Sinister Nights Film Festival (2020 – 2023)

From 2020 to 2023, Cinema Scares was the Sinister Nights (SiN) Film Festival in South Florida. Our first year (referred to as 2020 SiN Film Fest: Original SiN) was held in Savor Cinema in Ft. Lauderdale. FL. Our second year was in 2021 (referred to as 2021 SiN Film Fest: As Above So Below). Sinister Nights included a horror convention as well, in the James L Knight Center, Miami, FL. The third year (2022 SiN Film Festival: Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil) took place in The Foundry, Wilton Manor, FL. In 2024, the festival founder, Jason Hignite, moved home to Shelbyville. Our fourth year (2023 SiN Film Festival: Apocalypse) was held in our new home, The Strand Theatre.

Cinema Scares Film Festival (Present)

Following the 2023 SiN Film Festival, we decided to rebrand who we are to better fit where we are. Cinema Scares Film Festival embraces who we are in the Midwest, in Indiana, and Shelbyville.

We have had films submitted from around the world, including:

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China
  • Columbia
  • Croatia
  • England
  • Finland
  • France
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • India
  • Iran
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • Portugal
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • United States