Inaugural Sleepy Hollow FrightFest Draws 200+, Awards Golden Horseman to Three Student Filmmakers
Sleepy Hollow Cinema's first student horror film festival celebrates emerging talent from across the country, including a Sleepy Hollow High School student
SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — October 13, 2026 — The first annual Sleepy Hollow FrightFest drew more than 200 ticket holders to Sleepy Hollow High School on Saturday, October 10. Presented by Sleepy Hollow Cinema (SHC), the nonprofit working to bring a permanent single-screen cinema to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, the festival showcased 20 official selections from high school and undergraduate filmmakers across three competition categories.
The Golden Horseman, the festival's top honor, was awarded to three films:
National High School Short Film Category: True Nature, directed by Erona Beka
Sleepy Hollow High School Short Film Category: Serial Dating, directed by Liam McMahon, a Sleepy Hollow High School student
National Undergraduate Short Film Category: Envi, directed by Julian Felix Aaronson
Photo credit: Amy C. Elliott
"This was an amazing inaugural festival," said Marc Solomon, Co-Founder, Board Chair, and Executive Director of Sleepy Hollow Cinema. "There's no better place in the world to celebrate horror filmmaking than Sleepy Hollow, and seeing a packed house cheer on these young directors was everything we hoped FrightFest would be. We're already in discussions with our partners at Sleepy Hollow High School to make this an even bigger festival next year."
"These students are the future of filmmaking," said Lita Robinson, Festival Manager at Sleepy Hollow Cinema. "The creativity, craft, and fearlessness in these films were remarkable. Every filmmaker who submitted should be proud, and we can't wait to see what they make next."
Festival judge Monica Castillo — The A.V. Club film critic, freelance programmer, and member of the New York Film Critics Circle — was in attendance and led a horror trivia contest for the audience during the evening. Tarrytown Mayor Karen Brown was also on hand to congratulate the winners.
Photo credit: Amy C. Elliott
Sleepy Hollow Cinema thanks FrightFest's sponsors, Coffee Labs Roasters and North River Oyster House, whose support made the inaugural festival possible.
Official Selections
National High School Short Film Category
Rainbow Road, dir. Rose Zofia Satchell
Musical Fears, dir. Rohan Tare
One New Follower, dir. Paul Edward Noorlander
Red-Handed, dir. Charlotte Mathias
True Nature, dir. Erona Beka — Golden Horseman winner
Revenge of the Killer Rubber Chickens, dir. Tristan J. Cook
Sleepy Hollow High School Short Film Category
Serial Dating, dir. Liam McMahon — Golden Horseman winner
National Undergraduate Short Film Category
Take All of Me, dir. Declan Franey
Insomnicat, dir. Braydon Fox
Strings, dir. Max Goodhill
Felt, dir. Sophia Kamensky
Dear Satan, dir. Daelan Hontanosas
Where Lilies Grow, dir. Riley Moore
Stream #23, dir. John Barva
Best Friends Forever, dir. Anderson Weaver
Envi, dir. Julian Felix Aaronson — Golden Horseman winner
Final Act, dir. Sam Kornreich
By the Treeline, dir. Anthony Conte
The Offering, dir. Martin Gonzalez
More information on the filmmakers and official selections is available at sleepyhollowcinema.org/frightfest. Photos of the event are available on request.
Photo credit: Amy C. Elliott
About Sleepy Hollow Cinema
Sleepy Hollow Cinema is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to bring a permanent single-screen repertory cinema to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, New York. Until then, SHC presents community screenings across the Rivertowns, with programming spanning horror, classic repertory, Spanish-language cinema, and 16mm film. Sleepy Hollow FrightFest is SHC's annual student horror film festival. Learn more at sleepyhollowcinema.org.