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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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 | $25.00 |
| Regular | October 31, 2026 42 |
$30.00 |
| Final | December 4, 2026 76 |
$35.00 |
| Extended | December 31, 2026 103 |
$40.00 |
| Extended | December 31, 2026 103 |
$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 Name Quarterfinalists
Quarterfinalists have been selected from more than 1,200 submissions to the 2025 Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition.
Main Category
JON-CARLO DIAZ, A Light Shined Down and All I Could See Was Darkness
KYLE ENSRUDE, A Stirring in Saint John’s Wood
KELSEY NERRIE, An Addition to the Household
FRANK MALDONADO, Baby
TRAVIS USHER, Baby
TANIA LUNA, Baby Tooth
BRYCE CARLISLE, Below the Basement
JON DI ROCCO, Bird Mama
VINCE GATTON & ALLAN PIPER, Cassie Strickland Is Not Under the Bed
CHARLIE T SAVAGE, Cell Tell Heart
MARGARET BOWMAN, Citizen Workshop for Artisan Crafts
JORDAN ANDREW, Creature
ERIC MILLER, Culling the Herd
JO BUDZILOWICZ, Dead Inside
CECILIA KIM & MELANIE CRISTESCU, Death is a Favor
CHAD MICHAEL WARD, DESOLATION HEART
CAMARA AARON, Dou-dou
NATHAN D. LUDWIG & JONATHAN STRAITON, Dover
SHAUN O’LOUGHLIN, Drinkwater
JASON TOSTEVIN, Eat Me
SHAUN BALAND, Eternal Canyon
COSTANTINO CIMINELLO & MITCHELL SLAN, Everything Wrong With Patrick
J. PHILLIP WILKINS, Far From The Barbarous Coast
BRIAN LIEPE, Feather the Trigger
DEREK LADD, FLIES
RICARDO BRAVO, For the Record
NAT ANGLIN, Ghosting
AMY T. MARTIN, Gone Song
JENNIFER MILNE, HEARTWARMING HORROR SHORT
LISA KRÖGER & LARISSA ZAGERIS, Hissy Fit
IRENE CHEN & FRANCISCA ZAPATA, How to be The Perfect Housewife
HADLEY DION, Hysterical
TOBY MARKS, I was here
LEE BACON, In the Bones
NISHANTH R. & NATHAN XIA, Indian in a Box
CHRIS MITCHELL, Inkling
MARTIN PHILLIPS, Insomnia
VANESSA BLOOM, Interfaith Exorcisim
MARY KURYLA, Invasive Species
GEOFF COX, It’s Yours Now
JADE JIAO, Jester’s Privilege
MARISA GREEN, KEGEL
CATHERINE CASEY, Killer Clown on Roller Skates
STEVE MITCHELL, Last of the Vegans
LAKEISHA JACKSON, Last Seen
LISA OVIES, LIFE
JASON FINK & BRANDON FINK, Lit Up
RYAN CULLEN, Longtime Companion
TIJUANA RICKS, Mama
RHITUPARNA BASU, Mark of the Ghoul
DONNE COPENHAVER, Masterwork
ANDREW WILLIAM WEAVER, Maya’s Room
SALVADOR MEDINA, Meztliapan
MIGUEL MARTINEZ, Migrant Spirits
JEREMY JACKSON, MILK AND COOKIES
GIOVANNA UMPIERREZ, Mirrored
HARKER JONES, Mistletoe
ARRAN CRAWLEY, Mother Wound
ELIZABETH WATSON, Motionless
RODOLFO SALAS, Nightmare Mine
VALERA RODION, Nice Jacket
TARYN CRANKSHAW, NO FEELINGS WERE HURT IN THE MAKING OF THIS FILM
RENUKA SINGH, No Guts, No Glory
AIDAN PETERSHACK, Opus
PIMVENUS CLARK, Period Products for the Apocalypse
NICOLAS HOSEA CHRISTIANTONO, Phantasmagore: Body of Lewy
PHILLIP MCSWEEN, Phosphorous
EVA LOUISE HALL, Pluck
ANOOP B. SINGH, PRION
LUCY FOSTER & PETER STEAD, Provenance
HEATHER SHIELDS, Pythia Falls
TOBY MARKS, Quiet Minds
TOVA WEINBERGER, Raccoon Seance (or, The One True Vegan)
TYLER BLOMSTROM-MOORE, Raven Feeder
AROOJ SHAH, Reptilian Sisterhood
AUSTIN LANGLEY, Royal Beast
CALEB GEORGE, Secrets, Secrets
HYTEN DAVIDSON, She Looks Just Like You
CHARLIE AINSWORTH, She Who Hears Monsters
ZOE KERR, Shock Collar
JON PLATT, SKELETON CREW
MATTHEW YONGUE, Sleigh
GREYSON WYATT, Small Fry
JEFFERY THOMPSON JR, Soul Walker
SAM FOWLER, SPREAD THE WORM
EVAN SCHULLERY, Squeak
KIERAN GLEESON, Steps
DUSTIN MOORE, Still Echoes
JASON SHEEDY, Tapestry
TANIA LUNA, Teeth
CALEB DILLON, The Ardent Ball
ANWEN BULL & LUCA FANGEAUX, The Bunyip
JUSTIN STALEY, The Cavity
BEN RAMSAY, THE FINAL TEN
GJ HARVEY, The Flip and the Dead
BRIANA COX, The Good Neighbors
LELA CERMIN, The Hatred
GUILHERME FEITOSA, The Labatut
SIMON TATUM, THE NIGHT ROAD
WREN VALENTINO, The Playhouse
JUDY KLASS, The Poe-ster
JOSHUA POTTER, The Sixth Passenger
MBUGUA MUCHOKI, The Wheel of Destiny
BRENDAN BYRNE, Thunk
CHRIS MURPHY, Time Based Coding
TANIA LUNA, Travelers
WALKER MACDONALD, Twice Shy
ANNA XIQUES, Under the Bed
WILL EMUSS, UNDYING LOVE
ANDREW PARKHILL, Until You Wake Up Dead
ALLEN ADKINS, Vigilant
DEREK LADD, Vision in Red
DARRELL LAKE, We are not safe
NEHEMYAH GRAY, When it Comes
WARREN MYERS, White Light / White Heat
1-Page Category
KIMBERLY DIVAD, A GAME
GIOVANNA UMPIERREZ, A LEG FOR A LEG
TANNER CALL, Afterdeath
SANCHEZ TAYLOR, Appeal
JULIA DIDDY, Aqua Tofana
ASH CABALLERO, Asylum 66
THOMAS SCHRACK, Baby Monitor
ZELDA WATKINS, BLACK METAL DAHLIA
DYLAN BARNETT, BOBBER
SHAUN O’LOUGHLIN, Carved
ANOOP B. SINGH, CHOP CHOP
CHRIS VANDERHORST, Come Out Now
ROSE VATEL, Cowboy Boogeyman
SARAH RICHARDSON, Deliverer
WILL DEFRANGESCO, Doll House
EILIDH SMITH, DON’T FORGET TO SCREAM
MOSES NEBRASKA, doorslash
CALLUM HENDERSON, Execution
AMY T. MARTIN, Fallen Man
JONATHAN CLARK, FRACTURED
JADE JIAO, Grotesque
STEPHEN CHEN, Hanzo’s Hideout
ADRIAN KENNEDY, Home Birth
DAN BERNARDI, I Live Here Now
SHAUN BALAND, Killer Jorts
IAN BAASKE, Kiss Her Once for Me
CLAUDIA BARCENAS, La Llorona
JAMES FERDA, Michael and his Monster
DANIEL MERINO VILLAVICENCIO, Missing Woods
JONNY WRIGHT, Night Bus
JON DI ROCCO, Night Soldier
HANNA ALLELIGN, Red Light, Green Light
RIVES ELLIOT, Red Paint
AZZURRA NOX, Resting Bitch Face
MOSES NEBRASKA, Retraction
BRITTNEY COON, SCREAMS & LAUGHTER
LEE COTMAN, Spilt Milk
DESIREE MIDDLETON, Stall Me
EVAN BAUGHFMAN, Stargazing
LISA JAY, Submerged
PHILLIP DISHON, Surprise, Surprise
ANDREW DUNSTAN, Sweet Lady
LOUIS UTIEYIN, Taps
BASSAM MOHAMED HAREEZ, The Birthday Candles
ASH LAZER, The Black Room
QUINNY YOUNG, THE HOST
FRED NOLTING, The Midnight Kitty
JULIAN MARTIN, The Mirror Game
CLARENCE JOSHUA BOYCE, The Red King Syndrome
JASON TURER, The Red-Eye Effect
ANDREW KEVIN FAWN, The Transcript
CHRIS CHURILLA, The Wrong One
LEONARD JOHNSON, This May Take a Few Seconds
MILES R., Three on a Roof
EVAN BAUGHFMAN, Tic-Tac-Toes
JOSHUA DORSEY, Toddler Wolf
SHAUN BALAND, Two Little Pigs
JEREMY JACKSON, Uninterrupted Sleep
WILL DENFORD, Unwanted Party Guests
CALEB DILLON, Viral
Short Story (Prose)
MICHAEL KEENER, ...within a dream
TOM BROWNGARDT, A Dangerous Stretch
JASON TOSTEVIN, A Lullaby for Night
TOM BROWNGARDT, A Moveable Haunt
MERE WALTON, A Nightime Visit
JEREMIAH BLACKMAN, All That’s Left
GABRIEL SERRANO DENIS, Behemoth
TIARA SMITH, Besties
J.J. HILLARD, Bug Boy
AZZURRA NOX, Comets Tear the Skies
MONTSERRAT LUNA-BALLANTYNE, Dear Nora
ROB ULITSKI, Decay
MICHAEL PEARSON, Dog Toothed
P.M. RAYMOND, Don’t Drink the Water
JOHN BIAS, Dream or Reality?
TIYAN NEWMAN, Eden
JULIE ANN SLABY, Erasmus Book One: First of May
ANDY FARRANT, False Idol
MATTHEW BRADY, Fishers of Men
ASABI LEE & PAUL HART-WILDEN, FORGET ME NOT
JERRY J SAMPSON, God’s Future Soldiers
ASH DURAI, HER
JEFF SEEMAN, Horror Business
ANDY FARRANT, Hotline to Heaven
KAMARIA WILLIAMS, Hypnagogic
CALEB DILLON, Identity Theft
RHONDA JACKSON GARCIA, Important Things
ANTHONY LABRIOLA, Insatiable
TERESA HAINO, Jezebel in Hell
ANDY FARRANT, Jinglewood Junction
JIMMY HAMILL, Keening
ALLIE NELSON, Last Seen
LUIS AREVALO, Masters of Earth
EMELIE CLAXTON, Mother’s Day
JACKIE FENN, Nurture
CAROLYN LENZ, Party Animal
ANNA LABRIOLA, Please Take One
AKUORKOR ALLOTEY, Quis ut Deus
ZITA GRANT, Razor Blood Vine
JERRY J SAMPSON, Sans Sucres
BRIAN EWING, Scree
JERRY J SAMPSON, Sleep Demon
ROBERT CREEKMORE, Sole Survivor
RHONDA JACKSON GARCIA, Sweet Sunday Supper Smile
ANDY FARRANT, The Best Coffee in the World
SURINA BELK-GUPTA, The Boy Who Fell
ARIC HARRISON, The Far Side of the Veil: In the Quiet Depths of Glass
JONATHAN CLARK, THE HOUSE OF BONES, SELF-GUIDED TOUR
KATIE WRIGHT, The Man in the Mirror
ANTHONY ROBERTS, The Mineshaft
CARTER FRIEND, THE NUT CRACKER
FREYA JENSEN-BRANDT, The Red Glove
C.T. ROEMER, The Sacrifice
CK LOVE, THE SILENCE OF WAR
MATTHEW JACKSON, The Stream
BRIAN BRENNAN, The Whole Truth
MORGAN TEGTOW, They Will Turn Me into Them
P.M. RAYMOND, Things Are as They Should Be
DEREK ANDERSON, Under the Mistletoe
Updated: 02/10/2025
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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