Sheffield Horror Film Festival returns to the Showroom this autumn, with a jam-packed schedule of premieres, previews, terrifying short films, classic screenings and special guests.
Founded in 2009, the festival has become a destination for horror fans seeking the very best the horror genre has to offer.
In its 17 year history, Celluloid Screams has premiered high-profile films such as Paranormal Activity, Mandy, The Witch, Barbarian, The Editor, Psycho Goreman, and Titane. It remains a showcase for emerging, international horror talents.
2026 promises to be the biggest and best year yet for the long-running festival with a plethora of screenings and events that will surely have horror fans buzzing like Leatherface’s chainsaw.
Thursday
Opening night marks the UK premiere of Adam Wingard’s latest horror adventure, Onslaught. Wingard, known to horror audiences for films such as You’re Next and The Guest, returns to the genre that helped launch his career for the first time since Blair Witch in 2016, with what promises to be a bombastic opening screening.
Also screening: Habit and Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant
Friday
While Friday has a stellar line up, the main event will, of course, be a screening of John Carpenter’s underrated classic, In the Mouth of Madness. It’s nice to see some of Carpenter’s later work be reappraised, and this screening will be particularly prescient following the passing of Sam Neill earlier this year. Friday also sees the UK premiere of Katie Green and Carlye Rubin’s Blood and Guts, as well as a special screening of Larry Fessenden’s Depraved, with the iconic indie director providing an introduction.
Also screening: The Restoration at Grayson Manor, The Glorious Dead
Saturday
Saturday sees the UK premiere of Jack Zagha and Yossy Zagha’s coming-of-age nightmare, Fifteen, a screening of the creature feature Crawlers, and then two secret screenings – one of which is a grindhouse 33mm mystery screening. Exciting times indeed.
Also screening: Blackout and Lonanorama! The Short Films of Brian Lonano
Sunday
Celluloid Screams concludes its 2026 edition with a 40th anniversary screening of Jimmy T. Murakami’s animated classic When the Wind Blows, a Q&A with guest of honour Larry Fessenden following a screening of his new film Trauma or, Monsters All, another secret screening and then the closing gala which this year features Dario Russo’s darkly comedic tale about a fox (voiced by Olivia Colman) who persuades average Aussie guy, Nick (Jai Courtney), to cheat on his fiancée, Kori (Emily Browning).
At a time when local cinemas and film festivals need our support more than ever, I would urge anyone who hasn’t attended before to head over to the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield for what is an incredibly welcoming, well organised and well attended event. I’ll see you down the front!