PopHorror Let's Get Scared
In 2001, Rachel Belofsky had a vision — to give rising filmmakers and screenwriters in the horror and Sci-Fi genres a platform to showcase their work. Little did she know, that vision would still be going strong 26 years later.
The longest-running horror film festival in the US, Screamfest LA has discovered and/or premiered numerous films that went on to become genre staples, including Paranormal Activity, The Human Centipede and Trick ‘r Treat. Now, a fresh crop of creators are ready to introduce their labors of love to the masses.
Taking place Oct. 6-15 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Screamfest LA‘s 2026 lineup boasts a diverse mix of international genre filmmaking, bold new voices and highly-anticipated premieres. From haunted family secrets and deadly influencers to venomous spiders, social media-fueled terrors, twisted Christmas cheer and a fast-food nightmare gone horribly wrong, these selections showcase the breadth, creativity and boundary-pushing spirit of contemporary horror.
Ahead of the festival, PopHorror caught up with Belofsky, who shared more on these year’s vast slate of films, what aspects of horror have remained unchanged over two-plus decades, and her excitement over Screamfest LA‘s opening film — the world premiere of Jeremy Weiss’ The Night Driver, starring David Arquette, Josh Lucas and Alyssa Milano.
PopHorror: Screamfest is only a few days away. What is this time like for you as you complete final preparations? Is it crazy? Lots of caffeine?
Rachel Belofsky: Got my caffeine right here! It’s lots of prepping, lots of emails coming in from filmmakers, all different needs and wants. You need a clone of yourself because there’s not enough hours in the day.
PopHorror: This is Screamfest’s 26th year, which is incredible. When you look at what the festival was when you started versus what it is today, what feels most different to you?
Rachel Belofsky: What feels most different is the size of it, the length of it. We’re still doing it with a small team – there’s three of us that do it all. It’s definitely a lot, but we love it. We have volunteers during the festival, but the core team is just the three of us.
PopHorror: Even within the past couple of years, the way we consume and discover movies has changed so dramatically. From your end, what do you think makes a horror film break through now compared to 26 years ago? And also, is there anything that maybe hasn’t changed that just makes a good movie a good movie?
Rachel Belofsky: I think one of the main things people are looking for in 2026 can be seen in new movies like Obsession and Backrooms. They’re great because they’re fresh. They’re a new idea. It’s not just part whatever of a franchise. It makes it enjoyable to go in and see something that’s new and innovative. And what remains the same, as horror fans, we all love a good slasher film, cool effects and just a big, fun horror movie. You can have a horror movie that’s bloody, but it’s still fun. I love going to the theater and there’s a big kill and everyone’s like, “Yeah!”
PopHorror: A lot of very popular films got their start at your festival, including Paranormal Activity, Human Centipede and Trick ‘r Treat. How does it feel to see those movies take off and become genre staples?
Rachel Belofsky: It’s a great feeling to see the films that come through Screamfest become genre staples. You feel like this is why we started the festival. We had the eye for that talent that goes on to become a success. Obviously, not all of them become box office gold, but even when they have a small theatrical run, I think it’s great to see that. It’s great to see these films get their legs. It makes us feel rewarded and happy for them.
PopHorror: Do you have an eye for spotting films that will go on to become popular? Or does it kind of take you by surprise when they blow up?
Rachel Belofsky: You never know what the market’s gonna do or who will get attached to be the marketing person. So, we can never say, “Oh, yeah, this is gonna blow up, for sure.” With Paranormal, for example, I think if it didn’t go through the journey it did, it may not have blown up. It had to go through the different layers to get to [Steven] Spielberg and Ashley Brooks. Things like that are always a nice surprise.
PopHorror: This year’s Screamfest lineup looks great. Are there any themes, styles, risks that the filmmakers are taking that you think just really represents where the genre is right now?
Rachel Belofsky: They’re all different styles, which I’m really excited about. Kick On, which was in Toronto, is a blast and definitely one you’ll want to see with an audience. You have movies like Grow, which pushes boundaries – that’s all I’ll say on that one. There’s different styles throughout and different films that push the boundaries in their own kind of way.
PopHorror: And you’re opening this year with the world premiere of The Night Driver with David Arquette, Alyssa Milano and Josh Lucas. What was it about that film that made you say, “I want this to kick off everything”?
Rachel Belofsky: It’s kind of like a ‘90s film. It’s very gritty and the kills are great. It really encompasses the ‘90s and the serial killer thing. And there’s a good little twist in the film.
PopHorror: After 26 years of running Screamfest, is there anything in horror that still scares you? Or are you numb to it at this point?
Rachel Belofsky: It would depend on the genre. We’re screening Crawlers and I’m looking forward to that, but spiders freak me out! It’s not that I don’t like spider movies – I will watch them, but I’ll cringe. If there’s a spider crawling in someone’s mouth, oh, my God, no. The slasher ones are fun, but I don’t think I’m ever scared. I’m just invested in the character and yelling, “No, don’t do that!”
PopHorror: For anyone who might be attending Screamfest for the first time, what can they expect? What’s the energy like during those days?
Rachel Belofsky: We are very welcoming. All the films have different styles and stories, but the filmmakers are all very warm and inviting. There’s a lot of networking. And just from a fan perspective, you can talk with the directors, the talent and fellow horror fans. It’s very welcoming and warm. You won’t be alone if you’re coming by yourself. It’s all one big community.
PopHorror: Is there anything additional you’d like our readers to know?
Rachel Belofsky: For the filmmakers, we are doing a lot of panels this year, industry panels that talk about marketing horror films. We have cinematography panels. We’re honoring Peter Deming, the cinematographer of Scream and Cabin in the Woods. There are things for filmmakers beyond the films. If they’re aspiring writers, these would be great panels to attend. And then for the fans, just come! There’s lots of films to see, shorts to check out.
Thanks for speaking with us, Rachel! For more information, visit screamfestla.com/.
