The Nightmare Emporium is…
…A HORROR FILM anthology
Showcasing diverse styles, perspectives, and representations
…a festival
Presenting the work of new and veteran filmmakers
…a community
Empowering creativity through collaboration
How it works
We make a bunch of horror shorts and screen them as a part of a feature-length movie each Halloween.
Participating filmmakers attend a Drawing Event and choose a strange artifact from the sinister Nightmare Emporium antique store
Filmmakers produce a 2-to-8-minute horror movie, the plot of which must be propelled at least ONCE by their chosen object
Participants are encouraged to collaborate on each other’s projects, connecting via our Facebook page or hosted meetups
All films premiere as part of a feature-length anthology movie during The Nightmare Emporium Film Festival in Seattle over Halloween
The director who earns a credit on the most films other than their own is honored with our Most Collaborative Filmmaker Award
Why we do it
Movies should entertain, provoke, and transform. As venues for artistic and cultural expression, movie theaters enrich the lives of artists and audiences in our community. Yet, as studios produce fewer, more expensive films, the variety of options available to moviegoers is dwindling.
An anthology movie provides audiences with an abundance of new thrills, challenging ideas, and fresh stories contributed by a diverse group of filmmakers.
By including and screening locally made films as part of a feature-length movie, we offer indie filmmakers an inspiring platform with which to promote their work.