Horror Screenplay Competitions

PAGE International Screenwriting Awards

Deadlines - Early Entry is Jan 31st, regular deadline is Mar 15th and late entry is Apr 15th

Link to Dead Harvey post on PAGE International Screenwriting Competition

The PAGE Awards were established by an alliance of Hollywood producers, agents, and development executives. Our goal: to discover the most exciting new scripts by up-and-coming writers from across the country and around the world. And due to the success of our winning writers, the PAGE International screenplay competition is rapidly becoming one of the most important sources for new screenwriting talent within the Hollywood community and worldwide.
It's a Catch 22. While producers and agents continually complain that they can't find good material, talented writers who live outside Los Angeles and have no "connections" within the movie industry find it virtually impossible to penetrate the barriers of the Hollywood system. Our objective is to bridge that gap – giving new screenwriters the opportunity to get their scripts into the hands of industry professionals, while also serving as a much-needed resource for Hollywood producers, agents, and studio execs who are searching for quality material.

ABOUT THEM - The administrators and judges of the PAGE International screenwriting contest are all working professionals in the film and television industry, and they, their partners and associates are always seeking fresh and innovative new projects. They're looking for a wide variety of material, so we encourage writers to submit all types of screenplays, and we present awards in ten different genre categories.

Link to their site

Link to "how to enter"

Link to "prizes"


Shriekfest Film Festival

Run by Denise Gossett and Todd Beeson, this is one the best horror fest's of the year and 2008 call for entries is currently open. Deadline will be somewhere around late June. (It's not up on the site right now) They recently announced a new relationship with C.A.A. (one of the biggest agencies in town) and their horror division. "C.A.A's horror division is actively searching out directors and screenwriters for representation. C.A.A will also be a finalist judge of all finalist films and screenplays."

AAA 'Access, Acclaim, Achievement' Screenplay Contest

This contest, sponsored by creativescreenwriting, not only looks like it's always accepting submissions, it looks like they just randomly give away prizes whenever they feel like it. They had winners from June '05, December '05, June '06, January '07 and February '08. They're currently looking for submissions for their 'Spring - Summer 2008 Contest'. It says they're sponsored by 'creativescreenwriting' (all one word) and I have no idea what the hell that is, but they have prize money and prize money is nice. Remember, "AAA" stands for Access, Acclaim, Achievement... but, I'm thinking it stands for "get me at the top of every listings page".

International Horror and Sci Fi Screenplay Competition

They're not accepting submissions now, but they will be some time in May (so, depending on today's date, click on the link, they may be accepting now). Screenplay winners not only win cash prizes, but they also get the opportunity to have their screenplays reviewed by major entertainment companies. Well, one major entertainment company, Lionsgate. The other two, Jaret Entertainment and Energy Entertainment are a slight step down.

Screamfest Horror Film Festival and Screenplay Competition

This is the largest horror film fest of the year. They were formed a few years back by film producers Rachel Belofsky and Ross Martin to give emerging filmmakers in horror and sci-fi a venue to showcase their work to people in the industry. They have a bunch of success stores and they're currently accepting submission, deadline is August 15, 2008.

Eerie Horror Screenplay Competition

This is part of the Eerie Horror Fest and they're now accepting submissions, final deadline is August 1, 2008. These guys are also one of the more respected names in this category... and what's really cool is that they also incorporate video games. So, you can submit your film, screenplay and video game all at the same time.

Extreme Screenplay Contest

To find exceptional screenplays to promote to Hollywood and to provide feedback to all entrants. They actually seem like they're more of a service than a contest, but... there is a contest. (Entry fee: $40)

Gotham Screen

They're not accepting now, but may be soon. They were set up by a group of Gotham based producers and productions companies and claim to be the newest addition to the international screenplay contest circuit. They're specifically targeted at up and coming writers who don't have agency or management representation yet but would otherwise have the talent and craft to make it in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Check the site for new dates, etc.

Screenplay Festival

They're open to all genres, specifically: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family and Thriller/Horror and they give awards and stuff, but I'm not going to go into to much depth, as it's not really about horror, although you can enter your horror script. I'm just thinking that what they think is good horror, may not be what I think is good horror. Either way, they're now accepting submissions, final deadline is October 1, 2008

Slamdance Horror Competition

Slamdance is another one of the big ones of the year. The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is dedicated to new writers, accepting screenplays in every genre, on any topic from every country around the world. Their mission is to bring attention to the most talented emerging screenwriters and introduce them to the industry. There's various reasons to enter Slamdance, including: $7,000 first prize, a bunch of prizes for the top 10 screenwriters and production companies, studios, agencies and managers request to read their top scripts. Final submission date is June 2, 2008

Worldfest - Houston Int'l Film Festival

It was April 11-20. However, it's one of those festivals that is open to EVERY category, like... there's an award for best Public Affairs program in Television and Cable Production, as well as best Horror/Thriller/Mystery Screenpaly. So, excuse me if I haven't been keeping a close eye on this one. I'll be sure to keep you posted NEXT year, though.

I don't have much info on the following competitions, as they're new to me. I'll get more and fix these up later. Until then, the links do work.

Terror Film Festival

Deadline is May 1, 2008.

H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival

I covered these guys in the film festival section, but I wasn't aware that the accepts screenplays, as well. So, there you go. You learn something new every day.

2008 Great Lakes Independent Film Festival

They boast as being one of the top 100 most popular film festivals in the world, has various horror screenplay categories. Final deadline is August 30, 2008.

Rhode Island International Film Festival

Another festival that's covered in our film festivals section, but not in our screenplay competitions. A lot of these guys have screenplay competitions, who knew? They're final deadline is July 15, 2008.

The Movie Deal! Screenplay Contest

Respected Industry Judges, Potential Review for Representation by a Hollywood Lit. Agency and A chance to Have your movie made. Final deadline is September 30, 2008.