Night Frights LA 2025 – A New Name in Horror Fests

September is upon us, and that can mean only one thing: Horror season is here. Well, more so than any other time of the year. With Midsummer Scream only a few weeks past, folks in the LA area can look forward to the premier of the newest horror festival, Night Frights LA. Founded by Tristan and Gavin Winchester of the production company 2100 Films, these ambitious twenty-somethings are setting out to make their fest “a premier destination for horror filmmakers, fans, and industry professionals, showcasing cutting-edge horror films, exclusive panels, and immersive experiences,” according to the latest press release. Having previously hosted the Summer of Scream event this past July, the horror-buff brothers are preparing to take their passion to the next level.

Taking place on Saturday, September 20, from 10am to 10pm in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, the event will boast an all-day red carpet, along with an official red carpet event for filmmakers and screenwriters prior to the premiere of the film Catch a Killer that afternoon. Featuring sponsors such as Angel City Brewery, Screambox, and various media outlets (including Film Inquiry) among others, Night Frights LA is set to be the next notable name in late-summer scares.

The full schedule of screenings and events can be found here.

In addition to a screenplay competition and a panel with members of the Horror Writers Association, Night Frights LA will also be screening 23 different films across different categories:

Best in Blood – Found Footage, Slashers, Horror Comedy, Horror Los Angeles, Horror Cartoon/Animation

• Ghosted — Dir. Jamie Dee Lyons — Jamie Lyons, Alexandra Deigh, Sean Fisher, Victoria Reynolds
• Playback — Dir. Gavin Zahn — Alex Moynihan, Emma Dhanda
• No Slasher Here — Dir. Robert Tiemstra — Llenelle Gibson, Noelle Hensler, Ethan Haslam
• Knife — Dir. Michael Kuciak — Jason Markoff, Anthea Greco
• Chickenboy — Dir. Matthew Rush — Matthew Rush, Matthew Rush, Matthew Rush
• A Simple Life — Dir. Manoa Raine — Dillon Stewart, Christie Griffin, Rachel Mathias, Michael Johnson
• Banjo — Dir. Cameron Poletti — T.J. Sullinger, Alex Poletti, Hunter Torr
• Where the Shadows Feast — Dir. Aaron M Cabrera — Corey Allen, Alicia Blasingame, Troy Twisty James, Demetrius Daniels
• The Carvening — Dir. Matthew R Cinotti — Beau Batchelor, Matthew Incontri, Adam Incontri, Samantha Wright
• Love Forevermore — Dir. Jeremy Mowery, Annette Bedrossian — Victoria Reynoso

Mental Carnage – Horror Short Films, Horror Gore, Horror Psychological

• Vivir — Dir. Gerardo Maravilla — Joey Marue Urbina, Alex Felix
• The Specter of Christmas — Dir. Joel Harlow — Paul Giamatti, Rod Maxwell, Ashley Edner-Tanch
• Devil’s Prism — Dir. Kika Magalhães — Emma Raimi, Jasmine Akakpo, Kika Magalhães
•  Keep Coming Back — Dir. Kyle Kouri — Kyle Kouri, Bettina Olivieri, Sosie Bacon, Travis Hammer
• The Last Thing She Saw — Dir. Anthony Cousins, Rebecca Daugherty — Bailey Bolton, Nathan Tymoshuk, Agatha Pokrzywka
• The Vanity — Dir. Megan Rosati — Megan Rosati, Evan Watkins, Geoff Ross, V Nixie Lin
• Contraction — Dir. Andy Greene — Liesel Hlista, Cameron Bender, Hildegaard Feaver

Planet Terror – Horror International, Horror Actress, Horror Actor

• LaCroix — Dir. Joris Fleurot — Anaïs Parellò, Léa Pellin, Brigitte Chambon
• Umbra — Dir. Pablo Otero — Adriana Camarena, Alicia Moruno, Isabel Quintana
• Bananahead — Dir. Christopher Greenslate — Sally Maersk, Ryan O’Nan
• The Overkill — Dir. Joanna Tsanis — Gillian Fortin, Jeremy Johnson
• The Nature of Death — Dir. Sean Cruser — Murphy Martin, Tyler Beveridge, Torean Thomas, Christopher Garcia
• The Smell of Sin — Dir. Gabriel Paul Gonzales — Tony Amendola, Time Winters

Of course, no competition would be complete without an award ceremony, hosted by Elias Alexandro.

Tickets are only $20, with VIP badges available for $40 (plus a few dollars in fees for either). Both will get you into the fest, of course, with VIP including:

• Prime Reserved Seating: First five rows at all screenings
• Automatic Raffle Entry: Signed books from select members of the Horror Writers Association
• Collectible, Limited-Edition Festival Pin
• VIP Red Badge and Lanyard
• Exclusive Screening and Q&A: A Q&A session with composer John Massari, followed by a screening of Killer Klowns From Outer Space
• Afterparty Entry

Despite this being the very first year of Night Frights LA, the Winchesters aren’t stopping there. They’re already planning monthly horror screenings, spotlighting both major franchises and indie filmmakers, beyond the festival. Get your tickets today, and get ready to celebrate horror all year long.

For more information, visit Night Frights LA’s website, Instagram, or TikTok.