Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition
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About
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, increased Coverfly score, a killer trophy, and so much more. Visit our website for more information.
Killer Shorts Short Script Coverage helps screenwriters elevate their script to the next level, while also increasing its Coverfly score! This boost can help place your script on the Red List, where industry professionals discover great talent.
"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
"Because I placed as a top 10 finalist in the Killer Shorts contest, I was awarded a Coverfly Career consultation. Of all the contests I entered, Killer Shorts was the most helpful and tailored to me. The career consultation was great. They really took the time to get to know me and my voice, and helped connect me with a manager that understands exactly how to market me and the projects I'm interested in." - Kelly Nugent, Season 3 Top 10 Finalist
"Winning Season 5 (and qualifying in the Top 10 with a different script in Season 4) has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in any screenplay competition I've participated in. Alison has been an ally, advocate, and advisor on my career, my writing, and me as a person. Her unwavering interest in helping emerging writers achieve their goals is clear in everything she does and how she runs Killer Shorts. I honestly could go and on, but yes, this is a MUST if you are a genre writer." - Victor Ridaura, Season 5 1st Place Winner
"If you only submit to one competition this year… make it Killer Shorts. Killer staff. Killer graphics. Killer comp." - Aidan Kilpatrick, Season 5 Semifinalist
Prices & Deadlines
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Aug 1st
Early
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Oct 1st
Regular
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Dec 1st
Final
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Dec 31st
Extended
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Horror Short Screenplay
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$25.00
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$30.00
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$35.00
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$40.00
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Horror Short Screenplay + Feedback
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$75.00
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$80.00
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$85.00
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$90.00
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1 Page Horror Short Screenplay
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$10.00
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$10.00
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$10.00
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$15.00
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1 Page Horror Short Screenplay + Feedback
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$60.00
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$60.00
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$60.00
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$65.00
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Short Story (Prose)
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$25.00
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$30.00
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$35.00
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$40.00
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Benefits
- John Zaozirny - Literary Manager // Producer - Bellevue Productions
- Gregory Nicotero - Director // Producer // Special FX Make Up Creator (The Walking Dead, Creepshow, The Hateful Eight)
- Xavier Burgin - Director (Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror)
- Melody Cooper - Producer // Writer (Beasts of Prey, Two Sentence Horror Stories, Law & Order: SVU)
- 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)
- Seth M. Sherwood - Screenwriter (Leatherface, Hell Fest)
- 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
- Matthew Dartnell - Literary Manager - Writ Large
The Top 3 Winners Receive:
- Circulation and recommendation to our network of Hollywood managers, agents, producers and development executives.
- Career consultations with Coverfly's Head of Development & 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.
- Final Draft 13 Screenwriting Software.
- 1:1 30 minute Crowdfunding Consultation call with Seed & Spark's Head of Creator SuccessWe Make Movies 1 Year Gold Membership (Including 20% Off Film Production Services)
- Waived entry to multiple other contests and festivals.
- A skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy's Face Off).
- Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List.
- Killer swag courtesy of Rue Morgue, Fright Rags, Ghoulish Gary, and Horror Pack.
- 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!
Top 10 Finalists Receive:
Semi Finalists Receive:
Semi Finalist Laurels, Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List, Stage 32 Next Level Webinar of your choice, plus your screenplay will be made available by request to potential producers and filmmakers.
Quarter Finalists Receive:
Quarter Finalist Laurels, Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List, 20% off of Stage 32's Search For New Blood Screenwriting Contest and 5 Coverfly Tokens for use on Coverfly’s free peer-to-peer notes exchange.
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.
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.
- We Make Movies 1 Year Gold Membership (Including 20% Off Film Production Services)
- Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List.
- 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).
Short Story Category
Publication on Website
Chris Hicks Career Mentorship Call
- Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List.
- Scrivener Writing Software
- Book Brush 1 Year Gold Membership
- A skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy's Face Off).
Judges
John Zaozirny
Literary Manager // Producer
Bellevue Productions
John Zaozirny oversees the feature film production slate for Bellevue and the Literary Management Team. His clients' writing and directing credits include COBWEB, INFINITE, PARALLEL, ELI, BAD MATCH, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2022), HEAVY TRIP, OFFICE UPRISING, JOLT, and SPLINTER amongst others.
Gregory Nicotero
Director // SPX Make Up Creator
Gregory Nicotero is an American special make-up effects creator, television producer, and director. His first major job in special effects makeup was on the George A. Romero film Day of the Dead (1985), under the tutelage of Romero and make-up effects veteran Tom Savini.
Barbara Crampton
Actress // Producer
Iconic horror actress and producer known for such movies as SUITABLE FESH, JAKOB'S WIFE, YOU'RE NEXT, RE-ANIMATOR, FROM BEYOND, and CHOPPING MALL.
Xavier Burgin
Director
Xavier Burgin is an Emmy-nominated writer/director from USC Cinema. He's a staff writer on Starz's wrestling drama, Heels. He's written for the WWE, CryptTV, Amazon Studios, The Discovery Channel, and Paramount. He directed AMC Network's Horror Noire, Adult Swim's Juneteenth Holiday Special, and the BET+ series, Giants. Xavier is the dubbing director for Netflix's sumo sports drama, Sanctuary.
Julian Terry
Screenwriter
Julian Terry is a writer, director, and cinematographer based in Los Angeles. He has directed five short horror films, three of which have been picked up by major studios. His first horror short, The Nurse, won the Annabelle: Creation Contest in 2017, which has since been optioned by New Line Cinema. Whisper, his second short, was made on a super tight budget in one location and has been optioned by Amblin Entertainment. His third horror short, They Hear It, was made as a proof of concept for a feature and was pitched and sold to Legendary.
Aaron B. Koontz
Producer // CEO Paper Street Pictures
Paper Street Pictures
Aaron B. Koontz is President and Founder of Paper Street Pictures, LLC. Notable projects include THE PALE DOOR, Shudder's SCARE PACKAGE I & II, and CAMERA OBSCURA.
Sophie Carroll
Programming Manager
ALTER // Gun Powder & Sky
Sophie Carroll graduated from the University of Warwick, England with a BA in Film Studies. After working at a variety of production companies in production management in London, Sophie joined Gunpowder & Sky and spearheaded the development of their ALTER brand. ALTER showcases innovative horror short films from diverse filmmakers on their platforms and has quickly amassed over 4 million fans since launching in August 2018. Since mid 2020, Sophie has also headed up Filmmaker Management & Curation for Gunpowder & Sky’s Sci-Fi brand DUST.
Seth M. Sherwood
Screenwriter
Seth M. Sherwood is a Los Angeles based screenwriter, director, designer, and producer. He is a credited writer on Leatherface, and Hellfest and is serving as Co-Executive Producer on season 2 of Light As A Feather for Awesomeness TV & Hulu. He has feature and television projects in development across town.
Matthew Dartnell
Literary Manager
Writ Large
Literary Manager at Writ Large, Matt primarily works with up and coming writers.
Jason Tamasco
Producer
Traction Pictures
Jason Tamasco is a Partner and Producer at Traction. Notable projects include BOUND TO VENGEANCE (IFC Midnight), Netflix’s OPENING NIGHT, and Netflix & Univision Networks’ show EL CHAPO.
Gigi Saul Guerrero
Director // Co-Founder
Luchagore Productions
Gigi Saul Guerrero is a Mexican-Canadian filmmaker and actress who has directed 17 short films including gore-fest EL GIGANTE. She directed CULTURE SHOCK for Blumhouse, episodes of The Purge and the anthology horror series Into the Dark.
Melody Cooper
Writer // Producer
Weaned on sci fi, horror and social activism, Melody's currently adapting the book BEASTS OF PREY to film for Netflix . Selected for 2021 Adobe Women at Sundance Fellowship. Previously story editor, 22nd season LAW & ORDER: SVU, writer on TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES. 2021 Sundance Episodic Lab, 2019 HBO Access Writing Fellow. Comic book: OMNI Vol. 2; "Igbo Landing" in NOIR IS THE NEW BLACK.
Chelsea Lupkin
Screenwriter // Director
Short of the Week
Chelsea Lupkin is a filmmaker and Senior Programmer for Short of the Week. Her horror short credits include Huluween's FLAGGED, and LUCY'S TALE which has been viewed over 3 million times on ALTER.
Jenn Wexler
Filmmaker
Director, THE SACRIFICE GAME, THE RANGER. Producer, DEPRAVED, MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, LIKE ME, PSYCHOPATHS, and DARLING.
Glenn Cockburn
Literary Manager
Meridian Artists
Glenn Cockburn is the founder of Meridian Artists and represents a select roster of some of Canada’s most talented writers, directors and producers.
Mentors
Chris Hicks
Screenwriter // Author
Repped by Story Driven and Verve
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.