10TH ANNUAL ZOMBIEPALOOZA
HOSTED BY THE CARY THEATER
Zombiepalooza is The Cary’s annual ZOMBIE SHORT FILM competition that takes place every October in downtown Cary, NC. Submissions are only open to North Carolina filmmakers and residents.
Short films (< 5 min.) must be zombie-themed and family-friendly (no excessive gore, violence or language) as they will be screened to an all-ages audience. They also must include creative use of this year’s prop (a Rubik’s cube). See more details below!
Filmmakers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to submit their short film for consideration via FilmFreeway starting Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. The final deadline to submit is Sep. 26, 2025.
Zombiepalooza will take place Oct. 24, 2025 on the Downtown Cary Park’s Great Lawn. In the event of inclement weather, the festivities will move indoors to The Cary Theater.
COSTUME CONTEST
Attendees are encouraged to dress in their favorite costumes for Cary’s favorite night of cosplay. Prizes will be awarded for best kid Halloween costume before the screening and best adult Halloween costume after the film screenings. Zombiepalooza is free to attend.
EVENT SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
6 PM-8 PM: Zombie themed activities provided by Downtown Cary Park
7:45 PM: Kid Halloween Costume Contest (Great Lawn Pavilion)
8 PM: Zombiepalooza Short Film Competition presented by The Cary Theater (Great Lawn Pavilion)
8:30 PM: Adult Halloween Costume Contest (Great Lawn Pavilion)
9 PM-9:30 PM: Awards Presentation for Best Zombie Short + People’s Choice (Great Lawn Pavilion)
Film Submissions
Individuals and groups are encouraged to shoot and submit a 1-minute to 5-minute zombie film for judging. Submissions were due by Sep. 26, 2025.
Hobbyists, professionals, and rookie filmmakers of all ages participate in this annual film festival, which takes place Oct. 24, 2025 on the Great Lawn in Downtown Cary Park.
Short films must be 5 minutes or less and family-friendly (no excessive gore, violence or language) since films will be screened outside to an all-ages crowd. They must include creative use of this year’s prop – a Rubik’s cube – and they must have a zombie theme. General horror, thriller, or slasher films that DO NOT include a zombie theme, or films with excessive gore, language or violence are ineligible and will be removed from consideration.
Filmmakers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to submit their short film for consideration starting Aug. 1, 2025, with the final deadline to submit Sep. 26, 2025.
Various rules apply to all film submissions
Fun: Do you feel like a you’ve been part of a zombie film over the past few years? We do, too! Zombiepalooza is a short film competition designed to be fun. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and yet have been impressed by the creativity of filmmakers over the past eight years.
Eligibility: Short films completed after January 1, 2025 are eligible for Zombiepalooza 2025. Only short films 5 minutes or less from North Carolina residents will be considered. The submission window is Aug. 1 through Sep. 26, 2025.
Clearances & Permissions: All entrants under age 18 require a parent or guardian’s signature to participate. The submitted film must be your original creative work.
Premieres: Zombiepalooza does have a premiere requirement. Films that have been screened prior to this event are ineligible.
Notification & Feedback: All films will be notified of their status in early October 2025.
Read our summary of terms and conditions. >>
(We promise, they’re not daunting.
Zombieland Rule #16:
Opportunity Knocks – And whenever it does, make sure you answer
We know that there are many zombie aficionados out there. Our festival is an annual celebration of the genre. This is your opportunity to get creative and tell your own zombie story. Films should be from 1 to 5 minutes in length. You can make this film on any type of video camera, including your phone.
Films are not rated. Viewer discretion is advised.
ReCENT ZOMBIEPALOOZA WINNERS
Festival Favorites in 2024
Best Zombie Short
People’s Choice winner
Festival Favorites in 2023
Best Zombie Short
People’s Choice winner
Festival Favorites in 2022
Best U.S. Zombie Short
Best International Zombie Short
People’s Choice winner
FESTIVAL FAVORITES IN 2021
First Place
Extraction by Stephaun Perry
Second Place
Septic by Vincent Dormani
People’s Choice
Zom-Bodies Home by Korey Merritt
