Grimmfest
Grimmfest operates Manchester's annual International Festival of Fantastic Film, a four-day horror and genre cinema event running since 2009, serving horror film enthusiasts and independent filmmakers, and recently extended its model through the GrimmVision digital distribution arm on Prime Video.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Grimmfest does
Grimmfest is a privately held Manchester-based film festival organization that has operated Manchester's International Festival of Fantastic Film annually since 2009. Its core product is a four-day October festival hosted at Odeon Great Northern, screening 21+ feature film premieres and short film programmes in the horror, fantasy, and sci-fi genre categories, accompanied by filmmaker Q&As, celebrity guest appearances, and the Reaper Awards competition across eleven categories including Best Feature, Best Director, and Audience Award. Beyond the flagship event, the company operates Grimmfest Online (a virtual attendance format launched during COVID-19), Grimmfest Easter (a second annual programming window added in April 2021), the Mini Cini summer double-bill series at Ducie Street Warehouse, and special screening events such as Monsters & Movies produced in partnership with the BFI Film Audience Network.
In October 2025 Grimmfest launched GrimmVision, a wholly-owned distribution arm that monetizes the festival's curated content pipeline via digital sales and rental on Prime Video in the UK and other territories, supported by distribution partnerships with Signature Entertainment and 101 Films and merchandise agreements with ZAVVI. The company is co-directed by founders Simeon Halligan and Rachel Richardson-Jones (who also co-directed the feature film "Past Life" that opened the 2025 edition) and operates with a small team of seven employees plus volunteer support; no external venture, private equity, or institutional investment has been disclosed.
Revenue is generated through three streams: festival passes and individual screening tickets sold via Eventive (starting from £7.50 per ticket, with passes including exclusive goodie bags), merchandise sales through ZAVVI and festival market stalls, and transaction-based revenue from the GrimmVision distribution label. Filmmaker acquisition runs year-round via FilmFreeway submissions. Customer segments are horizontal: horror and genre film enthusiasts who attend in person, independent genre filmmakers who seek premieres and awards validation, and - increasingly - downstream distributors and VOD consumers accessing content through the GrimmVision channel. The company achieved BIFA qualifying festival status for both Shorts and Features in 2026.
Grimmfest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grimmfest
- Legal name
- Grimmfest
- Website
- https://grimmfest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Grimmfest operates Manchester's annual International Festival of Fantastic Film, a four-day horror and genre cinema event running since 2009, serving horror film enthusiasts and independent filmmakers, and recently extended its model through the GrimmVision digital distribution arm on Prime Video.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grimmfest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Festival and Genre Film Events
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)
Keywords
Where Grimmfest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Grimmfest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Festival Passes and Tickets: Revenue from selling full festival passes, day passes, and individual screening tickets to attendees of the annual festival and special events.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of Grimmfest merchandise including official festival merchandise through ZAVVI and at festival market stalls.
- GrimmVision Distribution: Grimmfest's new distribution arm releasing films screened at the festival for home viewing, including digital sales and rentals through GrimmVision label.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Full Festival Pass |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Day Pass |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Screening Ticket |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Grimmfest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grimmfest is a Manchester-based horror and genre film festival organization that hosts an annual four-day festival at Odeon Great Northern featuring world, European, UK, and Northern UK premieres, filmmaker Q&As, and the Reaper Awards competition. The company also operates GrimmVision, a film distribution arm releasing festival films for home viewing, alongside additional screening events including Mini Cini summer double bills, Monsters & Movies specials with the BFI, and Grimmfest Online streaming content.
Product overview
Grimmfest is Manchester's International Festival of Fantastic Film, operating primarily as an annual four-day horror and genre film festival held at Odeon Great Northern in October. The festival premieres new horror and genre films from around the world, hosts Q&As with filmmakers and actors, and presents the Reaper Awards. Beyond the core festival, Grimmfest operates several related offerings: GrimmVision serves as the company's distribution arm for releasing films for home entertainment; Grimmfest TV provides streaming/VOD access to curated content; Grimmfest Online (launched during pandemic) offers virtual attendance options; and Mini Cini provides summer double-bill screenings. The company also hosts special events like Monsters & Movies in partnership with BFI. Filmmakers can submit films year-round via FilmFreeway.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GrimmVision: Film distribution arm of Grimmfest, releasing movies presented at the festival including titles like CONTENT, TRIBE, SELF DRIVER, and CONTENT.
Products and services
- Grimmfest Annual Film Festival Manchester's annual International Festival of Fantastic Film featuring horror and genre cinema premieres, Q&As, filmmaker talks, celebrity guests, market stalls, and the Reaper Awards. Runs four days in October at Odeon Great Northern.
- GrimmVision Distribution Grimmfest's film distribution arm that releases movies previously screened at the festival for purchase and rental in the UK and international territories via digital platforms such as Prime Video.
- Grimmfest TV
Companies that use Grimmfest
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Grimmfest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Grimmfest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Signature EntertainmentcoreUK film distribution partner releasing Grimmfest premieres for home viewing.
- 101 FilmscoreUK distribution partner and sponsor of festival goodie bags, releasing Grimmfest films for home viewing.
- Evolution Of Horror PodcastcoreOfficial podcast partner with host Mike Muncer and events coordinator Becky Darke attending the entire festival weekend, hosting pub quiz and providing podcast coverage.
- BFI (British Film Institute)flagshipSelected as one of four key UK genre film festivals to host MONSTERS AND MOVIES, a newly commissioned event as part of BFI's IN DREAMS ARE MONSTERS nationwide horror season. Grimmfest was commissioned by BFI Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) as a key UK-wide partner.
- Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Manchester Centre for Gothic StudiescoreAcademic partner co-hosting the Monsters and Movies event with Grimmfest, providing scholarly context and Q&A discussions.
- Odeon Great NortherncorePrimary venue partner for the annual festival and special events. The Odeon Great Northern in Manchester hosts all festival screenings, Q&As, and associated events across multiple screens.
- Manchester235 CasinominorParking sponsor offering discounted rates for festival attendees. Provides 12 hours parking for £6.95 with promo code 235CASINO.
- Castlefield HotelminorOfficial accommodation partner offering 20% off rooms and 15% off food and drink for Grimmfest guests.
- ZAVVIcoreOfficial merchandise partner for Grimmfest merchandise, including festival merchandise and branded items available online.
- Lions DenminorVenue within Great Northern complex hosting festival events including pub quiz with Evolution Of Horror podcast.
- UniquexminorMarketing and promotional partner supporting the festival.
- Lane7minorEntertainment venue partner at Great Northern complex offering food and drink deals for festival attendees.
- The Mews MCRminorPartner venue providing promotional support and offers for festival attendees.
- City SuitesminorAccommodation partner offering deals for festival attendees.
- Stockport Alternative MarketminorOrganises the festival market hub with stalls selling horror and cinema related goods.
- INNSIDE ManchesterminorHotel accommodation partner offering deals for festival attendees.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Grimmfest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- 101 Films: UK film distribution label specializing in genre, cult, and horror releases for home entertainment. Comparable as a UK distribution partner already working with GrimmVision on festival film releases into the home-viewing market.
- Arrow Video: UK-based specialist film label known for curated horror, cult, and genre Blu-ray and digital releases. Comparable as a curator and distributor of independent horror/genre films targeting the same genre enthusiast consumer audience that attends Grimmfest.
Regional players
- Morbido: Mexico-based horror and genre film festival and platform. Comparable as a dedicated genre festival serving a national/regional audience with filmmaker-driven programming, though operating in a distinct geographic market.
Direct peers
- Fantastic Fest: Major US-based genre film festival in Austin, Texas, focused on horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and action premieres. Comparable as a premier international genre festival with filmmaker Q&As and an awards component targeting the same global filmmaker pool.
- FrightFest: The UK's other leading horror and genre film festival, also screening world and UK premieres with filmmaker Q&As. Directly comparable as a UK-based annual genre festival competing for the same filmmaker submissions and horror-fan audience.
- Sitges Film Festival: Spain's long-running international fantastic film festival, widely regarded as one of the world's premier genre events. Comparable as an established European genre festival competing for global horror/fantasy premieres and audience prestige.
- Fantasia International Film Festival: Canada's largest genre film festival held annually in Montreal, covering horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and animation. Comparable as an established international genre festival with world premieres, filmmaker attendance, and a competitive awards program.
- Brooklyn Horror Film Festival: Independent US horror film festival screening features, shorts, and special events. Comparable as a niche, community-driven horror festival with filmmaker Q&As and a dedicated genre audience.
- Toronto After Dark: Annual horror, sci-fi, action, and cult film festival in Toronto. Comparable as a North American genre festival focused on premieres, filmmaker appearances, and dedicated genre audiences.
Broad incumbents
- BFI London Film Festival: The UK's flagship general-audience film festival operated by the British Film Institute. Comparable as a UK film festival ecosystem participant and BFI-affiliated event with broader scope but overlapping filmmaker pool and national prestige positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Grimmfest social profiles
Digital presenceGrimmfest compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Grimmfest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grimmfest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Grimmfest subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Grimmfest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grimmfest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grimmfest
What does Grimmfest do?
Grimmfest is a Manchester-based horror and genre film festival organization that hosts an annual four-day festival at Odeon Great Northern featuring world, European, UK, and Northern UK premieres, filmmaker Q&As, and the Reaper Awards competition. The company also operates GrimmVision, a film distribution arm releasing festival films for home viewing, alongside additional screening events including Mini Cini summer double bills, Monsters & Movies specials with the BFI, and Grimmfest Online streaming content.
Is Grimmfest a public or private company?
Grimmfest is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Grimmfest founded?
Grimmfest was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Grimmfest based?
Grimmfest is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Grimmfest make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Festival Passes and Tickets are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and grimmVision Distribution.
Who are Grimmfest's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are 101 Films and Arrow Video. Morbido is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Fantastic Fest, FrightFest, Sitges Film Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival and Toronto After Dark. BFI London Film Festival is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Grimmfest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grimmfest.
What industry is Grimmfest in?
Grimmfest's product category is Film Festival and Genre Film Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAKAD, Film Festivals & Festival Organizers, with a secondary code of THAHABAN, Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers. Its NAICS code is 711320 and its SIC code is 7990.