Nightmares Film Festival Announces NFF Outbreak
New digital showcase features an exclusive Bad Dreams best-of collection, screenplay finalist pitches, and guided industry access to the 2026 program
Nightmares Film Festival today announced NFF Outbreak, a new digital showcase bringing its celebrated #betterhorror programming to audiences across North America Oct. 19–26, immediately following the 2026 in-person festival.
“We’re always looking to create opportunities for our filmmakers and screenwriters beyond the festival,” said co-founder Jason Tostevin. “Outbreak expands Nightmares to fans who’ve wanted to join us and industry people who might otherwise never encounter this work, which will mean more people finding their new favorite film, discovering a writer they want to meet or seeing a filmmaker they want to work with.”
Outbreak opens the door for horror fans who’ve either wished Nightmares lasted longer or that they could get to Columbus to experience it. In-person attendees can revisit favorites and catch the films they couldn’t fit into their festival weekend, while fans watching from home can explore participating shorts and features from the same curated Better Horror lineup. Both get the chance to make discoveries from among the world’s boldest, freshest genre voices before anyone else.
Among the unique Outbreak attractions is Bad Dreams, an exclusive best-of collection of the festival’s highest-rated short films. Available as a collection nowhere else, Bad Dreams gives newcomers a ready-made introduction to Nightmares’ programming and longtime fans a concentrated dose of the year’s standout shorts.
For creators, Outbreak builds on NFF’s year-round efforts to connect its community with management, production and distribution opportunities. Nightmares will invite distributors, studios, production companies and other industry representatives with complimentary full access, then personally guide them toward films and projects suited to their interests. That outreach will extend to representatives who cannot attend or would not otherwise travel to the festival in Columbus. Discussions with several distributors and production companies are already underway.