The 3rd Annual Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition is open for entries!

Website: https://killershortscontest.com/

The Killer Shorts Contest celebrates horror short screenwriters from around the world, connecting them with managers, producers, and filmmakers. The Top 10 scripts 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, Shudder subscriptions, 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).



The Killer Shorts Season 3 jury includes Xavier Burgin (Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror), Gigi Saul Guerrero (Culture Shock, El Gigante), Joe Bob Briggs (The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs), 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), Scott Carr (Management SGC), Jason Tamasco (Traction Pictures), John Zaozirny (Bellevue Productions), Zack Zucker (Bellevue Productions), and Jenn Wexler (The Ranger).

Submission Guidelines: https://www.killershortscontest.com/submission-guidelines/

SUCCESS STORIES
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. Season 1 finalist Jeremiah Lewis’ script “The Rickety Man” was discovered by director Cameron Gallagher on the Killer Shorts website and is currently in post-production. Connor Savage was inspired to write a feature version of his Season 1 semifinalist script “Saskia”, which reached the Top 10% in the Academy Nicholls Fellowship and garnered him acceptance to AFI’s Screenwriting Conservatory, the #1 Film School in America.

“Before winning Killer Shorts, I had no idea how much buzz a short script could create. I’ve since met with a couple managers and I’m working with two producers on getting my short made!”.
- Alessandra Jara Del Castillo, Season 2 First Place Winner.

Earlybird Deadline - $20 - Sept 3rd
Regular Deadline - $25 - Oct 31st
Final Deadline - $30 - Nov 26th
Extended Deadline - $35 - Dec 17th

New to the competition this year, a budget-friendly ‘1 Page Horror Short’ category, with a locked-in $5 entry fee. Prizes include an all-access 1 year subscription to Stan Winston School, $500 cash, a 1 Year ISAConnect Membership, plus the highly coveted skull typewriter trophy.

IMPORTANT LINKS
Coverfly https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/killer-shorts <---submit your script here!
FilmFreeway http://www.filmfreeway.com/killershorts <-----or here!

SPONSORS
Shudder, Final Draft, Rue Morgue, Stan Winston’s School of Character Arts, Script Butcher, Coverfly, FilmFreeway, Screenwriters Network, ISA, Slasher TV, 1313 Mockingbird Lane Toys & Collectibles, Ghoulish Gary, Horror Pack, Qwerkytoys, Waxwork Records, Stage 32 and Fright Rags.

I think I might throw my entire back catalogue of horror shorts at this and see what sticks.

I have a couple of 1-pagers as well so I'll put those in the mix too.

Hmm. I might bite as well.

I was a quarterfinalist in the last one, with a 5-pager. I'm sure I'll throw something in again this year.

I may well join you all, those trophies look great!

Quoted from AnthonyCawood I may well join you all, those trophies look great!

But how do you drink out of it?  

They may need some adjustment Don, but I'm sure I could carve holes in the tops and get them to look more like these...

Couldn't say no. Never entered a screenwriting contest and I had a cute 1 page horror short I wrote a few months back. Be nice to make it in the top 50.

Hey everyone, our Earlybird Deadline is coming up in just a few days on September 3rd, and we've got a special discount for simplyscripts members -- Submit using the code SIMPLY25 on Coverfly to receive 25% off your entry!

Only valid until September 4th. Best of luck!

https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/killer-shorts

Quoted from killershorts Hey everyone, our Earlybird Deadline is coming up in just a few days on September 3rd, and we've got a special discount for simplyscripts members -- Submit using the code SIMPLY25 on Coverfly to receive 25% off your entry!

Hey, that's cool! First time I think I've seen that here.  

Love the trophy!

Quoted from killershorts Hey everyone, our Earlybird Deadline is coming up in just a few days on September 3rd, and we've got a special discount for simplyscripts members -- Submit using the code SIMPLY25 on Coverfly to receive 25% off your entry! Only valid until September 4th. Best of luck! https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/killer-shorts

Is this valid for multiple entries or just one?

Multiple! You can use this code on unlimited entries.

Quoted from killershorts Multiple! You can use this code on unlimited entries.

Great, thanks!

Quoted from killershorts Multiple! You can use this code on unlimited entries.

You twisted my arm, I'm in...

...but my second entry won't let me use the code, it says "you have no more uses of this coupon left"

Hi Matthew, so sorry about that! Should be fixed now. Can you try again?

Quoted from killershorts Hi Matthew, so sorry about that! Should be fixed now. Can you try again?

Thanks, it's working now.

Glad to hear it! Best of luck!

Oh, snap! Just saw this...

Don't have time to make the coupon deadline, but, will definitely sweep my portfolio before the next deadline!

Hey everyone, our Regular Deadline is coming up in just a few days on October 31st, and we've got a special discount for simplyscripts members (AGAIN) -- Submit using the code SIMPLY50 on Coverfly to receive 50% off your entry!

Only valid until Novembrer 1st and on our main competition category. You can also use code TREAT25 for 25% off our 1 Page Horror Short Category, which makes your entry fee just $3.75.

Best of luck!

https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/killer-shorts

Drat! I entered Slayfest into Killer Shorts yesterday.

Re-enter Ganglers?

That's a fine idea!

Happy Thanksgiving to our friends in America!

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, November 26th is the Final Deadline for Killer Shorts! You have until Midnight PST on Friday to enter those scripts, and you can do so on Coverfly, Filmfreeway or ISA.

But what we really wanted to tell you is that we will have a special BLACK FRIDAY discount code!

Be sure to check our Twitter account tomorrow @killershorts to get that code before you submit.

It will be a SIZABLE discount.

We can’t wait to read your work!

Made the quarters with Deities of the Apocalypse.

Nice one Mark, I see Slayfest in there as well

Quoted from Matthew Taylor Made the quarters with Deities of the Apocalypse. Nice one Mark, I see Slayfest in there as well

Here is the list: https://killershortscontest.com/announcements/2022-killer-shorts-competition-quarterfinalists/

- Don

Saw Mathew and Mark on the list.

Congrats, guys! Bring home the trophy.

Anyone that I missed?

Quoted from Don Here is the list: https://killershortscontest.com/announcements/2022-killer-shorts-competition-quarterfinalists/ - Don

You beat us to it! Congrats to all from the simplyscripts community who have progressed to the next round! It was very competitive this year with 1,551 submissions received and only 10% progressing!

Quoted from PKCardinal Saw Mathew and Mark on the list. Congrats, guys! Bring home the trophy. Anyone that I missed?

Totally forgot about this and didn't get anything in. Maybe this year.

Congrats to those that progressed!

Congrats!  

Thanks, guys! I've said it before but I'll say it again, the OWC's help me produce my best work.

Quoted from MarkRenshaw Thanks, guys! I've said it before but I'll say it again, the OWC's help me produce my best work.

Agreed. I got QF in Killer Shorts last year thanks to something that started as a OWC.

I guess there are not many animated shorts on Coverfly as my Quarterfinal placement has pushed Deities of the Apocalypse onto the red list at #8 lol

Congratulations! We find a lot of our finalists make the horror short Red list on Coverfly!

Big congrats to the Season 3 semifinalists! Read the list here: https://killershortscontest.com/announcements/2022-killer-shorts-competition-semifinalists/

Quoted from killershorts Big congrats to the Season 3 semifinalists! Read the list here: https://killershortscontest.com/announcements/2022-killer-shorts-competition-semifinalists/

Wahey, Semifinalist! One step closer to that trophy   unless Mark takes it from me! (Congrats on the Semis, Mark)

Ooh nice! Congrats to you too! As long as one of the Scripters win it I'll be happy!

Congrats, gents! Bring it home for SS.

Congratulations to the Killer Shorts Top 10 Finalists and Honorable Mentions!

https://killershortscontest.com/announcements/2022-killer-shorts-competition-finalists/

And to all who submitted! There is great talent in this community!

Didn't make the top 10 but was chuffed to reach Semi-finals with a script I had almost forgotten about.

Will get me one of those trophies next year  

Congratulations to the Killer Shorts Top 3 winners in the main and 1-page categories!

https://killershortscontest.com/announcements/2022-killer-shorts-contest-winners/

It has been an amazing season and we thank you all for participating.