The Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition
Killer Shorts Horror
Contact
Web:
https://www.killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
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(4.5/5.0) |
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Objective
Got a horror short screenplay or short story? We want to read it.
Our Top 10 finalists will be read by a jury of over a dozen literary managers, producers, filmmakers, and absolute horror legends. Prizes include guaranteed industry reads, career consultations, mentorships, a killer trophy, and so much more.
"Killer Shorts played a pivotal role in me finding representation at Bellevue. Thanks to the competition, I was connected with John who later connected me with my current manager, Maddy." - Vanessa Võ, Season 2 2nd Place Winner
"Killer Shorts has changed my life. It is so much more than a contest. It is a network of brilliant writers working to hone their craft. Winning is always the goal, but even placing in Killer Shorts opens so many avenues for writers to connect and grow. Show More
Deadline/Entry Fees
| Deadline | Date Days till: |
Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early | August 1, 2025 31 |
$25.00 |
| Regular | October 3, 2025 94 |
$30.00 |
| Final | December 5, 2025 157 |
$35.00 |
| Extended | December 31, 2025 183 |
$40.00 |
Free entry is available for VIP members of the Script Hive Discord Server. Learn more at https://scripthive.com
WinningScripts Pro 25% Off Coupon
Notification: February 15, 2026
Eligibility
Anyone in the world. If under 18, with parental consent.Rules
Screenplays entered must 20 pages or under, be written in English, and adhere to industry standard screenplay format. For a full list of rules, please visit the official website.Awards
This year's jury includes:- John Zaozirny - Literary Manager // Producer - Bellevue Productions
- Gregory Nicotero - Director // Producer // Special FX Make Up Creator (The Walking Dead, Creepshow, The Hateful Eight)
- Tananarive Due (The Twilight Zone, Horror Noire)
- Xavier Burgin - Director (Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror)
- Gigi Saul Guerrero - Director // Co-Founder Luchagore Productions (Satanic Hispanics, Culture Shock, El Gigante)
- Aaron B. Koontz - Producer // CEO Paper Street Pictures (Shelby Oaks, Scare Package I&II, The Pale Door)
- Melody Cooper - Producer // Writer (Beasts of Prey, Two Sentence Horror Stories, Law & Order: SVU)
- Julian Terry - Filmmaker (Whisper, The Nurse, They Hear It)
- Chelsea Lupkin - Senior Programmer at Short of the Week // Filmmaker (Flagged, Lucy's Tale)
- Glenn Cockburn - Literary Manager - Meridian Artists
- Barbara Crampton - Actress // Producer (You're Next, From Beyond, Chopping Mall, Re-Animator)
- Jenn Wexler - Filmmaker (The Sacrifice Game, The Ranger, ABC's of Death 2)
- Sophie Carroll - Programming Manager - ALTER
- Jason Tamasco - Producer - Traction Pictures
- Circulation and recommendation to our network of Hollywood managers, agents, producers and development executives.
- Final Draft 13 Screenwriting Software.
- 1:1 30 minute Crowdfunding Consultation call with Seed & Spark's Head of Creator Success
- Waived entry to multiple other contests and festivals.
- Career consultations & a 60 minute Career Development call with a Stage 32 industry professional.
- Access to Robert Mckee's 3 Part Horror Webinar Series, including three 90-minute lessons where McKee teaches the sources of horror, the hidden worlds within reality, and the secret to writing a monster that will terrify your audience.
- A skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy’s Face Off).
- Killer swag courtesy of Rue Morgue, Fright Rags, and Ghoulish Gary.
- ISAConnect Memberships (6 months, 3 months, 3 months)
- 1-Year Premium Subscription to ScriptHop
- 1-Year Rockstar Membership to Script Revolution
- Plus, our 3rd Place Winner will receive 5 pages of in-depth analysis and actionable advice from The Script Butcher!
- Finalist Laurels
- Final Draft license
- 1:1 30 minute Crowdfunding Consultation call with Seed & Spark's Head of Creator Success
- Stage 32 short script coverage from an industry professional
- Plus, your script will be read by our panel of industry judges.
- Semi Finalist Laurels
- Stage 32 Next Level Webinar of your choice
- Plus your screenplay will be made available by request to potential producers and filmmakers.
- Quarter Finalist Laurels
- 20% off of Stage 32's Search For New Blood Screenwriting Contest
1 Page Script Category
We recognize that shorter scripts have a slight disadvantage when it comes to impressing literary managers, so we are thrilled to continue our new ‘1 Page Category’, with prizes geared towards helping you produce a horror micro-short film.
Can you tell a horror story in just one page?
The Best 1 Page Script Will Receive:
- An all-access 1 year subscription to Stan Winston School, including their Course library by The Masters of FX.
- Final Draft 13 Screenwriting Software.
- A QWERKYWRITER® Best-In-Class Typewriter Inspired Mechanical Keyboard. $500 Cash.
- 6 Month ISAConnect Membership.
- 1-Year Premium Subscription to ScriptHop
- 1-Year Rockstar Membership to Script Revolution
- A skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy’s Face Off).
- Publication on Website
- Industry Circulation
- Chris Hicks Career Mentorship Call
- Scrivener Writing Software
- A skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy's Face Off).
The winner of the Short Story (Prose) category will receive a 30 minute, one on one zoom meeting with Chris Hicks, professional screenwriter and author of I Am Not Alone. Chris will answers general questions about the business, how to take your career to the next level, and navigating Hollywood.
Chris is the author of I Am Not Alone – the record breaking short story sold to Netflix. Misha Green has attached to write the script, direct and produce. Jessica Chastain attached to star and produce. Simon Kinberg producing. His story “All You Can Eat” is currently in development as a television series by Wonder Worldwide and Big Light Productions. His stories have been read by millions of readers on Reddit’s NoSleep where they are among the most popular stories of all time. As a screenwriter, he made the quarterfinals of the 2022 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship and was selected to the 2020 Bloodlist. Chris Hicks is a #killeralum with his script "THE BUTTER STREET HITCHHIKER" coming in 3rd Place in Season 1. Chris is represented by Peter Katz of Story Driven.
Killer Shorts Horror
Contact
Web:
https://www.killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(5.0/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Categories
Contest Comments
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The Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition
Contact
Web:
https://www.killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(5.0/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Categories
Contest News
Killer Shorts Names Season 6 Contest Winners
Kegel by Marisa Green has been named the Main Category Winner of the Season 6 Killer Shorts Screenplay Competition. The 1-Page and Short Category winners have also been announced. [Updated: 04/21/2025]
Killer Shorts Names 2025 Finalists
Killer Shorts has named the Top 10 Finalists in each of their three categories, selected from over 1,200 submissions to this year's competition. [Updated: 03/11/2025]
Killer Shorts Name Semifinalists
Semifinalists have been selected for the 2025 Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition. [Updated: 02/24/2025]
Killer Shorts Name Quarterfinalists
Quarterfinalists have been selected from more than 1,200 submissions to the 2025 Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition. [Updated: 02/10/2025]
Killer Shorts Names Contest Winners
Killer Shorts has announced their latest short screenplay and short story contest winners from among more than 1,124 submission. [Updated: 04/22/2024]
Show More NewsInterviews
Zero interviews found. If you've finished first, second, or third in this competition, we'd like to interview you.
The Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition
Contact
Web:
https://www.killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(5.0/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Categories
Submit Report Card
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First-time user? Register now to receive FREE email contest updates, news, results, deadline reminders and more. Rest assured, information submitted here is held in strict confidence. MovieBytes never sells or in any way distributes email names or addresses. We promise!
