Los Angeles, CA – June 15th, 2023: Calling all horror writers! The fifth annual Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition is accepting entries from June 15th, 2023.
The Killer Shorts Contest celebrates horror short screenwriters and authors from around the world, connecting them with career opportunities and welcoming them into the #killeralum community. The Top 10 scripts in the main category will be read by a star-studded panel of judges, with over $5,000 worth of prizes up for grabs including Final Draft 12 screenwriting software, Coverfly career consultations, memberships to Stan Winston’s School of Creative Arts, and a one-of-a-kind skull-shaped typewriter trophy, hand-sculpted and designed by celebrity FX artist Tyler Green (Syfy’s Face Off).
Now Accepting Horror Short Stories
Inspired by the growing trend of horror short stories being adapted into films, and the success of our own #killeralum Chris Hicks’ record breaking short story deal — we are thrilled to introduce our new Short Story (Prose) category! Screenwriters considering prose for the first time should familiarize themselves with modern manuscript format, as it will be a requirement when submitting to this category.
“We’re very excited to expand our competition into the world of short stories,” said Alison Parker, Contest Director, “It’s totally on brand with what we do. Unearthing fresh voices in horror and helping writers get discovered.”
Short Story (Prose) submissions must be 10,000 words or less and follow modern manuscript format. Complete rules and regulations can be found on the Submissions Guidelines Page. Prizes for the new category will be announced soon.
A Streak of Killer Success
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. Writing duo Katherine Cox & Matt McCarthy sold three short screenplays to a production company after Killer Shorts set them up with a Coverfly career consultation. Season 1 finalist Jeremiah Lewis’ script “The Rickety Man” was discovered by director Cameron Gallagher on the Killer Shorts website and received many accolades on the festival circuit. More stories like these are reported every day and can be found on the Killer Shorts site.
Season 5 Panel of Judges
The Killer Shorts Season 5 jury includes Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, Jason X, Hatchet I, II & III), Xavier Burgin (Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror), Gigi Saul Guerrero (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), Scott Stoops (Good Fear Film + Management), Glenn Cockburn (Meridian Artists), Daniel Seco (Empirical Evidence), Jason Tamasco (Traction Pictures), John Zaozirny (Bellevue Productions), Jenn Wexler (The Ranger), Matthew Dartnell (Writ Large), and Aaron B. Koontz (The Pale Door, Scare Package).
Short Script Coverage
Want to know why your script didn’t advance in previous seasons? Consider purchasing Short Script Coverage from Killer Shorts before submitting. You’ll receive all the tools you need to get your project contest ready, plus a 15% discount when you submit to Killer Shorts Season 5.
“Killer Shorts really makes good on their promise to do the most for their writers both during and after the season is over and continues to have amazing communication with their writers to ensure that they stay encouraged and are getting the most out of their entries which, in comparison to a lot of other competitions out there, are incredibly affordable. Truly, there’s no other competition out there like it and I encourage anyone with a short horror script to enter.”.
Sarah Ward, Season 4 First Place Winner.
“To all you scriptwriters out there, I cannot recommend Killer Shorts highly enough! My experience with Killer Shorts was awesome from start to finish!”
Andrew Yeremeyev, Season 3 Second Place Winner
“I’ve felt so supported, uplifted and championed by this contest at every step along the way. The palpable love that Killer Shorts and its judges have for our genre creates the most extraordinary experience, and the prizes are unbelievably kick-ass! This has provided the most massive boost to my morale on the often challenging path that writing lays out for us all. What has perhaps meant the most is the discovery that I’ve joined the most incredible community of passionate, talented, generous and encouraging humans as a newly minted Killer Shorts alum 🖤. THANK YOU for making this a magical experience.”
Julia Diddy, Season 3 Third Place Winner
How to Enter
Entry fees for the main and short story competition categories starts at $25 for ‘Early Bird’ entries submitted by August 4, 2023, with a final deadline of December 15, 2023. Entries can be submitted via Coverfly, Filmfreeway or ISA.
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, Stan Winston’s School of Character Arts, Script Butcher, Coverfly, FilmFreeway, Script Hive, ISA, Stage 32, ScriptHop, Robert McKee’s Horror Webinar Series, Ghoulish Gary, Horror Pack, Qwerkytoys, and Fright Rags.
For more information, visit: KillerShortsContest.com and follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
