Inside the 2026 International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival | Monte Yazzie Interview

The International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival is back—and it’s hitting the Phoenix area in just eight days.

Running from April 9–19, both the Phoenix Film Festival and the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival will take over Harkins Scottsdale 101, bringing with them a packed slate of films that are just waiting to become your next favorite. And if you ask festival directors Jason Carney and Monte Yazzie, that’s exactly the goal.

ScreamInn Media had the chance to sit down with International Horror & Sci-Fi festival director Monte Yazzie to talk about what audiences can expect this year, and one thing became immediately clear—this year’s lineup is anything but predictable.

“I feel like when I was programming everything this year, I kept using the word unique. It’s one of the few years where we don’t have a lot of overlapping themes,” Yazzie told us.

That sense of variety is already evident when browsing the festival lineup, which you can preview here. From offbeat genre entries to crowd-pleasing horror experiences, this year’s selections look primed to deliver something for every kind of film fan—especially those who love their movies a little darker.

As for me, I’ll be there for several days taking it all in. Where do I start? Honestly, I’m still figuring that out—but that’s part of the fun. If you happen to spot the ScreamInn crew around the festival, don’t hesitate to come say hello.

Be sure to check out our full interview with Monte Yazzie below.