There’s something special about October in the film world. Maybe it’s the crisp air, maybe it’s the collective appetite for the eerie and uncanny, but for me it’s always been about the festivals that embrace that energy. So, with Halloween approaching, I sat down with Boo Jackson, Festival Producer at Unrestricted View Horror Film Festival, to talk about what makes horror such an enduring, inventive space for filmmakers.

Now celebrating its tenth edition, the Horror festival runs from 27 October to 2 November, spreading its blood-curdling delights across venues like Everyman King’s Cross, Odeon Luxe & Dine, and the Hen & Chickens Theatre, the North London home of Unrestricted View.

“It’s our tenth year for the horror festival, which is really exciting. We’ve got panels, networking events, and of course our Halloween party… though I still haven’t sorted my costume!”

Beyond the programming, what struck me most was Boo’s view of horror as a creative leveller: a genre that thrives on imagination rather than budget.

“The best horror films don’t need huge effects budgets,” she said. “They’re often scariest when you don’t see the thing. You can make something extraordinary with a camcorder in your house and call it Blair Witch. Horror’s a space where creativity comes first.”

That ethos runs deep in Unrestricted View’s DNA. Founded by filmmakers and run by filmmakers, the festival sits within the Association of Independent Film Festivals (AIFF), which promotes fairness and accessibility across the circuit. Each film is watched by multiple judges, Boo explained, to ensure genuine consideration rather than subjective bias.

Still, she admits, programming remains a creative balancing act.

“Every year, the list of what we want to include is longer than what we can program,” she laughed. “It’s a minefield, like one of those conspiracy walls with red string everywhere.”

Despite that challenge, the line-up this year looks thrillingly diverse. Among Boo’s personal picks:

• Irish Sun by Tolu Ogunware: “a quiet, haunting film that just stays with you.”

• The Quackening by James Button: “completely off the wall, and made by one of our alumni.”

• The Pearlcomb by Ali Cook: “a beautiful folklore-led masterclass in visual effects and storytelling.”

All screen on Wednesday 29 October at Odeon Luxe & Dine, but as Boo put it, “I could have mentioned any of them; they’re all so different and exciting.”

Beyond the films, Unrestricted View Horror has become known for its industry panels, informal networking, and the sense of camaraderie that naturally forms among horror fans and filmmakers.

“Every year people meet and end up working together, It’s not that clinical, transactional kind of networking. People become friends, collaborators. It’s just a genuinely welcoming community.”

That sense of shared passion is why Boo thinks horror is such fertile ground for emerging filmmakers.

“Horror really splits people; some love it, some don’t, but the people who love it really love it. And they love each other for it,” she said. “It’s a genre that rewards creativity and resourcefulness. You don’t need millions to make something that grips an audience.”

Tickets for the festival are available now via uvff.co.uk. You can browse the full programme, find screening times, and book directly through the partner venues.

CenterFrame members and readers can also get 30% off tickets (excluding opening night) by using the code FILMMAKER30 at checkout.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, a horror fan, or just someone who loves the energy of live screenings, Boo’s enthusiasm is infectious.