The international horror film festival returns to Mexico City from November 28 to December 6, 2026, with theatrical screenings, an international online program, and the Sinister Awards.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO — Sinister Horror Film Festival announces its third edition, taking place from November 28 to December 6, 2026, bringing together filmmakers, screenwriters, artists, and audiences for a celebration of contemporary horror cinema.

With an Official Selection of 125 works across six categories, the festival presents 87 audiovisual productions, including seven feature films, 64 short films, five animated short films, and 11 music videos, alongside 38 screenplays comprising 20 feature screenplays and 18 short screenplays.

The selection brings together different cultural perspectives, cinematic traditions, and creative disciplines, reflecting the diversity of artistic expression within the horror genre.

The festival will open on Saturday, November 28, at Cinemanía Plaza Loreto in Mexico City, with theatrical screenings and activities bringing filmmakers, special guests, and audiences together.

From November 29 through December 5, the festival will continue with its online edition, offering audiences the opportunity to discover independent horror productions from different parts of the world.

The third edition will conclude on Sunday, December 6, at 7:00 PM (Mexico City time) with the Sinister Awards, the festival’s official awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements in horror filmmaking.

An International Selection Celebrating Horror Cinema

The 2026 Official Selection comprises 125 works across six categories. The complete Official Selection will be officially announced on Friday, November 13, 2026.

• Feature Film: 7 feature films
• Short Film: 64 short films
• Animation: 5 animated short films
• Music Video: 11 music videos
• Feature Screenplay: 20 feature-length screenplays
• Short Screenplay: 18 short screenplays

The film selection features productions from countries including Mexico, Spain, the United States, Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina, Tunisia, Colombia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, New Zealand, Israel, and others.

These works reflect a broad range of cinematic approaches, from supernatural and psychological horror to body horror, creature features, experimental filmmaking, and narratives that challenge conventional genre boundaries.

Beyond film exhibition, Sinister also recognizes the creative contributions of screenwriters, animators, musicians, and visual artists working within the horror genre.

A Cinematic Experience Beyond the Theater

The third edition of Sinister Horror Film Festival combines in-person activities with an international online program.

The opening event on November 28 at Cinemanía Plaza Loreto will feature theatrical screenings, a red carpet, interviews, and opportunities for participating filmmakers and guests to connect with audiences.

The online edition, scheduled for November 29 through December 5, will feature eight thematic short film collections alongside independent sections dedicated to feature films, animation, and music videos.

The short film collections are presented under eight distinct titles: Monsters in the Dark, The Body Remembers, After the Last Breath, No Signal, The Hours Between, Behind Closed Doors, Bad Company, and The Unfamiliar.

Each collection offers a different perspective on the genre, connecting films through shared themes, atmospheres, and cinematic sensibilities.

This approach allows audiences to explore horror beyond geographical boundaries, discovering new voices and different ways of experiencing fear through cinema.

Sinister Awards: Recognizing Excellence in Horror Filmmaking

The festival will conclude on December 6 with the Sinister Awards, a ceremony dedicated to recognizing artistic and technical achievements across the Official Selection.

The awards celebrate multiple disciplines in filmmaking, including directing, acting, cinematography, editing, production design, special makeup effects, visual effects, sound, music, and screenwriting.

The festival’s highest honors, Best Feature Film and Best Live-Action Short Film, will receive the Sinister Award®, the festival’s official physical trophy.

Through these distinctions, Sinister recognizes not only the films themselves but also the creative professionals whose work shapes the cinematic experience.

Horror as a Cinematic Language

At the heart of Sinister Horror Film Festival is a belief that horror extends far beyond the simple act of frightening an audience.

Throughout cinema’s history, the genre has provided filmmakers with a means of exploring cultural anxieties, social tensions, human vulnerability, and the darker dimensions of imagination.

Horror can be confrontational, deeply personal, experimental, or profoundly entertaining. Its ability to evolve, challenge expectations, and reflect the societies from which it emerges makes it one of cinema’s most enduring forms of artistic expression.

Sinister embraces this diversity, providing a platform for independent filmmakers whose work approaches horror with originality, ambition, and a distinct creative vision.

Now entering its third edition, the festival continues to develop its international identity while maintaining its commitment to cinematic quality, artistic independence, and the recognition of creators working within the genre.

Sinister Horror Film Festival 2026 — Event Information

Third Edition | November 28 – December 6, 2026

November 28 — Opening Day
Theatrical Screenings & Festival Opening
Cinemanía Plaza Loreto
Mexico City, Mexico

November 29 – December 5 — Official Online Program
International Film Selection
Online Edition

December 6 — Sinister Awards 2026
Official Awards Ceremony
7:00 PM (Mexico City time)

Official Website: www.sinisterfilmfest.com

About Sinister Horror Film Festival

Sinister Horror Film Festival is an international film festival dedicated to horror cinema, based in Mexico City.

The festival promotes and recognizes filmmakers, screenwriters, and artists who explore the creative possibilities of the genre, providing a platform for film exhibition, cultural exchange, and artistic recognition.

Through its Official Selection, festival programming, and the Sinister Awards, Sinister supports independent horror filmmaking and celebrates the creative voices contributing to the genre’s continued evolution.

Press Contact

Sinister Horror Film Festival
sinisterfilmfest@gmail.com
www.sinisterfilmfest.com