Dead by Dawn (film festival)
Dead by Dawn is an independent horror film festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Established in 1993 by Adele Hartley, it is a festival showcasing independent short and feature films. Dead by Dawn was a former member of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation and occurs once a year, usually in late-April. It is presented as "UK’s longest running genre film festival", and following cancellation due to the pandemic and the closure and subsequent reopening of Filmhouse, the festival will return in April 2027.
HISTORY
2027
Dead by Dawn, Scotland's International Horror Film Festival, will return to Filmhouse, Edinburgh from April 21 - 25, 2027.
2023
The festival was scheduled to return in late April 2023 but in October of 2022, Filmhouse in Edinburgh was put into administration. Rather than relocate, we put our faith in the new management team who campaigned and fundraised tirelessly for two and half years to see the cinema reopened in June 2025.
2020
The festival was scheduled to run in late April 2020 but was cancelled in late March at the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
2019
Jeff Lieberman was Guest of Honor for a retrospective, screenings included BLUE SUNSHINE, SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER and SQUIRM.
Also in attendance were Max Isaacson for short film Pipe; Chris Cronin, Sam Cronin, & Paul Bullion for short film Oscar's Bell and Adrian Hedgecock for short film Pleased to Eat You!
The Audience Award for Best Feature went to TOUS LES DIEUX DU CIEL. The Audience Award for Best Short was won jointly by Dead Birds and Oscar's Bell. The Audience Award for Best Animation went to La Noria.
UK Premieres included INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE, HEAVY TRIP and CUTTERHEAD.
2018
John Landis was Guest of Honour for a retrospective, screenings included AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON and INNOCENT BLOOD.
Also in attendance were Michael Peterson for KNUCKLEBALL, Samuel Goodwin for short film Homesick and Annabel de Vetten Petersen of The Conjurer’s Kitchen.
The Audience Award for Best Feature went to DAVE MADE A MAZE. The Audience Award for Best Short was won by The Mother Situation and The Audience Award for Best Animation went to LA MORT, PERE ET FILS aka THE DEATH, DAD AND SON.
UK Premieres included SIEMBAMBA aka THE LULLABY, KNUCKLEBALL and AJ ZOMBIES!. Scottish Premieres included RABBIT, TRENCH 11, SPOOKERS, DAVE MADE A MAZE, MON MON MON MONSTERS and DOWNRANGE.
2017
Guests included Daniel Falicki for ACCIDENTAL EXORCIST, Hunter Adams for DIG TWO GRAVES and Michael Luceri for THE EVIL WITHIN.
The Audience Award for Best Feature went to DIG TWO GRAVES. The Audience Award for Best Short was won by MADAM BLACK and The Audience Award for Best Animation was won by the Oscar-nominated GARDEN PARTY
UK Premieres included THE EVIL WITHIN, THE NIGHT WATCHMEN, ACCIDENTAL EXORCIST, DIG TWO GRAVES and DRY BLOOD. Scottish Premieres included WITHOUT NAME, ALWAYS SHINE and THE VOID.
2016
Guests included Dan Pringle and Adam Merrifield for K-SHOP; Gareth Bryn, Ed Talfan and Dyfan Dwyfor for YR YMADAWIAD aka THE PASSING.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by WE GO ON. The Audience Award for Best Short went to THE BABYSITTER MURDERS and The Audience Award for Best Animation
OTHER LILY.
The festival hosted the World Premiere of K-SHOP. UK Premieres included DECAY, DER BUNKER, ANTIBIRTH and SHE WHO MUST BURN. Scottish Premieres included YR YMADAWIAD aka THE PASSING, ASTRAEA, THE CORPSE OF ANNA FRITZ and SORGENFRI aka WHAT WE BECOME.
2015
Guests included Chris W Mitchell and Jan Doense for DE POEL aka THE POOL, and David Ferino for short film Emptied.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by MUSARANAS aka SHREW’S NEST. The Audience Award for Best Short went to RAT PACK RAT and The Audience Award for Best Animation was won by
DAY 40.
2014
Kier-la Janisse was Guest of Honour, presenting SCHOOL OF SHOCK.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by HOUSEBOUND. The Audience Award for Best Short went to FOOL’S DAY and The Audience Award for Best Animation was won by
MALARIA.
UK Premieres included 13 SINS, AU NOM DU FILS aka IN THE NAME OF THE SON, CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY VANILLA, DEAD BANGING, HOUSEBOUND, KILLER LEGENDS, LES GOUFFRES aka THE SINKHOLES, LESSON OF EVIL and OCULUS.
2013
Frank Hennenlotter was our Guest of Honour for a retrospective, screenings included BASKET CASE and BRAIN DAMAGE.
Also in attendance were Jeremy Gardner and Adam Cronheim for THE BATTERY.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by THE BATTERY. The Audience Award for Best Short went to FIST OF JESUS.
UK Premieres included JUG FACE, MODUS ANOMALI, ABDUCTEE, THE BATTERY, DEAD SHADOWS, BIG ASS SPIDER!, ZOMVIDEO, MY AMITYVILLE HORROR, MON AMI and THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROSALIND LEIGH.
2012
Juan Martinez Moreno was our Guest of Honour for the UK Premiere of LOBOS DE ARGA
Also in attendance were Signe Olynyk and Bob Schultz for the UK Premiere of BELOW ZERO.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by LOBOS DE ARGA. The Audience Award for Best Short went to MURDERABILIA and The Audience Award for Best Animated Short was won by THE EXTERNAL WORLD. The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by THE COLDEST CALLER.
UK Premieres included THE FIELDS, RED TEARS aka MONSTER KILLER, BELOW ZERO, THE PUPPET MONSTER MASSACRE, NIGHTMARE FACTORY, LOBOS DE ARGA, JUAN DE LOS MUERTOS, MACABRE, RED NIGHTS, HAUNTERS and THE CABIN IN THE WOODS.
2011
Guests included Keith Wright for HAROLD'S GOING STIFF and Alex Appel for THE DEATH OF ALICE BLUE
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won jointly by HAROLD’S GOING STIFF and STAKE LAND. The Audience Award for Best Short went to THE LIVING WANT ME DEAD and The Audience Award for Best Animated Short was won by HUNGRY HICKORY. The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by VICENTA.
UK Premieres include LOS OJOS DE JULIA, HAROLD’S GOING STIFF, THE DEATH OF ALICE BLUE, COLD FISH, STAKE LAND, THE NEIGHBOR ZOMBIE, DER LETZTE ANGESTELLTE, CHOP, BABY SHOWER, THE AFFLICTED, YELLOWBRICKROAD and TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL.
2010
This year's festival was a one day Un-Hallowe'en Special.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by 5150, RUE DES ORMES. The Audience Award for Best Short was won jointly by DANSE MACABRE and TUFTY.
UK Premieres included THE DIRECTOR’S CUT, CROPSEY, 5150, RUE DES ORMES, RED VELVET and THE BOOK OF ZOMBIE.
2009
Fred Dekker was Guest of Honour for a retrospective screening of NIGHT OF THE CREEPS.
Also in attendance were Ian McCulloch for ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS, COLD STORAGE + Tony Elwood and Paul Barrett for COLD STORAGE.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by COLD STORAGE. The Audience Award for Best Short went to NEXT FLOOR and The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by KIRKSDALE.
UK Premieres included BLOOD RIVER, THE FORBIDDEN DOOR, TAMAMI: THE BABY’S CURSE, DAWNING and HOME MOVIE.
2008
Guests included Neil Marshall for DOOMSDAY.
Also in attendance were cast and crew of FIVE ACROSS THE EYES and cast and crew of THE VANGUARD
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by STUCK. The Audience Award for Best Short went to SPIDER and The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by CRITICIZED.
UK Premieres included OUTPOST, FIVE ACROSS THE EYES, DEATH NOTE, SUICIDE CLUB, THE MIST, THE VANGUARD, MACHINE GIRL, SENSELESS, WIZARD OF GORE, MOTHER OF TEARS and STUCK.
2007
Alex de la Iglesia was our Guest of Honour for the UK Premiere of THE BABY'S ROOM.
Also in attendance was Mark Young for the UK Premiere of SOUTHERN GOTHIC.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by END OF THE LINE. The Audience Award for Best Short went to MONSTER and The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by THE FIFTH.
UK Premieres included MULBERRY STREET, FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, SHUTTER, SOUTHERN GOTHIC, END OF THE LINE, GRUESOME, THE HAMILTONS, THE BACKWOODS, LA HORA FRIA aka THE COLD HOUR, TO LET and THE ABANDONED.
2006
The festival hosted the launch of the READ BY DAWN collection of short horror stories.
Tony Todd was our Guest of Honour for MINOTAUR and SHADOW: DEAD RIOT.
Also in attendance were the team behind WORST CASE SCENARIO, cast and crew for the UK Premiere of BLOOD TRAILS.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won jointly by BROKEN and BLOOD TRAILS. The Audience Award for Best Short went to OCULUS and The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by LOS OJOS DE ALICIA.
UK Premieres included HARD CANDY, HAZE, THE LAST SUPPER, MINOTAUR, THE GHOST WITHIN, BLOOD TRAILS, BROKEN, ISOLATION, ZOMBIE JIETAI, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH and SEVERED.
2005
Ken Foree was our Guest of Honour for a retrospective screening of DAWN OF THE DEAD.
The festival hosted the World Premiere of BLOODSHED, attended by cast and crew.
Rob Morgan was in attendance for retrospective screenings of THE MAN IN THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE PHOTOGRAPH, THE CAT WITH HANDS, THE SEPARATION and MONSTERS.
Sam Walker was in attendance for retrospective screenings of DUCK CHILDREN, POOL SHARK and TEA BREAK.
Neil Marshall attended to screen a preview trailer for THE DESCENT before our premiere screening later in the year.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by THE DARK HOURS. The Audience Award for Best Short went to THE TEN STEPS and The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by THE FRENCH DOORS.
UK Premieres included DEAD MEAT, GUSHER NO BINDS ME, OCCHI DI CRISTALLO, THE UNINVITED, THREE...EXTREMES, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DORKS, SATAN’S LITTLE HELPER, DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK?, KILLING WORDS, THE DARK HOURS and DEAD BIRDS.
2004
Claudio Simonetti was our Guest of Honour, playing live accompaniment to the UK Premiere of IL CARTAIO
The festival hosted the World Premiere of SHALLOW GROUND, with Sheldon, Steve London, Bill Mendel, Martin Mathieu attending. Also in attendance were Matt Leutwyler and Erik Palladino for the UK Premiere of DEAD & BREAKFAST.
The Audience Award for Best Feature was won by SHALLOW GROUND. The Audience Award for Best Short went to WARD 13 and The Cutting Edge Short Film Competition was won by BURIED.
UK Premieres included HAUTE TENSION aka SWITCHBLADE ROMANCE, IL CARTAIO aka THE CARD PLAYER, LOST THINGS, DEAD & BREAKFAST, MONSTER MAN, UNA DE ZOMBIS, ONE POINT 0, THE BIG SLAUGHTER CLUB and THE TOOLBOX MURDERS.
2003
Robert Englund was our Guest of Honour for a retrospective screening of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST.
Also in attendance were Neil Marshall and Keith Bell.
UK Premieres included SOFT FOR DIGGING, SANGRE ETERNA, MAY, BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR, GARDEN OF LOVE, PLAGA ZOMBIE: ZONA MUTANTE, MUCHA SANGRE, THR3E, UNDEAD and BUBBA HO-TEP.
2002
The festival hosted the World Premiere of ONE HELL OF A CHRISTMAS, with director Shaky Gonzales in attendance.
Herschell Gordon Lewis was in attendance for the UK Premiere of BLOOD FEAST 2: ALL YOU CAN EAT.
UK Premieres included PYROKINESIS, DAGON, A LIVING HELL, THE CONVENT, NON HO SONNO aka SLEEPLESS, ST JOHN'S WORT and DOG SOLDIERS.
2001
The festival hosted the World Premiere of ATTIC EXPEDITIONS with director Jeremy Kasten and producer Dan Gold in attending.
Brian Yuzna was in attendance for the UK Premiere of FAUST.
UK Premieres included LOS SIN NOMBRE aka THE NAMELESS, HYPNOSIS, ATTIC EXPEDITIONS, UZUMAKI, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, PREMUTOS and FAUST.
2000
The festival hosted the World Premiere of LIGHTHOUSE, with director Simon Hunter attending.
Guests also in attendance were Kier-la Janisse hosting a retrospective double bill of BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE and BLOOD AND BLACK LACE. Shaky Gonzales attended to host the UK Premiere of ANGEL OF THE NIGHT and Allan Brown attended to host a retrospective screening of THE WICKER MAN.
UK Premieres included THE LAST BROADCAST, LA FIANCEE DE DRACULA, PITCH BLACK, ANGEL OF THE NIGHT, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and SCREAM 3.
1999
Our guests included Jean Rollin hosting the UK Premiere of LITTLE ORPHAN VAMPIRES, Richard Stanley hosting retrospective screenings of DUST DEVIL and HARDWARE, and Loris Curci presenting a retrospective screening of LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN.
UK Premieres included THE FACULTY, PROGENY and LONG TWILIGHT.
The festival did not run in 1996, 1997 or 1998.
1995
Doug Bradley was our Guest of Honour.
An all-night movie marathon screened HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY, THE THING, TENEBRE, CARNIVAL OF SOULS and BEG.
1994
Mariano Baino was our Guest of Honour for the World Premiere of DARK WATERS.
An all-night movie marathon screened THE HAUNTING, Caruncula, DARK WATERS, BAD TASTE and UK Premieres of both BODY SNATCHERS and NECRONOMICON.
1993
Ramsey Campbell was our Guest of Honour.
The very first Dead by Dawn opened with Murnau's NOSFERATU with live piano accompaniment, followed by VIDEODROME and the UK Premieres of INNOCENT BLOOD, MEET THE FEEBLES and BRAINDEAD.