The Competition Is Live
The Dark Room is a horror film competition produced by Re:Told Productions and presented by The State Theatre of Modesto. Filmmakers from across the region are challenged to write, shoot, and edit an original horror short, and bring it to the big screen.
The clock started on August 14th, 2026. Finished films are due by September 18th at 6pm. The top 16 films screen at a premiere event at the State Theatre on October 3rd, 2026.
Start Here: The Filmmaker Packet
Everything you need is in one place.
→ Open the Filmmaker Packet
Inside you’ll find:
- The full Rules & Guidelines for the competition
- The official opening title card, which must be the first five seconds of your film
- All release forms for talent and music, which must be signed and submitted with your film
Read the rules before you start shooting. The title card and release forms are required, and films missing them will not be considered.
Submission Fee: $30
You only pay if you finish.
The Dark Room is free to enter. The $30 submission fee is collected when you turn in a completed film, which means you only pay if you actually made something.
→ Pay Your $30 Submission Fee
You can pay anytime between now and September 18th at 6pm.
Important: Once your payment goes through, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a confirmation code. Save that email. You will need that code to complete your submission form. Without it, your submission cannot be processed.
How to Submit Your Film
Submitting takes three steps:
- Pay the $30 submission fee using the link above and save your confirmation code.
- Upload your film and signed release forms to your own Google Drive or Dropbox, and set the sharing permissions so anyone with the link can view.
- Fill out the submission form below. You’ll need your confirmation code and your shared link.
→ Submit Your Film
All submissions must be received by September 18th at 6pm. Late submissions will not be considered.
A note on timing: don’t wait until 5:55pm on the 18th. Pay your fee early so you have your confirmation code in hand, and give yourself room in case an upload runs long.
The Rules, In Brief
The full rules are in the filmmaker packet, but here are the ones people ask about most:
Export: H.264, 1080p, 24fps preferred.
Runtime: No longer than 7 minutes 5 seconds, including the 5-second opening title card.
Genre: Horror, always. Subgenre is up to you.
Footage: All footage must be captured during the competition window. No stock footage, no archival material as a primary video source.
Generative A.I.: May be used to enhance or composite footage you filmed. A full shot may not be 100% AI-generated. The base of every frame must be footage you captured.
Content
The Dark Room permits R-rated content. Horror is the genre, and we understand what that means. That said, the following are not permitted: themes or depictions of sexual violence, explicit nudity, hate speech, and any content depicting explicit harm to minors or animals. Films containing any of the above will be disqualified from screening consideration.
The Judges
A panel of anonymous judges will independently score each submitted film. Their scores are averaged, and the 16 highest-scoring films earn a spot in the premiere screening. The top 16 is not announced beforehand. You’ll have to show up on October 3rd to find out if you made it.
The Premiere
October 3rd, 2026. State Theatre, Modesto.
The Dark Room premiere is a costume party. Come as whatever you’d like, and the more creative the better. We’ll have a red carpet, a live audience, and 16 short horror films made right here in the Central Valley.
One audience choice award will be given on the night, chosen by vote from the crowd.
Questions?
Filmmaking question? Competition question? Email [email protected]
Follow Along
All competition announcements go out via Instagram: @M48Hour. Follow us there so you don’t miss anything between now and the premiere.
The Dark Room Film Competition is a spin-off event of the Modesto 48 Hour Film Competition, produced by Re:Told Productions.