IMDB Needs a Separate Search for Podcasts

When I search for a film's Title at IMDB, I sometimes instead get a list of podcasts about that film. The film itself is listed way below the podcasts, making it hard to find.

IMDB has a separate search for TV Episodes. There should be a separate search for Podcasts. Then if I seek a podcast, I can do so. But if I seek a film, I can more easily find that film.

This would be a great upgrade to IMDB. Please spread the word. Let's try to get IMDB's attention so they'll make this upgrade.

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The Tabloid Witch Sees a Sharp Rise in AI Generated Film Submissions

In June 2024, I received a spam email with a link for At the Mountains of Madness, a five minute AI generated film from Turkey. It was the first AI film ever "submitted" (however unofficially) to the Tabloid Witch Awards horror film contest. During the 2024 season, I received a total of three AI film submissions. 

For the 2025 season, the number of AI films submissions rose to 14. And now, only a few months into the 2026 season, AI film submissions are up to 19 -- with over five months to go.

From what I've seen, AI films aren't quite there yet. There's something creepy about them (and not in a good way). Their "actors" are too artificial to portray convincingly human characters, with the distinctive personas and emotional depth that human actors convey. Yet AI "actors" are too realistic to allow that playful suspension of disbelief that animation allows.

Even so, AI films are getting better. I recently -- and for the first time -- had a short film submission that fooled me. I thought the actors were real human beings.

I think we'll see some amazing and powerful works emerge from AI as the technology advances and AI "filmmakers" improve their craft.

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100 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

As of March 1, 2026, the Tabloid Witch has received 100 horror film entries for 2026 awards consideration: 10 features and 90 shorts.

Entries have come from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Details on how to submit your horror film for 2026 are at: TabloidWitch.com. The entry deadline is August 31, 2026.

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75 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

As of February 1, 2026, the Tabloid Witch has received 75 horror film entries for 2026 awards consideration: 5 features and 70 shorts.

Entries have come from Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Iceland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Details on how to submit your horror film for 2026 are at: TabloidWitch.com. The entry deadline is August 31, 2026.

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Please Do NOT Spam the Tabloid Witch

Please do not SPAM film festivals with fee waiver requests. Apparently, there are companies that do this for a fee. But festivals can always spot the spam and it's a turnoff.

I received the following email this morning:

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Dear Festival Organizers,

Your festival has always inspired us. With limited resources, we humbly ask if a waiver could be granted for one submission. For our other entries, we are glad to support with reduced fees if possible.

Your generosity would mean the world to us, and we will always carry it with gratitude.

Warm regards,
Winnie

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Let's analyze this.

1. There's the effusive praise. Of course, it's also generic. It does not address my festival by name, and does not specify why this person was "always inspired" by it.

2. There's the plea of poverty. Some festivals charge very high submission fees, but the Tabloid Witch's current fee is a token $5. Less than the price of coffee in Los Angeles. Of course, because this is spam, the sender has no idea what the many email recipients' submission fees are.

Adding to the insult, while the filmmaker allegedly can't afford a festival entry fee, he or she can afford to hire a spam email service.

3. There's the poor grammar: "we are glad to support with reduced fees". Support what? It should say "support your festival with reduced fees." I'm not sure if this email was AI generated; AI usually has perfect grammar. 

4. Which brings us to a unique twist: the false possibility (no guarantee) of other entries for a "reduced fee," if only I would grant one free submission. 

5. The sender "Winnie" says nothing about his or her film(s). Nothing about its genre, length, festival history, the people involved. No attempt is made to "sell me" on this film. Why would a festival grant a waiver for an unknown product?

This is not only spam, it's poorly written spam. Apparently, while the spam company knew enough about film festivals to have collected a large mailing list, the company didn't bother to advise "Winnie" on how to write enticing spam.

6. Not just the film, but the sender remains a mystery. The email has one person's name, but the gmail return address has another name. I have no idea if "Winnie" is even a person. It might be a front name for a festival submission service (the same as sent the spam?) that has many filmmaker clients, hence this vague talk of possible other submissions in the future.

I often receive spam requesting fee waivers. Spam is obvious by its generic nature, the sender hoping that it will apply to thousands of festival recipients. Spam is insulting because if you're going to request a favor, you should send a personal email, indicating that you know and care about the specific festival you're contacting.

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45 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

As of January 1, 2026, the Tabloid Witch has received 45 horror film entries for 2026 awards consideration: 4 features and 41 shorts.

Entries have come from Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iceland, Israel, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Details on how to submit your horror film for 2026 are at: TabloidWitch.com. The entry deadline is August 31, 2026.

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