18 years and counting! Atlanta’s Buried Alive Film Festival is back for its 2025 season and it’s better than ever. This year the 13-day Sinema Challenge festival/contest stands on its own!
Georgia’s premier celebration of independent horror, sci-fi, and underground film making, the Buried Alive Film Festival, is back for its 18th annual run, taking place November 6–9, 2025 at Atlanta’s legendary Plaza Theatre.
Led by “Woman of Horror” Shannon Thompson, the Buried Alive Film Festival has grown into a national destination for bold genre cinema. With a renewed vision, the 2025 festival will showcase not only cutting-edge horror films but also expanded educational programming, dynamic entertainment, and powerful collaborations with local and national industry partners.
This year, Buried Alive is proud to unveil its biggest addition yet: the 13-Day Sinema Challenge—now launching as its own standalone festival. What began as a side competition has grown into a much-anticipated film making challenge that dares creators to craft a complete horror short in just 13 days. The Sinema Challenge has earned a cult following among Atlanta filmmakers, and now it’s ready to take center stage.
“With the demand from local filmmakers growing every year, we knew it was time to give the Sinema Challenge its own platform,” said Thompson. “It’s horror with a deadline—raw, intense, and 100% Atlanta.”
The Sinema Challenge Festival will officially kick off on September 10, 2025, with a hybrid in-person and virtual launch party at the newly revitalized Tara Theatre. Participating teams will receive their challenge requirements at the launch and have until the deadline to deliver a terrifying masterpiece. This year’s kickoff will include networking, food, drinks, and photo ops with teams and vendors from 6 PM to 11 PM.
Whether you’re a scrappy student or an experienced production house, this challenge is your chance to stake your claim as a horror filmmaker to watch.
While Sinema Challenge dates and locations will be announced soon, Buried Alive Film Festival remains the crown jewel of Atlanta’s horror scene, screening the best in indie horror from across the globe.
Film submissions for both festivals are now open, and horror fans and creators alike are encouraged to visit buriedalivefilmfest.com for updates, deadlines, and ticket information.