👑 The Reaper’s Choice (Best of Fest)

The highest honor of Frederick Fear Fest. Chosen by the jury as the most unforgettable, unsettling, and masterful entry of the year.

💀 Feature of the Damned (Best Feature Film)

Awarded to the standout feature-length horror film that left us breathless—and disturbed.

🕸️ The Cult Favorite (Audience Award)

Voted on by attendees. A film destined for midnight marathons, group rewatches, and future obsession.

💀 The Dreaded Short (Best Short Film)

Awarded to the short that delivers the biggest scares in the smallest runtime.

🩸 The Bloodline Award (Best Director)

For fearless vision and leadership in bringing dark stories to life.

👁️ The Unseen (Best Cinematography)

Recognizing visual storytelling that’s as chilling as it is beautiful.

🧠 Mind Meld (Best Screenplay)

Honoring exceptional writing, structure, and narrative fear-craft.

🎭 Creature & Carnage (Best FX / Creature Design)

For grotesque brilliance—whether practical, digital, or somewhere in between.

🕷️ Homegrown Horror (Maryland Spotlight Award)

Awarded to a film made in Maryland or by a Maryland-based filmmaker.

🔊 Sound of Dread (Best Sound Design)

Celebrating the unsung art of tension—creaks, whispers, screams, and silence.

🎼 The Devil’s Score (Best Original Musical Score)

For a musical composition that elevates the terror and lingers like a haunting refrain.

🎤 Scream Royalty (Best Performance)

Honoring the actor who gave it their all—scream, shiver, or subtle dread.

🔮 The Dark Discovery (Breakout Indie / First-Time Filmmaker)

Awarded to a fresh voice whose debut shook us in all the right ways.

--------------------------------

Special Awards only presented in the event enough films are entered to make the cut!

🧬 The Cosmic Terror Award (Best Sci-Fi Horror)

For the film that blends science and terror into something unforgettable—existential, otherworldly, and deeply unsettling.

🔪 The Final Cut (Best Slasher)

Blood, blades, and a body count. This award goes to the film that best honors or redefines the slasher tradition.

🧟 The Monster Mayhem Award (Best Creature Feature)

From beasts to bio-horrors, this is for the film with the most memorable monster, mutation, or abomination.

🧠 The Psychological Spiral (Best Thriller or Psychological Horror)

Tension, dread, and mind games. Awarded to the film that plays with perception and burrows deep into your head.

🧙‍♀️ The Folk & Occult Award (Best Supernatural/Folk Horror)

Witches, rituals, old gods, and rural nightmares—this one’s for the film steeped in ancient dread or spiritual horror.

---------------------------

🏆 The Black Lantern Award (Honor Award)

Presented annually to a figure whose work has illuminated the path for horror creators and fans alike. Whether through groundbreaking films, lasting community impact, or a body of work that redefined the genre, this honor recognizes a true guiding force in the world of fear.

👑 Best of Fest Nominees:

-

-

-

💀 Best Feature Nominees:

-

-

-

🕸️ Audience Choice Award Nominees:

-

-

-

💀 Best Short Film Nominees:

-

-

-

-

🩸 Best Director Nominees:

-

-

-

👁️ Best Cinematography Nominees:

-

-

-

🧠 Best Screenplay Nominees:

-

-

-

🎭 Best FX/Make-up Nominees:

-

-

-

Best Local Film:

🔊 Best Sound Design Nominees:

-

-

-

🎼 Best Original Score Nominees:

-

-

-

🎤 Best Actor/Actress/Royalty Nominees:

-

-

-

-

-

🔮 Best First First Time Filmmaker/Production:

🏆 Black Lantern Award Recipient:

Other Awards as Noted (Genre-Specific)

Whether you're a filmmaker with something dark to share, or a horror junkie hungry for your next fix—Frederick Fear Fest welcomes you.

Come for the films. Stay for the fear.

Our 2025 nominees will be announced in December - Official Selections will be screened live before our theatre audience.

Award nominees will be posted on Opening Night up on the Boardwalk! With updates sent out via Film Freeway and posted on Social Media.

Awards Winners will be given a special trophy at the awards ceremony and the opportunity to speak on behalf of their win!

While Frederick Horror Fest will endeavor to make every accommodation to hand out awards to our winners, we cannot ship award trophies to those not in attendance.

Frederick Horror Fest reserves the right to disqualify recipients at our discretion.