The 2026 Overlook Film Festival will take place April 9th-12th. The full events lineup is below.
The 2026 Film lineup can be found HERE. The full schedule can be found HERE.
Advanced Reservations for all passes are now open. Individual tickets now on sale to films and events.
All Immersive Performances are sponsored by American Immersion Theater.
All Panels are Presented by SAGindie.
THE BOULET BROTHERS’ HOUSE OF HORROR HOSTS: PAST, PRESENT, AND UNDEAD
Panel
From local late-night broadcasts to the global reach of streaming, the Queens of Darkness The Boulet Brothers (Dracmorda and Swanthula) trace the evolution of one of horror’s most enduring traditions: the art of horror hosting. In this lively and unfiltered conversation, they explore the legacy of iconic figures like Vampira, Elvira, Vincent Price, and The Crypt Keeper, the rise of horror entertainment from local television to immersive experiences like Knott’s Scary Farm, and how they’ve reimagined the format for modern audiences through The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula and their original scripted holiday specials on Shudder.
Featuring never-before-seen materials gifted directly to the Boulet Brothers from Vampira herself (including rare poems and original artwork) this special presentation offers an intimate and unprecedented glimpse into horror history while charting the future of the genre. Blending glamour, filth, and fright, the Boulet Brothers reveal what it takes to build a new generation of horror hosting, and why the role still matters today.
Moderated by Katie Rife (The Overlook Film Festival)
THE BOULET BROTHERS PRESENT: THE OVERLOOK FESTIVAL’S FINAL NIGHTMARE- THE BOULET BROTHERS’ DRAGULA: TITANS TOUR KICKOFF
Party
Close out the Overlook Film Festival with its final after-dark event. As the festival ends, The Boulet Brothers invite you into one last descent into horror with the kickoff of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans Tour, a live stage spectacular blending shocking performances, cinematic visuals and unforgettable monsters. Part live show, part closing-night celebration, this special event serves as the festival’s ultimate sendoff. Overlook attendees receive 25% off tickets for this exclusive finale.
Sunday, April 12th, 8:00 PM – Off-site, Ticket Info Coming Soon
CLAWS
Immersive Performance
Requires Separate Ticket, Extremely Limited Availability
Presented by Charming Stranger
Creator: Evan Neiden / Candle House Collective
“You believe me, don’t you?” You get a call from a young man named Danny. There’s a monster in his closet, and he needs your help. But as the call goes on and more sinister intentions are revealed, it begs the question: which side of the closet door is the danger really on? Claws is a 45-minute interactive thriller for one person to experience via a phone call. It’s a spine-chilling realization of childhood nightmares, exploring themes of trust, identity, and forgiveness. Your choices matter as the story unfolds, in an experience critics have called “bold and risky” and “the scariest immersive experience we’ve ever had”. A remount of our 2023 performance for new audiences to experience.
Runtime: Approx. 45 minutes. Participants: 1 per slot. Cost: $45
Thursday, April 9th – Sunday, April 12th, Various Times – Over the Phone
CLOSING NIGHT PARTY: THÉÂTRE DES VAMPIRES
Party
50 years ago on April 12th, 1976, Anne Rice published the New Orleans classic and global phenomenon Interview With The Vampire, and forever changed the lore, mythos, history and perception of that most magnificent of creatures – the Vampyre. Celebrate the endless oblivion of eternal night with an evening that recreates the city’s ethereal relationship with vampires in all their forms on this most hallowed of dates.
ETERNAL
Immersive Performance
Requires Separate Ticket
Presented by Boutique Du Vampyre
Creator: Darkfield
You have been chosen and we thank you for your sacrifice. In return we offer you the opportunity for eternal life, but there are conditions. ETERNAL is a 25 minute immersive audio experience for one person, alone in their bed. It explores the temptation of eternal life and wonders what price you would pay to achieve it. ETERNAL was commissioned by the 2020 Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin.
Runtime: Approx. 20 minutes. Participants: 1 per slot. Cost: $20
Friday, April 10th – Sunday, April 12th, Various Times – Canal Place
FEAR-FACTORS: ALT-HORROR EXPERIENCES
Panel
A celebration of all things horror must venture beyond the screen into daring art forms both new and old that challenge the way we experience art. Bringing fans together in new and inspiring ways through music, theater, gaming, haunted houses, immersive activations, radio plays and experimental performance, there truly is no end to where the genre can take the curious. Hear from some of the boldest voices in their mediums and learn what it takes to create the next frontier.
Panelists: Ben Blacker (“The Thrilling Adventure Hour”), Marita Crandle (Boutique Du Vampyre), Jassy (Choke Hole), Ash LeTourneau (LA By Night, The Overlook Film Festival), Evan Neiden (Candle House Collective).
Moderated by Angel Melanson (FANGORIA)
HAG
Immersive Performance
Presented by Charming Stranger
Requires Separate Ticket
Creator: The Queen’s Fools
The Weird Sisters have gotten even weirder. You have responded to a Craigslist ad from a disgruntled Landlord needing help clearing out some squatters from his recently purchased property. Pack up their things & do what you’ve gotta do to get ‘em out. Simple. Only, some squatters are better left alone. Hagis a 35-minute spooky & silly immersive experience for four audience members, led through the chaos and charm of Shakespeare’s Weird Sisters.
Runtime: Approx. 30 minutes. Participants: 4 per slot. Cost: $35
Friday, April 10th – Sunday, April 12th, Various Times – Canal Place
HORROR TRIVIA
FREE EVENT
Presented by Daily Dead
Test your fright — if you dare. Join Daily Dead’s Jonathan James, for our annual horror trivia night. Prizes, drinks, and four ghoulish rounds of only mildly obscure nuggets you’ll definitely know, and all of those sequel subtitles you’ll definitely wish you didn’t. Scare yourself with how much you actually know about horror.
INDEPENDENT SPIRITS: GENRE FILMMAKING FROM THE TRENCHES
Panel
If it’s easier than ever to make a film, then why is it so damn hard? And how come every time you get through the hardest part, then next comes the hardest part? Why do we go through our own horror movie just to make a horror movie? Some of the most exciting festival alums and filmmakers from our program will walk us through how they got it done when it counted, and where we go from here.
Panelists: Dave Boyle (Never After Dark), Emily Robinson (Ugly Cry), James Ross II (Parasomnia), Jenn Wexler (The Ranger, The Last Temptation of Becky).
Moderated by: Kimberly Leszak (FANGORIA)
THE MOTHER OF NIGHTMARES
Immersive Performance
Requires Separate Ticket, Extremely Limited Availability
Creators: E3W Productions and AOTW
Step into the dream world and come face to face with the Mother of Nightmares, the mysteriously mischievous figure who creates and controls all of your worst dreams, as she guides you through this surreal and darkly comedic 1-on-1 experience, lasting between 15-20 minutes, from returning Overlook creators E3W Productions (IN ANOTHER ROOM). Originally performed as part of ‘The Shape of the Night’, an immersive experience exploring the world of dreams and nightmares created by Overlook veteran group All Of Them Witches (AOTW).
Runtime: Approx. 20 minutes. Participants: 1 per slot. Cost: $25
Friday, April 10th – Sunday, April 12th, Various Times – Canal Place
MUSEUM OF HOME VIDEO PRESENTS: “THE DR. LOOMIS TAPES”
Screening
Presented by: Museum of Home Video
Museum of Home Video is a weekly found-footage livestream for stoners, seekers, archivists and drinkers. VJ Bret Berg returns once more to Overlook for an IRL version of his show, including a riotous tribute to Donald Pleasance in “The Dr. Loomis Tapes”. This is MOHV’s revolutionary new remix of the classic HALLOWEEN slasher franchise, told solely through the eyes of Pleasance’s unstable (and possibly wasted) psychiatric savior. Watch as he gets increasingly more unhinged and shattered as the series goes on. Could it be that Loomis is as dangerous to the town of Haddonfield as Michael Myers himself? You be the judge! Also in the program: some special Halloween-twinged vintage game show moments, and a toothsome CGI surprise.
Friday, April 10th, 3:45 PM – Prytania Theatres at Canal Place
OPENING NIGHT PARTY: WELCOME TO HELL
Party
We opened last year’s festival by declaring 2025 “the worst year of our lives but a great year for horror!” Well, since then things have only gotten worse. We live in Hell so we might as well get used to it with a demonic opening night party that embraces the fire and brimstone of our descent in madness. Synthwave DJ sets hosted and curated by electronic artist Destryur of Nola’s own Splatterday Night.
THE PUMPKIN PIE SHOW PRESENTS: ONE-ON-ONES
Immersive Performance
Requires Separate Ticket, Extremely Limited Availability
Creator: Clay Mcleod Chapman
A returning favorite after a long hibernation, acclaimed writer Clay McLeod Chapman (THE RESTORATION OF GRAYSON MANOR) Clay McLeod Chapman will take one audience member at a time on a 20-minute dark ride through the domestic horrors of the everyday.
Sometimes darkly humorous, sometimes strangely heartbreaking, this immersive storytelling experience is Edgar Allan Poe for the modern age; a heart-to-bleeding-heart with madmen, murderers and monsters all dying to tell their story. No fourth wall, no escape.
Runtime: Approx. 20 minutes. Participants: 1 per slot. Cost: $15
Friday, April 10th – Sunday, April 12th, Various Times – Canal Place
REBOZO
Immersive Performance
Requires Separate Ticket, Extremely Limited Availability
Presented by Charming Stranger
Creator: Evan Neiden / Candle House Collective
There are always two sides to a story. At Least. They’re here to mend; you’re here to help. Thank you for volunteering to be a connector for Rebozo Reconnections. Rebozo is a story for one person told over the phone over 6 phone calls that occur over two days; totaling 3 hours. Trigger warning for disturbing content. Only a select few will get to experience this extremely limited series of audio-performances.
Runtime: Approx. 3 hrs of 6 separate 30 minute calls. Participants: 1 per slot. Must commit to all 6 calls or experience ends. Cost: $115
Thursday, April 9th – Sunday, April 12th, Various Times – Over the Phone
SHUDDER SECOND LINE PARADE FEATURING THE CRYPT KEEPER
Parade
FREE EVENT
Presented by Shudder
The quintessential New Orleans art form returns with our signature horror twist courtesy of the scariest streamer around. Bigger and bolder, this year’s second line will kick off the entire festival on Opening Night. Make your way to our festival headquarters before the screenings begin, strutting through the French Quarter in style behind a demonic brass band, creepy characters both familiar and unknown, and you. We roll at 5pm. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
TALES FROM TALES FROM THE CRYPT
Panel
Hello, Boils and Ghouls! Firmly after the golden age of EC comics forever altered the genre landscape, and before it hit the silver screen, TALES FROM THE CRYPT became one of the most influential and important early cable television shows in horror history. Macabre stories, pulp effects, and heavy hitters galore in front of and behind the camera helped this show reinvent the way horror entered your homes and inspired generations of storytellers and fans before seemingly becoming lost to the age of streaming. Join John Kassir, the voice of the renowned Cryptkeeper, along with a special friend or two, to recount the show’s legacy. Because if at first you don’t succeed, die, die again! Moderated by: Perri Nemiroff (Collider) & Matt Donato (Daily Dead)
U R HELL: TECHNO TERRORS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Panel
The internet was supposed to change everything. And then it did. The apocalypse has been unleashed and the way we consume media has changed, among other things. But within these hellsites, communities have formed and new ways to make, celebrate and promote our favorite genre thrive. How does horror connect today? What makes a grassroots success story? Log in and find out.
Panelists: James Janisse & Chelsea Rebecca (Dead Meat), Vera Drew (The People’s Joker), Angel Melanson (FANGORIA), Bret Berg (Museum Of Home Video; AGFA).
Moderated by Phil Nobile Jr. (FANGORIA)
VAMPIRE MARKET
FREE EVENT
Presented by Boutique Du Vampyre
In honor of our Queen of the Damned, a bizarre bazaar dedicated to all things dark, creepy and vampiric materializes at festival headquarters on Sunday April 12th, the exact date marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of our sacred tome, Interview With The Vampire. With ghoulish delights abound, you never know what you might find. Or what might find you.