A horror film inspired by Chicago's Mothman legend. A movie called “Fish is Dog Spelled Backwards.” All of them are part of the 28th annual Chicago Horror Film Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema in Lakeview, screening roughly 150 films culled from more than 650 submissions.
A Festival Built on No Budget
The schedule includes mostly short films alongside a handful of features, spotlighting what the Tribune describes as regional American horror: movies made cheaply, independently, and typically far from Los Angeles.
The festival itself grew out of modest beginnings. Jason Davis founded the Chicago Horror Film Festival at the 3 Penny Cinema in Lincoln Park, the Tribune reports, and it has since relocated to the three-screen setup at 2828 North Clark Street. The event’s own website describes an evolution from a small afternoon showcase of local shorts into what organizers call a prestigious three-day event, noting that FilmFreeway lists the festival as having screened 384 films in 2025 alone.
A Cop's Mothman Movie, Shot on Film
Among this year's standouts is “The Man Bat,” directed by Khafre Liggens and inspired by Chicago's own Mothman legend. The film was accepted into the festival.
Another Festival Film
David A. Holcombe directed “Fish is Dog Spelled Backwards,” which screens at the festival this year.
The Illinois Horror Movie Festival begins the same Friday in Milledgeville and features a lineup of 200 indie horror movies and short films. Listings for the downstate event also describe a weekend built around celebrity guests and outdoor programming at the Carroll County fairgrounds, according to Southgate Media Group.
AI Policy on the Horizon
Vecchio told the Tribune he plans to institute a formal artificial-intelligence policy for future festivals, though he said he did not believe AI was used in any of the films being screened this year. It is a forward-looking concern for a festival that has otherwise built its identity on scrappy, hands-on filmmaking — the kind where a budget shortfall becomes a plot point rather than an obstacle.
A Long Line of Cheap Horror
Regional horror has a long tradition of shoestring production. George Romero made “Night of the Living Dead,” and friends pooled some of the money for it; Romero had a Pittsburgh connection. “Carnival of Souls” was Kansas-based and had a $33,000 budget.
The Chicago Horror Film Festival has leaned into an underdog logic since Davis founded it, with its lineup reflecting the resourcefulness on display.
The Chicago Horror Film Festival runs Friday through Sunday at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St. Tickets and full festival information are available through the festival's official channels.
