Special Report: The 2nd Annual Sacred Crypt Awards

THE 2ND ANNUAL SACRED CRYPT AWARDS 

CELEBRATING THE VOICES REDEFINING INDEPENDENT HORROR. 

The Sacred Crypt Awards is an annual celebration dedicated to recognizing excellence across the independent horror community. Created by Voices From the Mausoleum, the awards honor outstanding achievements in horror literature, film, and digital content creation while shining a spotlight on the creators who continue to shape the future of the genre. 

Now in its second year, the Sacred Crypt Awards was founded with a mission to uplift marginalized and independent horror creators across all creative spaces. From authors and filmmakers to reviewers, interviewers, streamers, and other content creators, the awards recognize the voices whose passion, innovation, and dedication help strengthen and expand the horror community. 

The 2026 Sacred Crypt Awards nomination period runs from June 1 through July 12, with public voting taking place from August 1 through August 31. Winners will be announced during a live- streamed ceremony on YouTube on September 25, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET. 

This year's awards feature categories across three major divisions-Content Creators, Authors, and Film-including Creator of the Year, Best Novel, Best Feature, Best Director, Best Lead Performance, and the newly introduced Rising Star and Best New Voice awards, which recognize emerging talent making an impact in the horror space. 

More than an awards show, the Sacred Crypt Awards serves as a community-driven platform that celebrates inclusion, representation, and the diverse voices that make independent horror one of the most vibrant and innovative creative communities today. By recognizing creators at every stage of their journey, the Sacred Crypt Awards continues to foster connection, visibility, and opportunity throughout the genre.

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2025 SACRED CRYPT AWARDS WINNERS

THE INAUGURAL SACRED CRYPT AWARDS RECOGNIZED THE CREATORS, STORYTELLERS, FILMMAKERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHOSE WORK EXEMPLIFIES THE CREATIVITY, PASSION, AND INNOVATION THAT DEFINE INDEPENDENT HORROR. WE ARE HONORED TO CELEBRATE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2025 SACRED CRYPT AWARDS. 

CONTENT CREATOR AWARDS:

CREATOR OF THE YEAR 

IN LOVE WITH HORROR 

RISING STAR 

CINEMATIC NIGHTMARES 

BEST SERIES 

HORROR MOSAIC THE BITTER WOLF 

BEST COLLABORATION 

GIRL, THAT'S A MASSACRE 

BEST INTERVIEW 

BLERDY MASSACRE: J-HORROR WITH GIGI MURAKAMI 

BEST LIVESTREAM (ALL PLATFORMS) 

OUR LIFE IN HORROR 

AUTHOR AWARDS:

BEST HORROR COLLECTION 

F THEM KIDS TIMOTHY KING 

BEST NOVEL 

THE OJANOX DAEMON MANX 

BEST NOVELLA 

INCANTATIONS OF BLOOD SAVANNAH R. FISCHER 

BEST NEW VOICE 

PAUL AVERY TINDOL 

BEST ILLUSTRATOR 

GRIM POPPY DESIGNS 

BEST BOOK-RELATED CONTENT CREATOR 

ARTHUR AVALOS 

FILM AWARDS:

BEST FEATURE 

BROOKLYN BUTCHER — JOSHUA PANGBORN 

BEST SHORT 

WEREWOLF MARGARITA 

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE 

JAMIE ALVEY BYSTANDERS 

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BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE 

GARRETT MURPHY 

BYSTANDERS 

ASH HAMILTON FINAL DAYS: TALES FROM THE END TIMES 

BEST DIRECTOR 

MARY BETH MCANDREWS BYSTANDERS 

THE SACRED CRYPT AWARDS CONGRATULATES ALL WINNERS, NOMINEES, AND 

MEMBERS OF THE HORROR COMMUNITY WHOSE PASSION AND CREATIVITY 

MADE OUR INAUGURAL YEAR SUCH A SUCCESS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO 

CONTINUING OUR MISSION OF CELEBRATING INDEPENDENT AND 

MARGINALIZED VOICES THROUGHOUT THE HORROR GENRE. 

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The Faces Behind The Voices:

ANGEL 

Founder of Voices 

Angel is the founder of Voices From the Mausoleum, a YouTube channel built on a love of horror and the people who make the genre special. 

five years, Angel has cultivated a Over the past welcoming community of horror fans while sharing commentary, discussions, and appreciation for the genre's many forms. Together with her co-hosts Mike and Serial, Angel co-founded the Sacred Crypt Awards to celebrate the creators, storytellers, and innovators who continue to shape and 

strengthen the horror community.

MIKE & SERIAL

Co Host of Voices 

Co Founder of The Sacred Crypt Awards 

Mike & Serial is a content creator and Co-Host of Voices From the Mausoleum who uses his platform to champion Indie Horror, short films, and diversity in the horror community. His passion for the unheard and unseen is what The Sacred Crypt Awards is all about. Mike and Angel are proud to shine a light on the Indie horror community with The Sacred Crypt Awards. 

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