ORGANISERS of one of the country’s most popular horror film festivals have said that preparations are well underway for their 11th annual event – and it will be bigger and better than ever. 

Horror-on-Sea Film Festival began in 2013 as a way to increase winter business at seafront hotel Park Inn by Radisson Palace, and a decade later the festival has become one of the highlights of the year.

The festival will take place from Friday January 10 to Sunday January 19 at the Park Inn by Radisson Palace on Southend seafront. 

The films have been worked on for months prior to submissionThe films have been worked on for months prior to submission (Image: Gaz de Vere)


The jam-packed schedule features a diverse range of independent horror films which will be shown throughout the festival’s run.

Horror-on-Sea is the brainchild of Paul Cotgrove, who also runs the city’s White Bus company and Southend Film Festival.

The White Bus is a Southend arts centre, housing a cinema, office space and an archive boasting more than 3,000 reels of film. 

Independent filmmaker Bazz Hancher was one of the directors who showed their films at last year's Horror-On-Sea Film FestivalIndependent filmmaker Bazz Hancher was one of the directors who showed their films at last year's Horror-On-Sea Film Festival (Image: Ben Shahrabi)
“Horror-on-Sea was created after the Park Inn asked if we could organise an event in January to help boost visitors during their quietest month,” Paul said. 

“We’d already had success with the Southend Film Festival and they asked us to come up with a new idea.”

The film industry veteran explained that it didn’t take long for his team to land on the concept of a horror film festival. 

The festival's screenings consistently draw large crowdsThe festival's screenings consistently draw large crowds (Image: Gaz de Vere)
The first Horror-on-Sea Film Festival was a huge hit with both residents and scare-seekers from across the country. 

In the years since, attendance has continued to steadily grow.

For Paul, the highlight of this year’s festival will be the world premiere of Video Shop Tales of Terror 2: Lust and Revenge. 

Paul began his career in the film industry working in the editing suites of 1980s Soho Paul began his career in the film industry working in the editing suites of 1980s Soho (Image: Ben Shahrabi)
Made with a retro VHS aesthetic, the anthology film will feature a collection of four bone-chilling tales.

“The great thing about this film is that the majority of scenes were filmed at the FreeSprite Media studios in Rochford,” said Paul. 

The festival is a must-visit for horror loversThe festival is a must-visit for horror lovers (Image: Gaz de Vere)

“It’s a film with a real local connection as well as performances from some great horror actors.”

Paul began his career in the film industry working in the editing suites of 1980s Soho and founded the White Bus in 2011.

He said: “From day one Horror-on-Sea attracted a healthy audience, and now we’re considered one of the best horror festivals in the world!”

You can view the festival’s full schedule at thewhitebus.co.uk