HAUS champions bold screenwriters working in Horror, Afro-speculative Fiction, Underground, and Sci-Fi — where genre isn’t a limit, it’s your power.

HAUS Awards is a streaming genre awards show brought to you by HAUS Film Festival; featuring Horror, Afro-speculative Fiction, Underground, and Sci-Fi/Fantasy. We want truly independent, creative works of passion that are often overlooked.

HAUS Awards Screenwriting Contest
Brought to you by the team behind HAUS Film Festival, the HAUS Awards is a streaming genre showcase celebrating bold, independent vision in Horror, Afrospeculative Fiction, Underground, and Sci-Fi - Cyberpunk.

This year, we're back with a short screenplay competition—and we’re looking for scripts that are fearless, passionate, and unapologetically creative.

🎬 We want truly independent voices.
🎯 Short scripts only (5–30 pages).
🧠 Emerging writers are strongly encouraged to submit.

We love grindhouse horror, neon-drenched dystopia, no-budget underground, imaginative Afro-speculative fiction, and creative sci-fi and cyberpunk.

If it’s genre-bending, culturally rich, and comes from the heart, HAUS wants to see it.

Awards & Prizes

🏆 Best Short Script – $250 Cash Prize + HAUS Awards Winner Laurel
The top short script will receive a $250 cash prize and the official HAUS Awards Winner laurel, recognizing outstanding screenwriting. The winning script will also be featured on our website and social media.

🎭 Genre Awards – HAUS Laurels for Excellence
Special laurels will be awarded to exceptional short scripts in the following categories:

Best Horror Short
Best Afro-speculative Fiction Short
Best Underground Short
Best Sci-Fi—Cyberpunk Short

Each winner will receive a custom genre-specific HAUS laurel and will be highlighted on our official website.

🎬 Official Selections
Select high-quality submissions will be named Official Selections. These writers will receive a laurel and will be spotlighted on the HAUS site.

Rules & Terms

1. Eligibility

Open to writers worldwide, ages 18 and older.
Scripts must be written in English.
Multiple entries are allowed, but each script must be submitted separately with its own entry fee.

2. Script Requirements

Short scripts only (up to 30 pages).
PDF format only.

No revisions will be accepted after submission.

3. Original Work

All submitted scripts must be the original work of the applicant.
Adaptations are allowed only if the writer owns the rights to the original material.
Scripts created using AI text generation tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Sudowrite, etc.) are not eligible. Any script found to be substantially generated by AI will be disqualified.
You retain all rights to your work.

4. Entry Fees

Entry fees are non-refundable.
Discounted fees are available for students and FilmFreeway Gold members.

5. Judging Criteria
Scripts will be judged based on the following:

Concept & originality
Structure & pacing
Dialogue & character development
Genre execution
Voice – the unique perspective and storytelling style of the writer

6. Awards & Recognition

One script will be awarded Best Short Script with a $250 cash prize and HAUS Award Winner laurel.

Additional HAUS laurels will be awarded for Best Horror, Afrospeculative, Underground, and Sci-Fi—Cyberpunk short scripts.

Selected entries will be recognized as Official Selections and may be featured on our website and social media.

7. Legal & Publicity

By submitting, you grant us the right to list your project title and logline in promotion and announcements.

We do not own your script or option your material in any way.
Cash prizes will be paid via PayPal or another agreed-upon method.

8. Disqualification

Plagiarized work, AI-generated content, or scripts containing hate speech or illegal content will be disqualified without refund.

9. Notification

All submitters will be notified via email by the posted notification date on our FilmFreeway page.

Feedback is not guaranteed unless offered as an add-on.
13 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • L. E. Coleman

    Communication from the festival was excellent and the promotion of the grand prize winner, genre winners and official selection was as advertised. It was an honor to win in the Afro-Speculative Fiction category.

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Traycee King

    Thank you so much agin for the recognition! I'm honored!

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Harker Jones

    Very happy to be involved with the HAUS Awards! Lovely people and lovely experience. Would recommend submitting to anyone!

    February 2021
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much!

  • Daniel McLeod

    Aces! Engaging and fun - don't miss it

    February 2021
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks! It was so much fun to have your film!

  • Paul Hart-Wilden

    Life is difficult in the age of COVID but HAUS put together over ten hours of online screenings and entertainment keeping everyone engaged and involved.

    August 2020
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Paul!