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Years running: 5 (since 2020)

Dark Arts Film Festival Amsterdam

The Dark Arts Film Festival is the most unholy film event in Western Europe.

Fiction Animation Fee-based

About

Some filmmakers have dark appetites...

We maintain a ruthless ambition to submerge audiences in unyielding suspense and to throw viewers off balance in new and disturbing ways. We strive to master these techniques, because we are drawn to the writhing darkness deep within the subconscious. Some audiences yearn for this maelstrom with a primal hunger, and devour such viewing experiences with shuddering, cathartic enthusiasm.

The Amsterdam Dark Arts Film Festival (DAFFA) is a new event that celebrates and enables this masochistic interaction with a carefully curated selection of the most disturbing horror, sci-fi and fantasy short films available to mortals. From the Occult to quick-fix slashers, from dystopian realms to wonderfully-weird and dark fantasy, DAFFA is a new home for genre film in Western Europe.

Amsterdam - the Devil's destination.

Set deep within the kinky surrounds of one of the world’s most debaucherous cities, DAFFA is a filmmaker oriented festival created to inspire, empower and entertain those with the darkest imaginations. Filmmakers from all over the world are welcomed to our inaugural event during Halloween 2021 at Lab111, where a weekend of terrifying films, masterclasses, development workshops and networking ends off with an awards ritual and afterparty with distinctly dark entertainment.

Let's get this bloody thing in the can!

As aspirant filmmakers we know the power of the short form as a stepping stone towards more ambitious projects. In our workshops and masterclasses we have a keen focus on empowering filmmakers to develop their creative ideas, but also to take full advantage of strategic opportunities. Old Nick's Pitching Forum has the clear intent to fast-track an idea into production - winners go home with cash- and support prizes that will significantly boost production quality. All pitch-participants will receive thorough feedback from a representative of the jury. We want your work to get produced, so we tailor-make these sessions. Another specific area of focus is networking. In formal and informal sessions, we strive to create meaningful contact with future collaborators, allies and advisors.

DAFFA provides continued support to ambitious filmmakers with our online alumni-community where they can continue to share their success, exchange ideas and ask for guidance.

Join us in the shadows, showcase your mastery of the Dark Arts and become a DAFFA-initiated acolyte...

Awards

Filmmakers and screenwriters contend for a high quality “Astaroth’s Blessing” statuette or a “Distinction in the Dark Arts” Special Mention certificate. For either at least 17 projects will be honoured. Some awards include cash and production support prizes.

Our nominations, special mentions and awards are decided by a jury of industry professionals through a points system and debate.

Awards are given in the following categories:

Best Short Film
Best Horror Short
Best Sci-fi Short
Best Fantasy Short

Best Cult Candidate Short (other genres)
Best Benelux Malevolence Short

Best Director
Best Performance (any gender)
Best Cinematography
Best Original Music
Best Screenplay
Best VFX
Best Practical FX
Best Sound Design
Best Student Filmmaker

Winner of the Short & Dark Screenplay Competition
Winner of Old Nick's Pitching Forum

Special Mentions can be given in any of the above mentioned categories, sub-genres or other encouragement prizes.

Rules

Eligibility & Premiere Status

*Films no older than 2018.
*No premiere status required!

Films that are available online without a password for more than 2 years prior to submission will not be accepted - this does not apply to:

1) films screened for a limited time at festivals that were forced to host online editions.

2) Films submitted to our web-series (Dark Web) category.

3) films available on pay-per-view platforms.
*Works in progress and rough cuts are accepted - selected filmmakers must provide a polished screener that is technically and artistically sound before the technical deadlines communicated in the email confirming your selection. Failure to do so will lead to automatic disqualification.

Submitting & Usage

*Submission exclusively through Filmfreeway. No hard copy submissions are accepted.

Premiere Requirements

No premiere requirement

Jury and Organizers

Founder - Gideon van Eeden

Co-organiser - Frank Mulder

Jury - Stephanie Joalland

Jury - Rick Harvey

Jury - Sean McConville

Documents

Filmfreeway Submission

Place

Netherlands
Amsterdam

Official Website

darkartsfilmfestival.com

Contacts

Email:
founder@darkartsfilmfestival.com

Contact Emails

founder@darkartsfilmfestival.com

Social Networks

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Dates & Deadlines

Opening Date
June 21, 2020
No dream! Really happening!
August 18, 2020
Gonna Need A Bigger Boat.
September 18, 2020
Excellent day for an Exorcism.
October 31, 2020
It Rubs The Lotion On It's Skin.
December 15, 2020
Sometimes Dead Is Better.
January 18, 2021
Get Away From Her, You Bitch!
March 25, 2021
Do You Want To Play A Game?
April 18, 2021
Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother.
May 18, 2021
Serve In Heaven Or Reign In Hell
June 18, 2021
They’re Here!
July 31, 2021
Notifications
August 31, 2021
Event Dates
29 — 31 October 2021

Categories & Fees

Old Nick's Pitching Forum

Submit your script here and send us a separate email with your pitch-deck as a pdf of no more than 5 pages. Filmmakers or writers selected in other categories automatically qualify for a fee waiver for the Pitching Forum, but selection is not guaranteed. So let your idea and pitch-deck do the talking! Selected participants who are unable to attend the forum in person are required to provide DAFFA with a video-pitch AND be available for a Q&A session via Skype during the event. Submissions are accepted in Dutch (incl. Afrikaans/Flemish), French and English - but all selected pitches are to be presented in English!!

No dream! Really happening! — €17
Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. — €19
Excellent day for an Exorcism. — €21
It Rubs The Lotion On It's Skin. — €23
Sometimes Dead Is Better. — €25
Get Away From Her, You Bitch! — €27
Do You Want To Play A Game? — €29
Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother. — €31
Serve In Heaven Or Reign In Hell — €33
They’re Here! — €35

Short & Dark Screenplay Competition incl. Development Feedback

Accepted languages: Dutch (incl. Afrikaans/Flemish), French and English. Between 3 and 30 pages. To qualify for this category scripts must be accompanied by a logline and synopsis. We reply to your submission within a month with a thorough analysis of your writing, providing feedback on character, theme, suspense, structure, innovation and feasibility. We summarise our analysis in a succinct list of recommended tasks and area's to improve including an estimate of how far you are from a shooting script.

No dream! Really happening! — €55
Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. — €57
Excellent day for an Exorcism. — €59
It Rubs The Lotion On It's Skin. — €61
Sometimes Dead Is Better. — €63
Get Away From Her, You Bitch! — €65
Do You Want To Play A Game? — €67
Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother. — €69
Serve In Heaven Or Reign In Hell — €71
They’re Here! — €73

Short & Dark Screenplay Competition

Accepted languages: Dutch (incl. Afrikaans/Flemish), French and English. Between 3 and 30 pages.

No dream! Really happening! — €17
Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. — €19
Excellent day for an Exorcism. — €21
It Rubs The Lotion On It's Skin. — €23
Sometimes Dead Is Better. — €25
Get Away From Her, You Bitch! — €27
Do You Want To Play A Game? — €29
Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother. — €31
Serve In Heaven Or Reign In Hell — €33
They’re Here! — €35

Benelux Malevolance Short

If the film does not originate from the Netherlands, Belgium or Luxembourg you can still qualify for this category. In that case one of the core team members (director/writer/producer) needs to be a citizen or legal resident of one of these countries. Send us an email with proof of citizenship or residency to receive the discount code.

No dream! Really happening! — €12
Gonna Need A Bigger Boat. — €14
Excellent day for an Exorcism. — €16
It Rubs The Lotion On It's Skin. — €18
Sometimes Dead Is Better. — €20
Get Away From Her, You Bitch! — €22
Do You Want To Play A Game? — €24
Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother. — €26
Serve In Heaven Or Reign In Hell — €28
They’re Here! — €30

Cult Candidates

Genre-combinations/minidocs/dark comedy/animation/music video/dance/experimental - Anything goes. As long as it its distinctly dark, suspenseful or deeply disturbing in other ways. Max 15 minutes!