We Discuss the Dead: Horror, Genre & Audiences

Horror and genre cinema seem to be providing some level of stability in the very uneven world of the box office and audience engagement.

With sci-fi, horror and hybrid forms across all kinds of screens including those of game consoles and VR, these genre forms continue to be maligned by funding agencies but embraced by the fans. Looking also at the Film Festival’s call for entries in 2026, genre occupies a healthy position across films both submitted and selected including horror, crime and sci-fi and fantasy. So how can filmmakers best navigate this genre space, and what exactly are distributors looking for?

This session looks at some recent case studies and hears from distributors, exhibitors and the filmmakers themselves as to the current state of genre films and the strategies you may need to employ to cut through.

Panellists include:

• Lauren Simpson
• Charlton Lansley (Parasomnia)