Belfast International Horror Festival

I Live Here Now (Irish Premiere)
2025-10-25 18:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Accidental Theatre, 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB, United Kingdom
Fresh from screenings at the Fantasia and Edinburgh International Film Festivals this year, BIHF present the Irish Premiere of writer/ director Julie Pacino’s feature debut I Live Here Now.

With shades of David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, a young woman checks herself in a derelict hotel and Nightmarish visions from her past come to haunt her.

Pacino’s feature is a darkly humorous psychological horror about female pain and identity.

Check out more events within this year’s programme here.

The Descent 20th Anniversary with Special Guest Shauna Macdonald
2025-10-25 20:30 - 23:00 | Accidental Theatre, 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB, United Kingdom
BIHF celebrates the 20th anniversary of The Descent by welcoming one of the film’s stars Shauna Macdonald to Belfast for a special screening of Neil Marshall’s claustrophobic horror classic.

When a caving expedition goes horribly wrong a group of women become trapped underground and find themselves pursued by a strange breed of predators.

Afraid of the dark? You will be!

Check out more events within this year’s programme here.

Bride Of Frankenstein (90th Anniversary)
2025-10-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Harland & Wolff Staff Club, 8-10 Dundela Ave, belfast, BT4 3BQ ·, United Kingdom
BIHF teams up with the Strand Cinema for a screening off James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester at the Harland & Wolff Staff Club to celebrate the film’s 90th anniversary

After recovering from injuries sustained in the mob attack upon himself and his creation, Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) falls under the control of his former mentor, Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who convinces him to build his monster a mate.

Local author Victoria Brown will introduce the film and host a post screening discussion about the theme of female rage as represented within the horror genre.

Check out more events within this year’s programme here.

Ginger Snaps (Never Seen it Film Club)
2025-10-26 18:00 - 22:00 | Accidental Theatre, 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB, United Kingdom
BIHF has teamed up with Accidental Theatre’s Never Seen it Film Club for a screening of Ginger Snaps (2000) as part of the female rage strand within their festival’s programme.

Directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton, this Canadian horror was based on an idea they worked on together.

Two outcast sisters, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins) live in suburban town of Bailey Downs, but on the night of Ginger’s first period, she is savagely attacked by a wild creature.

Her wounds miraculously heal but something is not quite right and Brigitte try to save her sister and herself.

Check out more events within this year’s programme here.

BIHF Short Film Competition Finalists
2025-10-27 19:00 - 23:00 | Accidental Theatre, 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB, United Kingdom
Cinema film posters promoting Belfast International Horror Festival horror movies, showcasing various terrifying and suspenseful horror film titles and artwork.

BIHF be showcasing the finalists for this year’s short film competition at the Accident Theatre on Monday 27th October

They’ll be screening both the Irish and International finalists on the night, starting with the international entries from 7pm, followed by the Irish finalists (9pm approx). There’ll be a short interval between the two showcases.

There’s also a selection of shorts from both the Irish and International entry available to watch on our festival’s digital player.

Audience members will be asked to vote for their favourites (Irish/International) on the night with a Grand jury prize also available within both categories.

There’s also the ‘First Blood’ & ‘Bloody Women’ awards up for grabs as they celebrate first-time filmmakers and female directors respectively.

The venue is BYOB so come on down and enjoy an eclectic mix of shorts made by filmmakers from around the world

Check out more events within this year’s programme here.

Tony Todd Night
2025-10-28 19:00 - 23:00 | Accidental Theatre, 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB, United Kingdom
The BIHF pays tribute to Horror legend Tony Todd who sadly passed away last November as they screen two of the actors’ iconic roles Candyman (1992) and Tom Savini’s Night of the Living Dead, which this year celebrates its 35th anniversary.

In Bernard Rose’s Candyman Todd plays the aforementioned murderous Soul with a hook for a hand. Accidently summoned to reality by a sceptic grad student who is researching the monster’s myth.

While in Savini’s remake of George A. Romero’s horror classic, Todd plays Ben, one of seven refugees who have to seek shelter within a Pennsylvanian house when the dead return to life.

There will be a short interval between each film, both screenings will be introduced by the member of the festival’s team.

Check out more of this year’s programme here.

Jennifer's Body
2025-10-29 19:00 - 22:00 | Movie House Cinemas City Side, 100-150 York Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT15 1WA, United Kingdom
BIHF screen’s Karyn Kusama’s Jennifer’s Body at Movie House Cinemas CitySide as part of the female rage strand within their festival’s programme.

When small-town high-school student Jennifer (Megan Fox) is possessed by a hungry demon, thanks to a run-in with a Satan-worshipping rock band, she soon develops a taste for teenage flesh and the only person who can stop her is her nerdy best friend Needy (Mamma Mia’s Amanda Seyfried).

Terribly miss-marketed to teenage boys when it was released in 2009 Kusama’s feature, written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, has since been re-evaluated and is now championed by the LGBTQ + community for its representation of bisexuality onscreen within the horror genre.

Check out more events within this year’s BIHF programme.

BIHF Horror Movie Quiz
2025-10-30 19:00 - 23:00 | Accidental Theatre, 12-13 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB, United Kingdom
Test your horror knowledge at the Belfast International Festival’s annual movie quiz!

Fancy dress is encouraged, there’ll be eight fiendish rounds at the Accidental Theatre with spot prizes for the best dressed, best team name and of course goodies for the winners!

The evening will be co-hosted by members of the festival’s team and cosplayer Joanne Alexander (Hedgescout)

Tickets for £4 each max four people per team!

Check out more events within this year’s BIHF programme.

The Craft Onboard Belfast Barge
2025-10-31 20:00 - 23:00 | The Belfast Barge, Lanyon Quay, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 3LG, United Kingdom
Let your inner weirdo out this Halloween Night onboard the Belfast Barge for a screening of The Craft for the closing night of this year’s Belfast International Horror Festival.

Starring Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True, Andrew Fleming’s film centres on a group of four outcast teenage girls who pursue witchcraft for their own gain, but soon encounter negative repercussions.

Anyone who prebooks a ticket for the screening will receive a special print designed by local artist Chris Ellis (Ellistration).

Check out more events within this year’s BIHF programme.

The BanterFlix Christmas Movie Quiz
2025-12-10 20:00 - 22:00 | The Sunflower Public House, 65 Union Street, Belfast, BT1 2JG, United Kingdom
Test your Christmas movie knowledge at the BanterFlix Christmas movie quiz!

Do you know you the rules for keeping your Mogwai safe? Know how to get your hands on that elusive Turbo Man doll? Survive the Nakatomi Corporation’s Christmas party?

Members of the BanterFlix’s team will on hosting duties alongside local cosplayer Joanne Alexander (Hedgescout) at the Sunflower for this fundraising event for next year’s Belfast International Horror festival.

Christmas jumpers are recommended, with prizes up for grabs on the night, including some for the worst answers during the evening

tickets for £5 each, max 4 people per team.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
2026-07-04 19:00 - 22:00 | The Belfast Barge, Lanyon Quay, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 3LG, United Kingdom
About This Event

Join the Belfast International Horror Festival for their first screening of 2026 onboard the Belfast Barge, Northern Ireland’s only floating Arts Centre as they mark the 4th of July with a screening of Jim Gillespie’s I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997).

After a night of revelry, four young friends find themselves involved in a tragic accident. With their futures at stake, they decide to dump the body and conceal this dark secret – unaware that one year later, their actions will come back to haunt them.

All pre-booked tickets receive a print on the night by local artist Chris Ellis (Ellistration)
