Sam Raimi wants to help discover the next great horror filmmaker. The director has teamed with nonprofit Decentralized Pictures to launch the Sam Raimi Horror Award, a new initiative recognizing an emerging filmmaker with a distinctive vision for the genre. The award, announced today under embargo lifted this morning, includes $25,000 to produce a short horror film, along with mentorship, P&A support and distribution of the finished work on the upcoming DCP+ streaming platform.
“This collaboration with Decentralized Pictures to help elevate promising filmmaking talent has been both a professional and personal passion of mine,” Raimi said. “I can’t wait to discover the next standout horror visionary that will have audiences screaming in fright and delight.”
Applicants are encouraged to explore the genre in original and unconventional ways, whether psychological, supernatural, visceral, comedic or otherwise. Submissions, which require a $25 fee redistributed to the platform’s community reviewers, are open now through December 31, with a community review period following for two weeks after submissions close. Finalists will be announced shortly afterward, with Raimi joined by Roman Coppola, Jed Shepherd, Eduardo Sanchez, Leo Matchett and Emma Raimi in selecting the eventual winner.
The Sam Raimi Horror Award follows Decentralized Pictures’ recent Sofia Coppola Short Film Award and its previously announced Kevin Smith Casting Award, continuing the nonprofit’s push to open up access to the film industry through a community driven selection process. Full eligibility details and submission requirements can be found at Decentralized Pictures’ award page.
