Navigating the Wild World Of Indie Film

Filmmaker Andrew Bowser will talk through some common misconceptions about the "industry" and share some candid truths about indie filmmaking! From fundraising to distribution, from casting to crewing up. Andrew will discuss his own mistakes and lessons he's learned as he's tried to build a career doing what he loves. Hopefully, this frank conversation will encourage others to chase their dream!

The Human Side Of Horror

The Human Side of Horror explores how the entertainment we consume has the potential to spark positive change. It challenges you to think about how horror affects you, what kind of message you give with the art you create, and how this impacts the lives of others when making recommendations. We will delve into multiple classic horror examples, like Carrie and The Craft, to discover how art in any form is the catalyst for change.

Miniature Horror: Drabble Writing Workshop

Led by local author and podcaster, P.L. McMillan, this workshop will guide you in writing and finishing a drabble with the intent to submit for publication.

Horrible Things Film Club & Severin Films presents Reel War!

What's a Reel?

When films were shown on 35mm film, they were distributed in several Reels. A Reel of film typically runs for around 9-11 minutes.

Okay, cool, what’s a Reel War?

For this special Mini-Reel War, we’ll show excerpts from three insane films released by Severin Films. (The Films included are a Surprise, but they’re all amazing in their own unhinged way!)

After we watch the three excerpts, you, as the Audience, vote on which film you like the best!

The winning film will be shown in full on Saturday, 09/13 at 10:00 pm!

Coven, Maiden, Mother, Crone: Faces of the Witch in Horror Film

In this panel, we'll apply Critical Feminist Theory to examine depictions of “The Witch”. We’ll discuss how gender ideology is produced, reproduced, and transformed at each stage of the femme and feral monster. Films discussed include The Love Witch, Hellbender, and You Won't Be Alone.”

Feminism in Horror

Join feminist horror authors from Colorado as we discuss all aspects of feminism in horror. We’ll talk about everything from femme fatales to final girls.

Tadpoles: Shorts From The Creator of Frogman

Anthony Cousins, director and creator of "Frogman", screens some of the best horror shorts he's created over his career, with exclusive behind the scenes commentary. Stick around for a sneak peak at Frogman 2.

Enter HeTerrorTopia Pt II: The Workshop

Ready to ascend deeper? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll join forces with our presenters to uncover how heterotopias shape—and unsettle—our cultural and societal landscape. Together, we’ll conjure entirely new heterotopias, born from your ideas and our shared exploration. This is no ordinary workshop—it’s a creative plunge into the uncanny. The more minds in the mix, the stranger and more spectacular the outcomes. Join us, if you dare.

Embrace the Darkness!

Are you a cosplayer or photographer? This one's for you - we'll talk about how to create ghoulishly gorgeous photos on a budget. From sourcing props to thrift store sets, the scariest thing about this workshop is how easy this can all be! This hands-on workshop needs your spookiest cosplays, so come play, meet your fellow horror enthusiasts and make some dark magic with local horror photographer Matt Maenpaa of Foolish Endeavors.

Concept Art to Cosplay: Designing Your Next Build from Pencil to Pattern

Every great cosplay starts with an idea and a sketch. This panel blends live illustration with practical insights into designing one-of-a-kind cosplays with fabrication in mind. We’ll talk about making an eye-catching design, 3D-printing or foam carving the hero props, thinking about proportions and movement, how to digitally mock up color swatches and patterns for fabric choices, and much more. Whether you're creating a Superhero Witch with a horror twist, a cosplay creature for the Monsterverse, or your own original character Hollywood hasn't dreamed up yet- this is where it begins.

Featuring live drawing and discussion with Xander Smith- Costume Illustrator and 3D artist for Agatha All Along, American Horror Story, Aquaman, and more.

Behind the Sauce

Come meet Ryan, the one man band behind Horrifying Hot Sauce. There will be a Q&A about the sauces he makes and the inspiration behind them and their original art. We’ll watch some previews for movies that inspired the labels, and there will be an open tasting table during the block.

Conjuring Terror for the Nervous Novice: The Craft of Writing Horror

Ghosties and ghoulies gather! Ghastly experts have been summoned to give you the low down about the in and outs of writing horror for publication.

Ghosts of Colorado: Book Release

Don't miss this hit COFOH classic, now with all new ghost stories. Bryan Bonner and Bob Lewis from Rocky Mountain Paranormal are ready to share the paranormal investigations and haunted histories from their more than a quarter of a century of case files. This year, they're sharing some all new stories from the exciting, brand-new third volume of their hit series of books!

Gateways to Horror: Our First Corruptors

We didn't all start with Freddy, Jason, or Art the Clown! Most of us began with shows, cartoons, or movies that were “horror adjacent” or “horror for kids.” That creepy Nickelodeon Janitor? Goosebumps? Join us as we discuss the early corruptors who helped kick-start our fascination with horror.

Horrible Things Film Club and Severin Films present the Reel War Winner!

Close out your Saturday with a special screening of the Audience pick for our Mini Reel War winner!

Voted on by our attendees at Friday’s Reel War, this insane film released by Severin is one you won't want to miss!

Ethan Hull from Severin Films and Eric and Madi from Horrible Things will attend and watch too!

A ‘Once Upon A Tomb’ Live Reading For All Ages! Yes Even For The Undead!

JClassic horror fans of all ages will love the dark humor of Once Upon a Tomb (https://www.pioneerdrama.com/SearchDetail.asp?pc=ONCEATOMB), a three-part fairytale-monster mashup narrated by the Scriptkeeper, a crumbling narrator cursed to care for a tomb of forgotten tales of terror! 

Come see Denver-area a puppeteer and local actors bring to life this tale of the dead in a family-friendly "Puppet Story Hour" reading from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 14, in the Workshop Room at Colorado Festival of Horror 2025.

STRAYA - Everything Wants to Kill You Down Under

Australia's horror scene is, like its occasionally-murderous landscape and wildlife, strikingly unique. AUS has, historically, much smaller film and publishing industries than its colonial parent or any of its various cultural influences, and has had a hard time establishing its own unique horror identity - in part because its famous voices keep leaving when they make it big. Come discover the journey from the English drawing-room ghost stories to the striking films Wolf Creek and The Babadook.

TRULY TERRIFYING: A LOOK BEYOND HORROR AT WHAT RULY DISTURBS US

Dive deep into the unsettling intersection of fear and reality. In this session we explore how our hopes, dreams, and the things we love can become the foundation for our darkest fears. Through insightful discussions on trauma, emotional triggers, and the lasting power of horror, Truly Terrifying reveals how horror reflects our vulnerabilities and shapes our perception of the world around us. Discover how the things that unsettle us the most are often tied to what we hold dear, leaving an indelible mark on our minds and emotions.

WRITERS SCARING WRITERS

Are you a horror writer with a work in progress? Don't miss this opportunity to test out your first two pages on a panel of published horror writers. Bring a printed copy of the first 400 words (about two pages double spaced) of your novel or short story. Hook us! Give us goosebumps! Make us want to read the rest! No names or identifying information, please. We will read each anonymously submitted entry out loud and provide on-the-spot praise and critique. And to keep the panelists on their toes, we'll throw in the first 400 words of a few published horror novels too. Not a writer? Come listen in. You might be among the first to hear the opening pages of a soon-to-be-bestselling author.

Horror Comics

SThe illustrated page offers unique opportunities for horror storytelling, employing visual techniques impossible in film while creating tension through panel layout and reader imagination. Drew Edwards will discuss the long-running "Halloween Man" and the upcoming "The Matron" while the team discusses the fascinating crossover between horror's cinematic and comic expressions. Drawing on their collective industry experience, the Castle of Horror team can provide insider perspectives on how horror comics continue to evolve, influence other media, and push boundaries in ways sometimes more accessible than their film counterparts.