Port Horror Festival is a not-for-profit celebration of horror, local talent, film, art, music, and media, created to strengthen our community, support creators, expand access to arts and education, and drive cultural tourism in Port Hope.

Our mission is to celebrate horror as an art form while creating meaningful cultural, educational, and economic opportunities for our community. Through an inclusive and interactive festival experience, we aim to make the arts more accessible, create opportunities to learn directly from working artists and industry professionals, and provide emerging creators with opportunities to develop and showcase their skills.

As a community-focused, not-for-profit festival, our priority is impact rather than profit. Resources generated through ticket sales, sponsorships, partnerships, and community support are used to help deliver programming, support participating artists and creators, improve accessibility, and build a sustainable annual cultural event for Port Hope.

Port Horror exists to:

• Create accessible arts and educational experiences through workshops, demonstrations, panels, screenings, competitions, and hands-on programming

• Support Canadian filmmakers, artists, musicians, performers, and creators, with a focus on emerging and independent talent

• Create opportunities for education, mentorship, skill development, employment, and community connection

• Celebrate horror film, art, music, media, performance, and practical effects as legitimate and diverse art forms

• Strengthen Ontario's creative industries by bringing cultural programming and opportunities to smaller and rural communities

• Encourage sustainable cultural tourism and support economic activity for local businesses

• Showcase the beauty, culture, history, and heritage of Port Hope

• Build an inclusive annual event where artists, audiences, students, volunteers, businesses, and community organizations can connect

Ultimately, Port Horror is about more than celebrating horror. It is about using the arts as a tool for education, opportunity, community building, and economic development — while creating something uniquely Port Hope.