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 | $41 (short) $47 (feature) |
Early | March 15, 2025 | $44 (short); $51 (feature) |
Regular | June 15, 2025 46 |
$59 (short); $62 (feature) |
Final | September 1, 2025 124 |
$69 (short); $73 (feature) |
Submit Screenplays and Films via Filmfreeway.com/NewYorkCityFilmFestival.
Notification: Selection: October 15, 2025 / Winners: December 7, 2025
Eligibility
18 and over.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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(0.0/5.0) |
Professionalism: |
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(0.0/5.0) |
Feedback: |
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Signficance: |
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Report Cards: |
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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 Film Festival Announces Screenplay Contest Results
THE MORBS by Greg Sisco has been named the winner of the 2022 NYC Horror Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. Head by Joseph Graham was named the Short Script Competition winner.
WINNERS:
Best Unproduced Feature
THE MORBS by Greg Sisco
Best Unproduced Short
HEAD by Joseph Graham
FINALISTS:
Unproduced Features
ABRAHAM VAN HELSING AND THE HUNT FOR JACK THE RIPPER by Gary M. Raskin
Murder Gras by Samuel P. Fortsch, Ryan Williams
Septicemia by Ben Floss
The Murder Show by Shane Spiegel, Justin Reager
Unproduced Shorts
FREEDA by Lorenzo Colonna, Giada Mazzoleni
RANDY NOOMAN’S GREATEST DAY by Aaron S. Barrocas
REFLECTION by Lisa Ovies
THE UNWRAPPING by Patrick Joseph Mediate, Aaron McLane
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Unproduced Features
13th STREET SCARE by Cecilia Copeland
ABYSSUS by Eric Hanson, Derek Stewart
AIRB-N-BLOOD by Aaron Barrocas
PINKY by Scott Caswell
PSYCHOPATHY by Tanya Klein, Jim Cirile
Unproduced Shorts
DO NOT DISTURB WHATEVER IS IN ROOM 255 by Jeremy Herbert
LET’S PLAY A GAME by Shane Thompson
MY DEAD SISTER by Janet L. Loftis
SURPRISE BABY SHOWER by Tim Troemner
THE WESTWOOD WITCH by Gregory Steve Kovacs
Updated: 01/17/2023
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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