LOS ANGELES, CA (October 22, 2021) - The 21st annual Screamfest Horror Film Festival awarded their 2021 top movies, filmmakers, actors and screenplay during the fest’s closing night on Thursday, October 21. The festival, which ran from October 12-21, 2021, is the longest running horror film festival in the United States. This year, the festival returned to its home at the TCL Chinese Theater, welcoming audiences back to the big screen with a star-filled opening night screening of rock and roll horror thriller The Retaliators.

Staying true to their mission of steadfastly supporting filmmakers and screenwriters in the horror and science fiction genres, Screamfest was home to 294 independent filmmakers during its 10-day run, including 82 short film directors, 110 short film producers, 30 feature film directors, and 72 feature film producers, including 19 female directors and 19 BIPOC filmmakers.

In addition to the full festival line-up, the festival also featured an evening with Bruce Campbell, along with screenings of his iconic films EVIL DEAD 2 and ARMY OF DARKNESS, as well as a special screening of the classic 80’s vampire film LOST BOYS featuring a conversation with the film’s star Jason Patric.

Film entries are accepted in the categories of Best Picture, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects, Musical Score, and more. This year’s Best Picture and Best Director went to Gonzalo Calzada’s haunting and heartbreaking Nocturna: Side A -The Great Old Man’s Night, which also nabbed Best Actor for 92 year old Pepe Soriano.

Screamfest 2021 Winners

Best Picture - Nocturna: Side A - The Great Old Man’s Night

Best Director - Gonzalo Calzada - Nocturna: Side A - The Great Old Man’s Night

Best Actor - Pepe Soriano - Nocturna: Side A - The Great Old Man’s Night

Best Actress - Libby Ewing - When I Consume You

Best Cinematography - Carlos Ritter - What Josiah Saw

Best Editing - Alejandro Narvaez -Nocturna: Side A - The Great Old Man’s Night

Best Special Effects Makeup - Shannon Mulligan & KC Mussman - The Retaliators

Best Visual Effects - Let The Wrong One In

Best Special Effects - What Josiah Saw

Best Musical Score - Leonardo Martinelli - The Returned (Los Que Vuelven)

Best Screenplay - Hangman by JC Doler and Paul Petersen

Best Short - The Light directed by Iago de Soto

Best Horror Comedy Short - Good Head directed by Matt Servitto

Best Student Short - The Other One directed by Lukas Baier

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 AWARD WINNERS!