About us

America's largest and most recognized genre film festival focusing solely on Horror and Science Fiction. Each year the NYCHFF celebrates both the horror classics we grew up with and the new horror films & filmmakers who created them. the NYCHFF fills the city with special screenings, parties, celebrity guests and free giveaways. The New York City Horror Film Festival is the Halloween time event not to be missed.
So, keep your eyes peeled right here for full festival information, submission info, lineup, tickets, details about the huge, open-to-the-public kickoff party, and info on all the cool events the NYCHFF does throughout the entire year to support genre films and filmmakers!
*The New York City Horror Film Festival is presented by MooDude Films.

Michael J. Hein

Festival Director

Filmmaker Michael J. Hein, CEO of Moodude Films and founder of The New York City Horror Film Festival. Michael and his company Moodude Films are considered one of the leading proponents of independent film in New York City and highly respected in genre films. Michael has done it all, from Special Effects Make-up Artist to Screenwriter, and now Director & Producer.

Through his company Moodude Films, Michael has produced & directed various feature film projects including: The Word, Blood Rails, Red Hook, Dead Serious, Biohazardous, Cyclone, This is how my Brother Died and Killer Shorts parts 1 & 2 to name just a few.

As if Screenwriter, Director and Producer were not enough, Michael is the founder and sitting director of The New York City Horror Film Festival. The United States largest and most recognized genre film festival, which is held yearly at The Tribeca Film Center in Manhattan. Michael has also recently had high profile speaking engagements, speaking at both Notre Dame University and giving the AE lecture in New York City. He is also featured in the documentary Even More Scarier Moments, broadcast nationally on Bravo and one of the subjects in the book “Splatter Flicks; How to make a low budget horror film.”

Joe Mauceri

Director of Programing

A native New Yorker, Mauceri began his career in the mid 80's at WBAI (99.5 FM) producing segments for the station's daily arts program. Mauceri has been unit publicist on several independent films including Kevin Lindenmuth’s “Vampires & Other Stereotypes,” “Francis Terri’s “The Suckling,” Jim Martin’s “Flesh Eating Mothers,” and Bryan Singer’s “The Lion’s Den.” He recently worked on Andrew van de Houten’s directorial debut, “Headspace,” featuring an all-star cast of Sean Young, Dee Wallace Stone, William Atherton, Olivia Hussey, and Udo Keir. It was during the postproduction on “Headspace” that Mauceri brought the work of author Jack Ketchum to the attention of van de Houten, resulting in Mauceri’s Associate Producer credit on the feature film “Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door,” released in 2008.

Since 2005, Mauceri has worked with NYU Film School to bring even more screenings and special events to the student body. In 2006 and 2007 he served as a judge on the undergraduate and graduate short film awards panel for the Hampton International Film Festival.

An internationally recognized film journalist and critic, he co-owns and oversees the day to day operations of FEARSmag.com, The webzine providing original editorial content and coverage of the vast of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the unknown, presented in the form of up-to-the-minute news, Fiction and Interviews, animation and traditional comic properties, and much more.

As an entertainment and motion picture studio liaison for several pop culture conventions along the eastern seaboard, Mauceri was able to add yet another level to the 2007 NY Comic Con, held in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and attended by over 30,000 professionals and fans, he was asked to provide and host an upcoming trailer presentation, staff and maintain a large promotional materials table for several major studios, and hosts the “Hills Have Eyes 2” presentation for Lionsgate. Mauceri’s unique place in the industry and interest in cutting edge technologies recently lead to his producing content for The Horror Channel, broadband entertainment, and Monsters HD, high definition television.

Sean Marks

Head of Staff

Filmmaker Sean Marks is a lifelong fan of the horror and science fiction genres. Some of his favorites include Deep Red, The Thing, The Haunting (the original, of course), and Deathdream. He's currently a freelance writer/producer, and resides in Los Angeles, CA. returning each Oct. to run the crew. Sean has been with the NYC Horrorfest since 2004.

Joe Sullivan - Festival Copy Editor
Ross Byron - Festival Footage Editor
Frank Della Donne - Legal Services
Chris Rowan - Festival Security