Screamfest
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Screamfest
Screamfest
2022
Active Since 2001
Screamfest Horror Film Festival is the largest and longest running horror film festival in the United States.
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Currently Closed. Subscribe to receive a notification when the next season opens.
About
Screamfest Horror Film Festival is the largest and longest running horror film festival in the United States. Paranormal Activity was discovered and premiered at the festival in 2007. Some of the largest horror online publications have called it the "Sundance of Horror".
The 2022 Festival will be held at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on the 3rd floor of the Hollywood & Highland Center in eclectic Hollywood, California.
Screamfest, America’s largest and longest running horror film festival premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers. Many of the filmmakers have garnered distribution and representation as a result of the festival. Screamfest launches careers.
Film entries are accepted in the categories of Best Feature, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects and Musical Score. In addition, there are special categories for Best Animation, Best Short, Best Documentary and Best Student Film.
Screamfest was formed in August 2001 by film producers Rachel Belofsky and Ross Martin in order to give filmmakers and writers in the horror/sci-fi genres a venue to have their work showcased to people in the industry. We are very proud that the majority of the films showcased now have distribution.
Benefits
Winning Screenwriter Prize:
$1,000 cash prize
Our amazing skull trophy designed by the legendary Stan Winston.
General meeting with literary managers/producers.
10 free pitches on VPF, the platform for TV/Film professionals seeking scripts and writers to represent. With VPF, writers can submit written pitches to 500+ networks/studios, producers and agents with the assurance of a guaranteed response.
3 months of Roadmap Writers On Ramp program and 2 Open Pitch Sessions (value $337).
Movie Magic Screenwriting software.
InkTip Script Listing: A listing of your script on InkTip so that producers and reps can find you. Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resume and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies who are InkTip members include ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot and 20th Century Fox.
Top 5 Finalists Prize:
5 free pitches on VPF, the platform for TV/Film professionals seeking scripts and writers to represent. With VPF, writers can submit written pitches to 500+ networks/studios, producers and agents with the assurance of a guaranteed response.
One full festival pass to Screamfest 2022, including all screenings and parties.
Movie Magic Screenwriting software.
1 Roadmap Writers On Ramp program Open Pitch Session (value $175).
Read by leading industry/producers such as Ghost House Pictures, Hulu, Impossible Dream Entertainment, Gotham Group and more.
InkTip Script Listing: A listing of your script on InkTip so that producers and reps can find you. Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resume and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies who are InkTip members include ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot and 20th Century Fox.
Semi-Finalists Prize:
1 free pitch on VPF, the platform for TV/Film professionals seeking scripts and writers to represent. With VPF, writers can submit written pitches to 500+ networks/studios, producers and agents with the assurance of a guaranteed response.
Announcements
Oct 20th
Winners
Dec 18th
Today
Rules
Rules:
Feature film screenplay length should be at least 75 pages and not over 130.
Short screenplays are not accepted.
Writers who submit screenplays to Screamfest will have the option to receive feedback from our readers. The feedback is very brief, generally three to five sentences outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your screenplay. The feedback option is located on the submission form.
You may enter your logline or paragraph synopsis on the online submission form. You do not need to include one with your pdf.
Please include a title/cover page with your screenplay title, author name, WGA registration number and/or copyright information. The title page will not count towards the overall script page count.
Online entrants can complete their application, make their credit card payment and upload a PDF version of their script.
Screenplay file names should be saved in this format: Title_Lastname.pdf
The online application must be completed and script uploaded by 11:59 pm (Pacific Standard Time) on the uploaded by date or your submission fee will be forfeited.
Entry fees are non refundable, and may be paid in the form of Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, or Discover paid in US dollars, only through a US affiliated bank. We process payments through Paypal. You do not have to have a Paypal account to make a payment. A $2.00 processing fee is included in the submission fee.
We strongly suggest you register your screenplay with the Writers Guild of America, West and the US Copyright Office.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for consideration: ALL CATEGORIES:
You must fully comply with these Entry Rules & Regulations, including all deadlines, project length, entry material, and other requirements.
Non-English language projects will not be accepted.