Nightmares Film Festival Reveals “NFF X” First Wave
Today, Nightmares Film Festival, which runs from October 16 to 19, reveals the packed first wave of its 2025 “Better Horror” program. From the newest work by Kevin Lewis (Willy’s Wonderland) and the latest opus from genre master Ryuhei Kitamura (Midnight Meat Train) to a never-going-to-streaming shockfest screening, this year’s tenth edition promises to leave attendees begging for salvation.
“Nightmares has always been about delivering the moments you can’t get anywhere else – the world premieres you’ll be talking about for years, the one-time-only screenings that’ll never hit streaming, and the wild experiences you can only share in a packed theater. With NFF X, we’ve doubled down. From our Midnight Mind Fuck insanity to our secret screenings, this lineup is built to make horror fans feel like they’re part of something legendary,” said co-founder and programmer Jason Tostevin.
This year’s dark offerings span familiar and fresh voices across multiple subgenres, engaging discussions with notable talent, and premieres galore.
Wickedly Delicious Premieres
For the tenth year in a row, Nightmares’ bellwether program unleashes a devilish lineup of premieres, including:
- The world premiere of a film nine years in the making, We Put the World to Sleep, the twistedly experimental follow-up to Adrian Țofei’s shocking found-footage sensation Be My Cat: A Film For Anne.
- The North American premiere of Pig Hill, the latest cinematic triumph of Kevin Lewis (Willy’s Wonderland), starring Rainey Qualley (Shut In), Shiloh Fernandez (Evil Dead), and R.A. Mihailoff (Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III).
- The Midwest premiere of Labyrinth, the new action-horror thriller from acclaimed director Ryuhei Kitamura (Down Range, Midnight Meat Train).
- The Midwest premiere of Queens of the Dead, hosted live by actor Nina West, from Tina Romero, daughter of legendary horror director George Romero.
- The Midwest premiere of Bodycam, a found-footage nightmare from Brandon Christensen (Superhost, Night of the Reaper).
- Stephen Biro’s A Serbian Documentary, a shocking, intimate look behind the scenes of one of the most notorious films of all time.
Can’t-Miss Special Events
- The return of NFF’s notorious Midnight Mind Fuck, called “the most dangerous block of programming in any festival, ever,” presents a one-of-a-kind screening of Todd Rohal’s X-rated feature Fuck My Son! Starring Robert Longstreet (Midnight Mass) and Steven Little (Eastbound & Down), and based on Johnny Ryan’s infamous comic, this absurd and filthy nightmare will never be offered on streaming. If you want to see it, you must catch it in a theater.
- Writing Cross Platform: an exclusive workshop with author, screenwriter, podcaster, and director Hope Madden (Killer Pictures).
- The New Distribution: NFF’s annual panel where working industry reps pull back the curtain on the realities of selling and promoting genre films today.
- Onesie Sunday: close out the fest in comfy fashion, a Nightmares tradition.
- Themed drinks—including the challenging Chainsaw shot—will be available to VIP badge holders in the festival speakeasy and lounge.
And of course, Nightmares remains “the best networking for filmmakers at any fest” (Film Coterie).
A Diabolical Assortment of Talent
Nightmares once again showcases a lineup that blends genre icons with rising voices. NFF X will feature appearances and new work from Bonnie Aarons, Jake Abel, Lorraine Bracco, Chloe Cherry, Lloyd Kaufman, Doug Jones, Mekhi Phifer, Dee Wallace, Shane West, and more.
“What makes Nightmares different is how it takes over the whole film center. It’s not just movies – it’s the speakeasy, the panels, the late-night insanity, the people you meet who end up feeling like family. Every October, we see fans and creators walk out buzzing, saying, ‘You had to be there.’ That’s what this tenth edition is all about,” said Nightmares co-founder and Gateway Film Center CEO, Chris Hamel.
Categorized: News
