ATLANTA, GA — The scream-worthy wait is almost over. Georgia’s longest-running horror film event, the Buried Alive Film Festival (BAFF), returns for its 18th annual celebration of the macabre, the monstrous, and the mind-blowing. Taking place November 6–9, 2025, at the iconic Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, the festival is back with fresh blood and frightening new energy.

At the helm is longtime festival director and “Woman of Horror” Shannon Thompson, whose bold leadership continues to evolve Buried Alive into one of the most respected underground horror showcases in the U.S. Known for its fearless programming and community-driven spirit, BAFF’s mission remains strong: to champion truly independent horror, sci-fi, and thriller filmmakers from around the world, while uplifting Southern genre creators with education, opportunity, and celebration.

A Killer New Addition: The 13-Day Sinema Challenge

This year, BAFF is expanding in a terrifyingly exciting way—with the official debut of the 13-Day Sinema Challenge as a standalone festival. What started as a side competition has become one of Atlanta’s most anticipated horror events, tasking filmmakers with writing, shooting, and editing a short horror film in just 13 days. The challenge pushes creatives to the edge of their abilities—encouraging bold concepts, creative effects, and terrifying storytelling under real-world pressure.

“With the demand from local filmmakers growing every year, we knew it was time to give the Sinema Challenge its own platform,” says Thompson. “It’s horror with a deadline—raw, intense, and 100% Atlanta.”

The Sinema Challenge Festival kicks-off is soon to be announced, with an in-person and virtual launch party at the beautifully restored Tara Theatre. The night promises to be a celebration of horror and creativity—filled with networking, cast-and-crew meetups, vendor booths, food, drinks, and plenty of pre-production excitement. From 6 PM to 11 PM, participating teams will gather to receive their official challenge requirements and set off on their 13-day journey of fear-fueled filmmaking.

A New Era for Atlanta Horror

While the Sinema Challenge leads a new wave of community engagement, the main Buried Alive Film Festival in November remains the beating black heart of Atlanta’s horror scene. With screenings of boundary-pushing indie horror and sci-fi films, exclusive panels, special events, and now expanded educational workshops, BAFF continues to set the standard for genre festivals in the Southeast.

Film submissions for both the Buried Alive Film Festival and the Sinema Challenge Festival are now open, with entries pouring in from emerging and established filmmakers across the globe.

To submit a film, get tickets, or learn more about this year’s killer events, visit buriedalivefilmfest.com.