New York City Horror Film Festival Screenplay Competition
New York City Horror

Contact
158 Arthur Street
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-666-6729 (voice)
Web:
https://nychorrorfest.com/
Email:
submissions@nychorrorfest.com
Contact: Ronnie Hein, Festival Director
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Objective
New York City's longest running horror film festival. Established by MooDude Films CEO / Producer / Director / Michael J. Hein in 2001. The NYCHFF is a four-day event that takes place each December in New York City. The NYCHFF has grown to be a world recognized event, with industry, filmmakers, and press attention from around the globe. The Hein Family is committed to keeping the festival alive in memory of the truly missed and loved founder Michael J Hein. The festival is competitive, screening approximately 50-60 films each year.
SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
Seeking unproduced short and feature horror, horror-comedy, thriller, dark comedy or sci-fi screenplays. The goal is to find scripts that read well on the page and have the scares and sensibilities we often look for in the produced film submissions and official selections that screen.
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Deadline/Entry Fees
Deadline | Date Days till: |
Entry Fee |
---|---|---|
Very Early | February 15, 2025 9 |
$41 (short) $47 (feature) |
Early | March 15, 2025 37 |
$44 (short); $51 (feature) |
Regular | June 15, 2025 129 |
$59 (short); $62 (feature) |
Final | September 1, 2025 207 |
$69 (short); $73 (feature) |
Submit Screenplays and Films via Filmfreeway.com/NewYorkCityFilmFestival.
Notification: Selection: October 15, 2025 / Winners: December 7, 2025
Rules
Eligibility Requirements:- Unproduced status will be one of the factors considered when determining a screenplay’s inclusion in the New York City Horror Film Festival. World, U.S., East Coast. Feature film or shorts screenplays must not have had any commercial, theatrical, TV, internet or festival screenings on the east coast within 6 months of the NYCHFF. Screenplays must not have had any commercial, theatrical, television or internet play in the United States. Please use our Script Submissions Page on FilmFreeway to submit your materials.
- Length: Feature screenplays (85-120 pgs.) / Short screenplays (1-30 pgs.)
Awards
Best Unproduced Short Screenplay
Best Unproduced Feature Screenplay
Screenplay Finalists may receive Complimentary Passes to the film festival.
Winners receive an official New York City Horror Film Festival plaque
New York City Horror

Contact
158 Arthur Street
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-666-6729 (voice)
Web:
https://nychorrorfest.com/
Email:
submissions@nychorrorfest.com
Contact: Ronnie Hein, Festival Director
Report Card |
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Overall: |
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(0.0/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
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(0.0/5.0) |
Feedback: |
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(0.0/5.0) |
Signficance: |
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(0.0/5.0) |
Report Cards: |
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Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
Contest Comments
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New York City Horror Film Festival Screenplay Competition

Contact
158 Arthur Street
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-666-6729 (voice)
Web:
https://nychorrorfest.com/
Email:
submissions@nychorrorfest.com
Contact: Ronnie Hein, Festival Director
Report Card |
||
Overall: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Feedback: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Signficance: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Report Cards: |
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
Contest News
NYC Horror Fest Names Script Selections
The New York City Horror Film Festival has announced their 2023 Unproduced Short and Feature script selections. This year's hybrid festival will be live December 7th through December 12th at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas (657 W. 57th Street. New York, NY 10019) and online at Eventive from December 8th through December 12th.
2023 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:
SHORTS:
GUISE by Paul Grammatico
JANICE by Rafael De Leon, Jr.
LITTLE BUG by Shane Thompson
MOTION ALERT by Melanie Ortiz
SCRATCH, SCRATCH by Pierre Langenegger
STRAY by Jason G. Rice
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL by Shane Thompson
THE WONDER YEARS by James Ferda
THESE BONES CAN DANCE by Lauren Brown
UP ON THE HOUSE TOP by Janet L. Loftis
FEATURES:
BLOODBATH by Patrick Tierney
CORNSTALKERS by Michael L. Bayouth
FINAL TABLE by Robert Aiello, Joshua Saland
NEON CRIMSON by Derek Stewart
REVIVAL by Abby Selden
ROMANTICIZING MONSTERS by Ryan M. Andrews
ROUGH CUT by Mitchell V. Slan
THE MEMORY SPHERE by Kevin Sluder
TIL WE DIE by Daniel J. McGuire
TYPHOID MARIA by Timothy Porter
Finalists and Semi-Finalist announcements to follow.
Updated: 11/06/2023
New York City Horror Film Festival Screenplay Competition

Contact
158 Arthur Street
Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-666-6729 (voice)
Web:
https://nychorrorfest.com/
Email:
submissions@nychorrorfest.com
Contact: Ronnie Hein, Festival Director
Report Card |
||
Overall: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Feedback: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Signficance: |
|
(0.0/5.0) |
Report Cards: |
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
Submit Report Card
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