There’s no better time to catch a film than after a day in the day, and Popcorn Frights Film Festival is ready to deliver in spades. The South Florida event returns for its twelfth year this August, and FANGORIA is excited to partner with the folks behind the festival to reveal this year’s neon-soaked poster.
Designed by returning artist Kent Hernandez, Popcorn Frights’ 2026 poster puts a bright green iguana — a common sight in Florida — at the center, giving it Godzilla-like powers as it wreaks havoc on unsuspecting beachgoers. The tropical colors reflects the festival’s bold programming choices, championing films produced and shot in Florida as they evoke unforgettable midnight movie energy.
“From the depths of the SoFla coastal waters comes this year’s Popcorn Frights monster, inspired by the weird, colorful world of Bollywood and Ghanian movie posters,” says Hernandez. “The syrupy, toxic neon color palette is meant to take the viewer on a subtropical mind trip, and prepare them for the wild sights and sounds of this year’s festival.”
While programming for this year’s event will be announced in a few weeks, fans can expect a vast array of offerings at this year’s festival. Featuring both in-person screenings and virtual offers, the festival focuses on discovering the next generation of storytellers, showcasing both festival favorites and major studio releases, as well as groundbreaking independent films from around the world.
Past Popcorn Frights programming has included screenings of A Quiet Place, Mr. Melvin, Queens of the Dead, and Trick or Treat, as well as appearances from horror royalty like Barbara Crampton, Lloyd Kaufman, Dee Wallace, and more. For filmmakers, submissions remain open via FilmFreeway until July 12, so there’s still a chance to claim a spot amongst the best up-and-coming creatives in genre cinema.
Popcorn Frights Film Festival takes place from August 6-16 in Miami. For more information and to purchase festival passes, you can check out their website.
