[1] It is the oldest continually running genre festival in Los Angeles, California.

It is held in October at Raleigh Studios on Melrose Boulevard in the Charlie Chaplin Theatre.

[2] The festival was founded by actress Denise Gossett[3] with her partner Kimberlee Beeson.

[4] Gossett came up with the idea after starring in the horror film Chain of Souls.

[6] She and Beeson created Shriekfest in the hopes that young and upcoming filmmakers and screenwriters would find in it an outlet for their talent.