Cinema Scares began as the Sinister Nights (SiN) Film Festival in South Florida in 2000. The festival changed locations when the founder, Jason Hignite, moved back to his hometown of Shelbyville, Indiana. The SiN Film Festival held its final event at The Strand Theatre in 2023. Following the event, the film fest was rebranded to give it a new identity in its new home. But, why Shelbyville?

Ever notice that oftentimes horror films are set in small, out-of-the-way towns? Well, welcome to Shelbyville, Indiana, home of the creepy macabre. Shelbyville has many haunted stories and legends. It just might be the scariest and most haunted city in the entire state. Even our venue, the Strand Theatre, is reported to be haunted.

Werewolf Hollow

What truly happens deep in the woods during a full moon in Shelbyville? According to both locals and visitors, werewolf sightings are not unheard of in the small town. An area in the country has even been designated as a werewolf hotspot, nicknamed “Werewolf Hollow.” Legend has it that a ghostly figure will try to stop anyone from entering the hollow, leaving scratches on cars. In a paranormal discussion forum, a user states, “there are some abandoned houses and if you get out of your car (if you dare) and go up to the houses, you can see a ghost in one window.” Multiple legends surrounding this rumor of werewolf sightings has piqued the curiosity of paranormal investigators everywhere.

Twins House

In Shelbyville, IN, there is an abandoned house that those in the town stay away from. The story surrounding the house is so horrifying that it will give you chills. The house is boarded up and surrounded by barbed wire. First, a little girl was shot in the house. That family moved, but the girl’s spirit remained. Later, this house was the site of grizzly family murders, when a husband went mad and killed his wife in front of their twin boys. The boys, in a fit of rage, killed their dad. They were pardoned, due to the circumstances, and allowed to live in the house, where they ultimately killed each other. Years later, the Ku Klux Klan occupied the house. The stories of unthinkable atrocities that occurred under their occupation are numerous.

If you stand along the barbed wire at the front of the house, you can hear noises coming from the inside … walking, scratching, kids’ voices. EVPs have been recorded, warning people to go away.

Electric Bridge

A bridge lies several miles outside of Shelbyville, bringing about paranormal rumors due to its odd nature. The bridge’s initial purpose was to carry electricity between Shelbyville and Morristown. Massive power lines carrying 345,000 volts were installed near the bridge. The bridge is often reported to make the hairs on the back of anyone’s neck stand up due to its abundance of electricity. The bridge has been a well-known meeting place for teenagers, and rumors about its hauntings were quick to circulate. Many found that lightbulbs would mysteriously light up with no connecting source to power them. Locals advise never to turn your car off while on the bridge because it may not get started back up again. Many began to report an alleged troll that lives under the bridge, and some even warned not to disturb the creature.

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