Salem Horror Fest is partnered with The George A. Romero Foundation to offer a film fellowship program designed to empower emerging filmmakers with the skills, connections and inspiration to advance their careers and goals in telling authentic, innovative and terrifying stories that offer catharsis for an audience on edge.
“This is a terrific opportunity for up-and-coming horror filmmakers to have their work mentored, developed, funded and eventually seen, while partnering with two organizations that have done so much for the horror community.” - FANGORIA
2026 Recipients
Jump Scare
Directed by Donnie Hobbie
The all-woman metal band JUMP SCARE retreats to a remote cabin to write their next album, only to be terrorized by the family of cannibals next door. • 102 minutes • United States
Co-presented with Wicked Queer: Boston’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival
The Man Upstairs
Directed by Wendy Wang
After being kidnapped, Julian wakes up in a stranger’s basement, where another child already lives—and where survival means playing along with the man who calls himself “Dad.” As the boys form a fragile bond, they plot an escape from a twisted domestic nightmare. • 18 minutes • United States
East Coast Premiere
Pelacaras
Directed by Ricardo Albarrán
After her husband’s mysterious disappearance, a mother hides the truth from her daughter, and silence itself becomes the horror consuming them both. • 10 minutes • United States
Massachusetts Premiere
Meet the Mentors
Travis Stevens
Since 2010, Travis Stevens has produced a wide range of award-winning genre films that have played the biggest film festivals in the world -- including TIFF, Venice, Cannes Director's Fortnight, Sundance, SXSW, Telluride, Tribeca, FantasticFest, Beyond Fest and AFI.
These collaborations with filmmakers such as Karyn Kusama (XX), Adam Wingard (A Horrible Way To Die), Sarah Adina Smith (Buster's Mal Heart), and E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills) found both critical and commercial success. Featuring the acting talent of Rami Malek, Alisha Boe, Cleopatra Coleman, Kaniehtiio Horn, Lin Shaye, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kate Lyn Sheil, Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, Amy Seimetz and Sheila Vand, these projects sought to expand the emotional and intellectual reach of the modern genre film.
His non-fiction producing work includes Jodorowsky's Dune, 24X36: A Movie About Movie Posters, the Mexican skateboarding documentary Concrete Futuro, and Boorman and the Devil.
His most recent film as a writer & director was "A Wounded Fawn", starring Josh Ruben, Sarah Lind and Malin Barr. This visually riveting, original horror story premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to rave reviews and sold-out screenings. It was named one of the "Best Horror Films of 2022" by The Hollywood Reporter, the AV Club, Slash Film, Paste Magazine and is Certified Fresh at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated for three Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and a Rondo Award.
His music video work includes Cursive, A Place to Bury Strangers and Alkaline Trio. Between film projects Travis directs theater, paints, and tries to make the world a more interesting place.
Jenn Wexler
Jenn Wexler is a writer and director whose directorial debut, THE RANGER, world premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, screened at the Museum of Modern Art, and was released by AMC’s Shudder. Her latest feature, THE SACRIFICE GAME, starring Mena Massoud (ALADDIN) and Olivia Scott Welch (the FEAR STREET franchise), world premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival, had its International Premiere at FrightFest UK (Closing Night Film), its U.S. Premiere at Fantastic Fest, and is now on Shudder and AMC+. In television, she’s directed for The CW’s PANDORA and TruTV’s LATE NIGHT SNACK.
Wexler has also produced acclaimed and award-winning genre films including DEPRAVED, DARLING, LIKE ME, and MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, which was nominated for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at SXSW.
Matt Leslie
Matt is a rising force in the world of genre storytelling, known for crafting bold, high-concept horror and thriller films. He recently co-wrote — with partner Stephen J. Smith — and sold his latest horror spec to Sony in a competitive deal, with John Terzian’s h. wood Media producing. As a director, the duo made their feature debut with DON’T OPEN THE DOOR (formerly THE KNOCKING), a chilling, character-driven mystery-horror film they also co-wrote. The film is slated for release later in 2025. Their breakthrough came with SUMMER OF ’84, a nostalgic, paranoia-fueled thriller that landed on the 2016 Blood List. Matt co-wrote and produced the film, which was financed by Gunpowder & Sky and premiered in the Midnight Lineup at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival before rolling out in theaters worldwide.
The writing team’s knack for blending elevated storytelling with commercial appeal led to ANGEL OF DUST, a supernatural thriller produced by Shaun Redick (GET OUT, BLACKKKLANSMAN), set to be directed by RZA and featuring an original soundtrack from the Wu-Tang Clan. Before becoming a screenwriter and director, Matt cut his teeth as a Development Executive, playing a pivotal role in shaping the script for the 2015 box office smash STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON. Working closely with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and director F. Gary Gray, he helped bring the film’s story to life on the page — an experience that cemented his passion for visual storytelling. With a growing slate of projects and a proven ability to deliver gripping, audience-driven stories, Matt is quickly becoming one of the most exciting voices in the genre space.