DARK CINEMA
A short film festival for all things dark, sinister, and supernatural.
Dark Cinema returns October 10, 2026, at the historic Ritz Theater, inviting horror enthusiasts, filmmakers, and anyone eager to welcome in the Halloween season. For one night only, the festival will showcase a carefully chosen collection of short films — stories meant to scare, unsettle, and serve as a harbinger for the 2026 Halloween season.
FESTIVAL DETAILS
Date: October 10th, 2026
Location: Ritz Theater, Tooele, UT.
Times:
5pm- Filmmaker Lectures (Free to public)
7pm- Dark Cinema Official Selections
9pm- Awards Ceremony
10pm- Late Night Feature
Tickets: Get tickets here! (Available Late 2026)
Parking: Tooele County Health Department
FILMMAKERS
Welcome, visionary filmmakers, to Dark Cinema! We invite you to showcase your talent in crafting terrifying stories that delve deep into fear and suspense. Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, this festival offers a platform to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche and the supernatural.
Submissions for the 2026 festival will open on 03/10/2026, and we encourage you to be part of this chilling celebration of horror. Check out the details on FilmFreeway (link below) and be ready to immerse our audience in nightmares they won’t soon forget. All ages and skill levels are welcome—see rules and submission guidelines on FilmFreeway.
2025 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
THE FILMMAKER’S CRYPT
Join us for presentations from three local filmmakers as they share their craft and explore horror-themed filmmaking topics — each drawn from their own films, which will also screen later that evening. For filmmakers and future filmmakers alike, it’s an evening to learn, connect, and spark the dark ideas that will haunt your next creation.
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DAXON GELDMACHER
FILM: A GAPING WOUND, A GRINNING MOUTH
LECTURE TOPIC: EXPLORING AND UTILIZING THE UNCANNY IN FILM
Daxon Geldmacher is a Utah-based filmmaker who combines his love of B-Horror and Art House cinema to explore themes of obsession and faith within a dread and goo-filled package.
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SPENCER SCHWENDIMAN
FILM: ANECHOIC
LECTURE TOPIC: SOUND DESIGN IN HORROR
Spencer is a jack of all trades filmmaker who got his start with editing and then moved behind the camera. He loves playing with twists and turns and asking the question: What if? He's currently in production on a few short films, including a found footage horror film as well as a Dead by Daylight inspired short, and and working to get his first feature off the ground. He loves everything about film making and is grateful for a patient wife and children who continue to encourage his pursuits.
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KODIE ROMERO
FILM: SUCTION
LECTURE TOPIC: PRACTICAL EFFECTS AND CINEMATIC STYLE IN HORROR
KoDie Romero and Tanner Padbury met while attending UVU’s digital cinema program, and quickly became friends as well as coworkers in the film industry. Both have a passion for storytelling and filmmaking, as well as just watching great movies. Horror cinema is just one of the things they happen to both love, and made that clear with their short film SUCTION.
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TANNER PADBURY
FILM: SUSCTION
LECTURE TOPIC: PRACTICAL EFFECTS AND CINEMATIC STYLE IN HORROR
KoDie Romero and Tanner Padbury met while attending UVU’s digital cinema program, and quickly became friends as well as coworkers in the film industry. Both have a passion for storytelling and filmmaking, as well as just watching great movies. Horror cinema is just one of the things they happen to both love, and made that clear with their short film SUCTION.
AFFILIATES AND SPONSORS
Made possible by these affiliates and sponsors who fuel Utah’s horror community and champion local filmmakers:
UTAH FILM CENTER and ARTIST FOUNDRY - ASYLUM 49 - SPOOX BOOTIQUE - ONQ HOME LOANS - FAST EDDIE FILMS - KINSMAN MECHANICAL AND CONSTRUCTION
SCENES FROM THE DARKNESS
Vendors and Food Trucks
Welcome, talented artisans and food trucks, to Dark Cinema Film Festival! Embrace the opportunity to showcase your uniquely crafted creations amidst the spine-chilling atmosphere of our event. Engage with an audience eager to immerse themselves in the macabre, offering them a chance to take home pieces that reflect the eerie and mysterious spirit of the festival. Whether it's haunted trinkets, eerie artwork, or bewitching crafts, let your products add an extra layer of intrigue to the thrilling experience of our festival. Get ready to enchant festival-goers with your one-of-a-kind creations that capture the essence of the horror genre. Fill out a vendor request to be featured at the festival.
