KILLER SHORTS
Season 6 is now Open for Entries!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
JUDGES
Get in front of Hollywood judges who love horror shorts and supporting emerging screenwriters.
John Zaozirny
Literary Manager / Producer
Bellevue Productions. Literary management company focused on finding new voices and working with them to realize their ambitions within the world of film and television.
Gregory Nicotero
Director / SPFX Make Up
Gregory Nicotero (THE WALKING DEAD, CREEPSHOW) 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.
Jed Shepherd
Screenwriter / Director
Writer/Exec Producer of HOST, DASHCAM for Blumhouse. Writer/Director of FLASHBACK for Netflix. THE BLAIR WITCH DOC and GHOSTS.
Melody Cooper
Producer / Writer
Weaned on sci fi, horror and social activism, Melody's currently adapting the book BEASTS OF PREY to film for Netflix. Previously story editor, 22nd season LAW & ORDER: SVU, writer on TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES. Comic book: OMNI Vol. 2; "Igbo Landing" in NOIR IS THE NEW BLACK.
Barbara Crampton
Actress / Producer
Iconic horror actress + producer known for such movies as SUITABLE FLESH, JAKOB'S WIFE, RE-ANIMATOR, & FROM BEYOND.
Xavier Burgin
Director
Emmy-nominated writer/director of Shudder’s HORROR NOIRE: A HISTORY OF BLACK HORROR. He’s a Sundance Fellow, HBO Alumni, Berlinale Talent, Ryan Murphy Directing Fellow, Screencraft Winner, and Academy Nicholl Top 50 Screenwriter.
Chelsea Lupkin
Screenwriter / Director
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.
Aaron B. Koontz
Producer
Aaron B. Koontz is President and Founder of Paper Street Pictures, LLC. Notable projects include THE PALE DOOR, Shudder's SCARE PACKAGE and CAMERA OBSCURA.
Gigi Saul Guerrero
Filmmaker
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, SATANIC HISPANICS, episodes of The Purge and the anthology horror series Into the Dark.
Julian Terry
Screenwriter
Writer & Director of acclaimed horror shorts DON'T PEEK, WHISPER, THEY HEAR IT, and THE NURSE -- all of which are being adapted into feature films!
Sophie Carroll
Programming Manager
Sophie is a programming and curation manager at ALTER, a horror streaming platform devoted to horror shorts, launched by GUN POWDER & SKY.
Jenn Wexler
Filmmaker
Director, THE SACRIFICE GAME, THE RANGER. Producer, DEPRAVED, MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, LIKE ME, PSYCHOPATHS, and DARLING.
Matthew Dartnell
Literary Manager
Literary Manager at Writ Large, Matt primarily works with up and coming writers.
Glenn Cockburn
Literary Manager
Glenn Cockburn is the founder of Meridian Artists and represents a select roster of some of Canada’s most talented writers, directors and producers.
Jason Tamasco
Producer
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.
Seth M. Sherwood
Screenwriter
Emmy-Nominated Horror Screenwriter of LEATHERFACE (2017), HELLFEST (2018), LIGHT AS A FEATHER (Hulu 2018/19), and DEVIL IN ME (Supermassive Games 2022).
SUCCESS STORIES
THE TOP 3 WINNERS RECEIVE:
Circulation and recommendation to our network of Hollywood managers, agents, producers and development executives.
Final Draft 13 Screenwriting Software.
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.
Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List.
ISAConnect Memberships (6 months, 3 months, 3 months)
We Make Movies 1 Year Gold Membership (Including 20% Off Film Production Services)
1:1 30 minute Crowdfunding Consultation call with Seed & Spark‘s Head of Creator Success
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).
Waived entry to multiple other contests and festivals.
5 pages of in-depth analysis and actionable advice from The Script Butcher. (3rd Place Only)
…plus free memberships and swag courtesy of Rue Morgue, Fright Rags, Ghoulish Gary, and Horror Pack.
ADDITIONAL PRIZES
Top 10 Finalist
Finalist Laurels, Final Draft license, 1:1 30 minute Crowdfunding Consultation call with Seed & Spark's Head of Creator Success, We Make Movies 1 Year Gold Membership (Including 20% Off Film Production Services), Stage 32 short script coverage from an industry professional, Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List, plus, your script will be read by our panel of industry judges.
Top 1%
Semi Finalist
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.
Top 5%
Quarter Finalist
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.
Top 10%
We recognize that shorter scripts have a slight disadvantage when it comes to impressing literary managers,
so we are thrilled to continue our ‘1 Page Category’, with prizes geared towards helping you produce a micro-short horror film.
Can you tell a horror story in just 1 page?
THE BEST 1-PAGE SCRIPT RECEIVES:
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.
A skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy’s Face Off).
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
*Submissions are $10 until the Extended Deadline and must not exceed 1 page. Not eligible for the main competition prizes.
We’re excited to continue our ‘Short Story (Prose) Category’, with prizes geared towards helping authors seeking publication and literary representation .
Can you tell a horror story in 6,000 words or less?
THE BEST SHORT STORY RECEIVES:
Publication on the Killer Shorts website.
Scrivener Writing Software.
1:1 30 minute zoom meeting with Chris Hicks, professional screenwriter and author of I Am Not Alone.
Increased rank on Coverfly’s The Red List.
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).
*Not eligible for the main competition prizes.
SPONSORS
