Screamfest Horror Film Festival is recognized as the largest and longest-running horror film festival in the United States, established in August 2001 by film producers Rachel Belofsky and Ross Martin. The festival takes place over ten days in October at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Los Angeles, California. Often dubbed the "Sundance of Horror," it serves as a platform for American and international independent horror filmmakers to premiere and showcase new works, with many films securing distribution and representation as a result of their screenings. Notable films that have premiered at Screamfest include *Paranormal Activity*, *30 Days of Night*, and *The Human Centipede*. The festival also includes various award categories for features and shorts, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Horror Short.