Six films, six approaches to fear and an afternoon built around independent storytelling: JCIFF Presents: Nightmares is bringing horror fans and filmmakers together in Jersey City on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Presented through Hudson Arts Collective’s Jersey City Independent Film Festival program, the event takes place from 3–5 p.m. Eastern at the Cunningham Branch of the Jersey City Free Public Library, 275 Martin Luther King Drive. General admission is free, with an optional $15 donation supporting accessible independent film programming.
Six Independent Visions of Horror
The official selections are Anthony Lin’s The Lull, Luz Mala, Final Girl Complex, Fracta, The Day The Boners Landed and Hide and Seek. The lineup connects filmmakers working with very different resources, influences and creative ambitions.
Across WAJ Magazine’s interviews, the filmmakers describe horror as a way to explore isolation, survivorship, regional folklore, everyday vulnerability and the pleasure of absurd comedy. Their production stories also reveal the work behind the scares: deliberate camera choices, practical effects, tightly planned shoots and collaborators who help turn an idea into a finished film.
A Conversation Beyond the Screen
A filmmaker panel follows the screenings, giving audiences an opportunity to hear about the decisions behind the work. For viewers curious about how independent films get made, that conversation is part of the attraction.
Watch in Jersey City or Online
The online premiere begins October 28 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Public replay opens after 5 p.m. and remains available through October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, according to the organizer’s announcement.
Visit the official Nightmares event page for free registration and online viewing details.
