By KEVIN HOOVER
KILLER SHORTS, the competition dedicated to launching emerging horror talent, has officially opened for entries for 2026. Founded in 2019, the event has established itself as a premier industry launchpad, putting creators in front of the studio heads who greenlight and option new voices in the genre space. And for the first time ever, a new category will spotlight feature-length screenplays alongside the traditional short script, one-page script and short story divisions. To celebrate its new offering, the Feature Category Grand Prize Winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of Deep Cuts Coffee, as well as a guaranteed script review by literary manager John Zaozirny of Bellevue Productions.
The Top 10 finalists across all categories will be evaluated by an industry jury composed of over a dozen horror legends, literary managers and producers, including:
- Barbara Crampton (Jakob’s Wife, Suitable Flesh)
- Tananarive Due (Author, Producer and Genre Historian)
- Lucas Ford (The Backrooms)
- Gigi Saul Guerrero (Co-Founder, Luchagore Productions)
- Aaron B. Koontz (Producer and CEO, Paper Street Pictures)
Aside from the aforementioned cash prize, winners and finalists can also take home a custom Killer Trophy, one-on-one career consultations, Final Draft 13 software licenses and Shudder memberships. Submitted screenplays that receive a “Recommend” rating also qualify for inclusion on The Scream List—a real-time tracking board monitored by top-tier industry brands including Screambox, Raven Banner Entertainment, Zero Gravity Management and Grey Matter Productions.
KILLER SHORTS has helped shift many aspiring writers to the frontlines of crafting cinema fare, with successes including season two finalist Vanessa Võ, now signed with Bellevue Productions, and season three’s Kelly Nugent, who landed representation with Wonder Street. Will you be the next voice driving horror? Enter now and find out!
