Los Angeles, CA – June 1st, 2024: Calling all horror writers! The sixth annual Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition is accepting entries from June 1st, 2024.
The Killer Shorts Contest celebrates horror short screenwriters and authors from around the world, providing them with networking and career opportunities, mentorships, consultations, and industry access.
The Top 10 scripts in the main category will be read by a star-studded panel of judges, including Special FX Make Up Guru and The Walking Dead Executive Producer Gregory Nicotero, legendary horror actress and producer Barbara Crampton, and top literary managers like John Zaozirny at Bellevue Productions.
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
Screenwriters and authors are also competing for over $10,000 worth of prizes including Final Draft 13 screenwriting software, Coverfly and Stage 32 career consultations, crowdfunding consultation calls with Seed & Spark‘s Head of Creator Success, access to Robert Mckee’s Horror Webinar Series, in-depth analysis and notes from The Script Butcher, ISA Connect Memberships, horror swag (thanks to Horror Pack, Fright Rags, Rue Morgue and Ghoulish Gary), and a one-of-a-kind skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy’s Face Off).
Season 6 Panel of Judges
The Killer Shorts Season 6 jury includes Gregory Nicotero (The Walking Dead, Creepshow, The Hateful Eight), John Zaozirny (Bellevue Productions), Melody Cooper (Beasts of Prey, Two Sentence Horror Stories, Law & Order: SVU), Xavier Burgin (Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror), Gigi Saul Guerrero (Satanic Hispanics, Culture Shock, El Gigante), Julian Terry (Don’t Peek, Whisper, They Hear It, The Nurse), Chelsea Lupkin (Short of the Week, Lucy’s Tale), Barbara Crampton (Jakob’s Wife, Re-Animator, From Beyond, You’re Next), Sophie Carroll (Gun Powder & Sky, ALTER), Glenn Cockburn (Meridian Artists), Seth M. Sherwood (Leatherface, Hell Fest), Jason Tamasco (Traction Pictures), Jenn Wexler (The Ranger), Matthew Dartnell (Writ Large), and Aaron B. Koontz (The Pale Door, Scare Package).
Mentorship with Author Chris Hicks
The winner of the Short Story (Prose) category will receive a 30 minute, one on one zoom meeting with Chris Hicks, professional screenwriter and author of I Am Not Alone. Chris will answer general questions about the business, how to take your career to the next level, and navigating Hollywood.
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.
Killer Shorts has been the most helpful contest I’ve entered into. It’s not just: here’s a meeting, best of luck. It felt like genuine interest in my work and career progress. Everyone has been so nice, and they touched base with me a lot. I really felt like they cared about their finalists.
– Kelly Nugent, Season 3 Top 10 Finalist
No Shortage of Success Stories
Killer Shorts has a proven track record of discovering talent. Season 2 2nd Place Winner Vanessa Võ signed with Maddie Weese at Bellevue Productions after Killer Shorts made the introduction to jury member John Zaozirny. Season 3 Top 10 Finalist Kelly Nugent signed with literary manager Greg Weiss at Wonder Street after Killer Shorts set her up with a career consultation at Coverfly. Season 1 Third Place Winner Chris Hicks signed with literary manager Peter Katz of Story Driven, after the success of his short script “The Butter Street Hitchhiker” landed him on Coverfly’s The Red List.
How to Enter
Entry fees for the main and short story competition categories start at $25 for ‘Early Bird’ entries submitted by August 1, 2024, with a final deadline of December 31, 2024. Entries can be submitted via Coverfly, Filmfreeway or ISA. Short Script Coverage can be purchased separately via Coverfly.
Killer Shorts will accept entries from writers under 18 years old (with parental consent), revised screenplays via Coverfly, and an optional feedback add-on (via Coverfly and FilmFreeway). Feedback is not available for short stories (prose) at this time.
The Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition is sponsored by Final Draft, Rue Morgue, Seed and Spark, Scrivener, Stan Winston’s School of Character Arts, Script Butcher, Coverfly, FilmFreeway, Script Hive, ISA, Stage 32, ScriptHop, Script Revolution, Robert McKee’s Horror Webinar Series, Ghoulish Gary, Horror Pack, Qwerkytoys, and Fright Rags.
For more information, visit: KillerShortsContest.com and follow on X, Facebook and Instagram.
