qualify, allowing you to submit several films without cost. Applicants wishing to submit multiple films should apply for a waiver or reduced rate for each film, or request guidance on bulk submissions by contacting our team. International Submissions and Currency Conversion Fear Screen accepts submissions from filmmakers worldwide. Entry fees are displayed in British Pounds Sterling (GBP); however, if you are paying from outside the United Kingdom, your payment will be converted to your local currency by your bank or payment processor. Film Freeway displays currency conversion rates at checkout based on current exchange rates. The exact amount charged to your card may vary slightly depending on your financial institution's conversion fees. Refund Policy Entry fees are non-refundable once your submission has been processed and confirmed on Film Freeway. This policy applies regardless of whether your film is selected or rejected, or if you withdraw your submission after payment. If you experience a technical error during payment that results in duplicate charges, contact Film Freeway support immediately with your receipt and transaction ID. Film Freeway's support team can investigate duplicate charges and process refunds where applicable. Questions About Fees and Financial Support If you have questions about entry fee pricing, payment methods, or the fee waiver application process, please visit the Financial Support page at https://fearscreen.com/financial/support or contact our submissions team via the Fear Screen website contact form. Our team is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent talented filmmakers from submitting their work to Fear Screen Horror Film Festival.
