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The Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition
Killer Shorts Horror
Contact
Web:
https://killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
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(4.0/5.0) |
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(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
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(4.0/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
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(4.0/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
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Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
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Categories
Objective
Killer Shorts: Short Scripts, Features, & Short Stories
Got a horror script or short story? We want to read it.
Killer Shorts is a premier launchpad dedicated to discovering, championing, and launching new voices in horror and dark genre filmmaking. Founded in 2019, our competition connects writers with the industry professionals who actually greenlight, manage, and cover genre cinema.
Whether you are a master of micro-budget proof-of-concepts or the creator of the next great studio franchise, your work belongs here.
Expanding to Feature Screenplays
We believe the short format is the ultimate industry equalizer. Hits like Lights Out and The Backrooms proved that Hollywood’s next viral obsession starts as a micro-budget proof of concept. Show More
Deadline/Entry Fees
| Deadline | Date Days till: |
Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|
| First Wave | June 5, 2026 | $20.00 |
| Earlybird | August 7, 2026 51 |
$25.00 |
| Regular | October 31, 2026 136 |
$30.00 |
| Final | December 4, 2026 170 |
$35.00 |
| Extended | December 31, 2026 197 |
$40.00 |
| Extended | December 31, 2026 197 |
$40.00 |
Submissions close at 11:59 PM PST on the listed deadline date. Questions can be directed to support@killershorts.com.
WinningScripts Pro 25% Off Coupon
Notification: February 15, 2027
Eligibility
Anyone in the world. If under 18, with parental consent.Rules
For a full list of rules, please visit the official website.Awards
This year's jury includes:- John Zaozirny — Literary Manager & Producer, Bellevue Productions
- Tananarive Due — Author & Producer (The Twilight Zone, Horror Noire)
- Barbara Crampton — Actress & Producer (Re-Animator, Jakob's Wife, Suitable Flesh)
- Lucas Ford — Producer, Ford Films (The Backrooms)
- Sophie Carroll — Creative Director, ALTER & DUST at Gunpowder & Sky
- Xavier Burgin — Director (Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror)
- Jed Shepherd — Filmmaker (Host, Flashback, Blair Witch Doc)
- Gigi Saul Guerrero — Director & Co-Founder, Luchagore Productions (Satanic Hispanics, Culture Shock)
- Aaron B. Koontz — Producer & CEO, Paper Street Pictures (Shelby Oaks, Scare Package)
- John Squires — Editor-in-Chief, Bloody Disgusting
- 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
- Jenn Wexler — Filmmaker (The Sacrifice Game, The Ranger)
- Jason Tamasco — Producer, Traction Pictures
- Melody Cooper — Producer & Writer (Beasts of Prey, Two Sentence Horror Stories, Law & Order: SVU)
HORROR SHORT SCREENPLAY CATEGORY - PRIZES
Top 3 Winners- The Killer Trophy & Winner Laurels.
- Industry Circulation: Your script sent to our network of horror producers.
- The Scream List: Elevated placement increasing visibility among industry professionals.
- Stage 32 Pro Package: 60-min Career Development Call, Short Script Coverage, and FREE “Search for New Blood” contest entry.
- The Winner’s Bundle: Final Draft 13, Shudder memberships, ISA Connect Memberships and access to Robert McKee’s Horror Webinar Series.
- Horror Fan Bundle: Rue Morgue Magazine Subscription and Fright Rags Gift Card.
- Plus all Finalist prizes below.
- Finalist Laurels & Script Directory Publication.
- Final Draft 13 Software License.
- Production Suite: Seed & Spark Consultation and We Make Movies Gold Membership.
- Stage 32 Access: Script Coverage, Next Level Webinar and 50% off “Search For New Blood” entry.
- Plus all Semifinalist prizes below.
- Semifinalist Laurels & Script Directory Publication.
- Stage 32 Package: Next Level Webinar and 20% off “Search For New Blood” entry.
- Quarterfinalist Laurels.
- Exclusive Discounts: Reduced rates for Stage 32 contests and partner services.
- $5,000 cash prize.
- The Killer Trophy & Winner Laurels.
- Bellevue Productions First Look: Guaranteed script review by literary manager John Zaozirny.
- Plus all Top 3 & Finalist prizes below.
- Industry Circulation: Your script sent to our premier network of horror producers.
- The Winner’s Bundle: Final Draft 13, Free Feature Script Entry to ScriptHop’s Gauntlet, and We Make Movies Gold Membership.
- $50 Deep Cuts Coffee Gift Card.
- Plus all Finalist prizes below.
- Finalist Laurels & Script Directory Publication.
- Seed & Spark Crowdfunding Consultation.
- Plus all Semifinalist prizes below.
- Semifinalist Laurels.
- The Script Directory: Logline publication in our curated industry database.
- Quarterfinalist Laurels.
- $500 Cash Prize & Winner Laurels.
- The Killer Trophy.
- 6 Month ISA Connect Membership.
- Plus all Top 3 prizes listed below.
- Industry Circulation: Script sent to our network of horror producers.
- The Scream List: Elevated placement increasing visibility among industry professionals.
- Final Draft 13 Software License.
- Creator Bundle: Stan Winston School Membership, We Make Movies Gold Membership, and Script Revolution Rockstar memberships.
- Stage 32 Pro Perk: 100% off “Search For New Blood” contest entry.
- Plus all Finalist prizes below.
- Finalist Laurels & Script Directory Publication.
- Stage 32 Access: Free Stage 32 “Next Level” Webinar and 20% off “Search For New Blood” contest entry.
- Placement Laurels (Semi or Quarterfinalist).
- Exclusive Discounts: Reduced rates for Stage 32 contests and partner webinars.
- The Killer Trophy & Winner Laurels.
- Pro Consultation: One-on-one 30-minute meeting with author and screenwriter Chris Hicks (I Am Not Alone).
- Official Publication: Featured story placement on the Killer Shorts website.
- Plus all Top 3 & Finalist prizes below.
- Winner Laurels.
- Industry Circulation: Your work sent to our network of horror producers and literary reps.
- Plus all Finalist prizes below.
- Finalist Laurels.
- Scrivener Software: Professional writing license for prose and screenwriting.
- Stage 32 Access: Free “Next Level” Webinar and 50% off “Search For New Blood” entry.
- Semifinalist Laurels & Script Directory Publication.
- Education & Discounts: Free Stage 32 Webinar and 20% off “Search For New Blood” entry.
- Quarterfinalist Laurels.
- Stage 32 Discount: 20% off Stage 32 “Search For New Blood” entry.
Killer Shorts Horror
Contact
Web:
https://killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| 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://killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Categories
Contest News
Killer Shorts Announces 2026 Screenplay Competition Finalists
Killer Shorts has announced the Top 10 finalists for its 2026 Horror Short Screenplay Competition, with selections spanning its Main Category, 1-Page Screenplay, and Short Story (Prose) divisions.
The finalists were chosen from more than 1,000 submissions and advanced through multiple rounds of evaluation. Winners will be announced April 27.
Scripts marked with a dagger (†) received a “Recommend” rating from Killer Shorts readers and are included on the competition’s “Scream List.”
Main Category Finalists
- Lucy Foster — Answer Man
- Benjamin Luk — Buttons †
- Elaine Frost — By Yourself
- Joshua David Matthews — Grim
- Michael Clifton — Lyla’s Last Dance
- Michael Pisaturo — No Faces
- Sebastian Watson — No Fishing
- Taylor Shofner — The Cockatrice
- Shane Thompson — Welcome to Our Cabin
- Sam Das — What Remains
- Deerest Darling — Eislinn Gracen
- How Was Your Day? † — Sapphire Sandalo
- Riding with the King — Salvatore Liuzzi
- Super Absolutely — Francesca Pazniokas
- We’ll Be In Touch — Andrew Maron
1-Page Screenplay Finalists
- Giovanna Umpierrez — Blackberry
- Liam Fitzpatrick — Guess Again
- Paul Starkey — Loose Lips
- Colby Helton — Nothing Yet
- Olivia Loccisano — ProtoTyke
- Rose Vatel — School Shopping
- Inês Reis — The Homebody
- Maureen Trinh — The License Plate Game
- Jose Cruz — The Shaft †
- TJ Berry — Weakness Leaving the Body †
- Amma — Andrew Dunstan
- Beaming — Cass Cooper
- PARTY BLOB — James Allen
- Peeping Tom — Justin Burford
- What Big Muscles You Have! — Stephen Chen
Short Story (Prose) Finalists
- Nicholas Thomas — A.Eye
- Aric Harrison — Alligator Boy
- Austin Langley — Apple Tree
- Akuorkor Allotey — Doggy in the Window
- Mark Renshaw — Fungi
- Tom Browngardt — Gravestone Concussion
- Mike AD — Hulled Out
- Martin Delaney — Nothing Is Scary Any More
- Shannon Weston — Rendered Speechless
- Brooke Solomon — Texas Tea
- Harold aka Fed by Pain — Millie Price
- The Lamb — Travis Williams
- Things That Came Through With the Baby — TJ Berry
- To Reach New Horizons — Gabriel Cofield
- Yesforatu — C. Lenz
Now in its seventh season, Killer Shorts continues to serve as a platform for emerging horror writers, offering finalists exposure to industry professionals along with prizes including software, consultations, and script coverage.
Updated: 03/16/2026
The Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition
Contact
Web:
https://killershorts.com
Email:
info@killershortscontest.com
Contact: Alison Parker, Contest Director
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.0/5.0) |
| 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!
