With feedback sent on every single entry, 13Horror.com is back with THE go-to contest for horror screenwriters and film-makers!

The categories for the contest are:
1) Feature-length screenplays
2) Short screenplays
3) Feature-length movies
4) Short movies

The contest includes feedback on every single entry from one of our Hollywood judges explaining how screenplays or films did against the judging criteria. This is an extremely popular feature of our contest and is on of the reasons why our contest is recognized by screenwriters and film-makers as one of the best contests in horror.

Our Hollywood judges include Andrew Hannon, editor of the international best-selling 'Thirteen' horror anthologies and writer of several critically acclaimed screenplays, films, novels and stage plays, including Stage Fright, Creepy Hill, CarnEvil and the Dwell In These Demons series.

FEATURE-LENGTH SCREENPLAY CONTEST
One grand prize winner will receive:
- $1,000.00
- Professional publication of their screenplay, including a professional cover design and royalties for life
- The coveted 13Horror.com Golden Skull award
- A letter of introduction from 13Horror.com
- A framed winner’s certificate
- A horror movie model
- A place in the 13Horror.com Hall of Fame

Second and third place winners will receive:
- $500.00 and $350.00
- Professional publication of their screenplay, including a professional cover design and royalties for life
- The coveted 13Horror.com Silver Skull award
- A letter of introduction from 13Horror.com
- A framed winner's certificate
- A horror movie model
- A place in the 13Horror.com Hall of Fame

10 x additional winners will receive:
- Professional publication of their screenplay, including a professional cover design and royalties for life
- A winner’s certificate including their laurels
- A place in the 13Horror.com Hall of Fame

SHORT SCREENPLAY CONTEST
One grand prize winner will receive:
- $500.00
- Professional publication of their screenplay, including a professional cover design and royalties for life
- A letter of introduction from 13Horror.com
- A framed winner’s certificate
- A place in the 13Horror.com Hall of Fame

Second place and third place winners will receive:
- $300.00 and $200.00
- Professional publication of their screenplay, including a professional cover design and royalties for life
- A letter of introduction from 13Horror.com
- A framed winner's certificate
- A place in the 13Horror.com Hall of Fame

10 additional winners will receive:
- Professional publication of their screenplay, including a professional cover design and royalties for life
- A winner's certificate
- A place in the 13Horror.com Hall of Fame

In addition to the above winners in both screenplay categories, entrants who score highly enough to qualify as Finalists will be eligible for exclusive discounted publishing packages and awarded Finalist laurels.

FEATURE-LENGTH FILM
Laurels will be awarded for: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor & Best Actress, Best Horror Baddy and Best Special Effects

SHORT FILM
Laurels will be awarded for: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor & Actress, Scariest Moment, Best Horror Baddy and Best Special Effects

Selected films will also be offered distribution via 13Horror.com's Amazon Prime distribution channel.

Winning screenplays and films will be chosen based on the following criteria:

(i) originality
(ii) story
(iii) characterization
(iv) presentation
(v) overall impression

Feedback will be sent on every single entry to each writer and filmmaker regarding their respective work as soon as a judge has completed their review. The deadline for entries is April 30, 2025. Screenplays and movies selected as finalists and winners will be announced on May 15, 2025.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • The judges covering this festival showed me so much love and support throughout the competition along with providing timely updates about my submission status! Such a joy to enter, looking forward to more festival opportunities.

    December 2024
  • Maria Isabel Armenteros Rodriguez

    Amazing! A great comunication with the team, they send to me an incredible review, and seems to me they're a really horror lovers.

    December 2024
  • Emma McGovern

    A great festival with a generous amount of personal communication. I look forward to participating in this festival again and I am honored to have been selected as a Finalist.

    December 2024
  • I would like to thank the Judges for selecting my Screenplay - O.P Rock as a finalist in their contest, would came with a great chance with a publisher Dizzy Emu with a chance to publish it on Paperback or in a E-Book but Unfortunately cause I do not own the story so I can't use this great offer without permission from the Documentary I based it off of. But, for those who write & love horror this is the one for you.

    December 2024
  • Marlene Guerin

    Great festival! Thank you for reading and giving us meaningful feedback.

    December 2024