HorrorCase 2025 Horror Screenwriting Contest

Submission Format:

1) Script: must be between 5 to 15 pages max.
2) One-pager: a detailed synopsis (1-page) detailing your script’s story must be attached.
3) Font: 12-point courier font.
4) Language: must be in English language only.
5) Script Formatting: script must be formatted to industry standards (if you have questions, reach out and we can provide format information).
6) File Type: Must submit script & one-pager in PDF or WORD format ONLY.

*Initial submissions that do not conform to technical requirements in these official rules will be automatically disqualified with no refunds.

Eligibility/Entry Guidelines:

1. There is a $25 entry fee to submit a screenplay
• Regular Deadline (JULY 31st): $25
• Late/Final Deadline: $50
2. Age: Participants must be 16+
3. There are unlimited number of entries a participant can submit. [Each submission must be accompanied by a separate entry fee.]
4. If a submitted screenplay has multiple credited writers, it is considered a single entry.
• Note: It is the responsibility of the entrant party to designate a primary participant to receive the prize if their script is selected. No duplicate prizes will be given.
5. No geographic limitation: anyone is encouraged to submit and participate in the festival if able.
6. We are not responsible for submissions that are incomplete, lost, unintelligible, or misdirected; ensure that your work is readable and in the correct format (see above)
7. A submitted script is final once submitted. No refunds.
8. All screenplays must be submitted by the Regular Deadline of Thursday July 31st, 2025
• Late Deadline will be Friday August 15th, 2025, and will have a fee of $50

EXTENDED/FINAL Deadline is September 12th, 2025, with a fee of $50

Categories: The screenplay must be within the Thriller/Horror Genre (or any subgenre therein (surreal, psychological, supernatural, etc.) is accepted).

Content Rating: Must be intended for production as a live action short with a like-minded rating of the following: "R", “PG 13", "PG", or "G”.

Rights: Selected participant(s) will retain exclusive rights to their original script and story and will be credited as the ‘Writer’ of the film in all relevant materials. Prod. J Entertainment will assume full control over the film's production, and subsequently, all rights related to its distribution and use (see Rules & Terms below).

Judging/Criteria:

Our contest judges have been selected based on their credentials and experience in the film/communications fields. We ensure a fair and honest judging process through a point-based scoring system:

1. Each script will receive a score from 1-10 from every judge.
2. The top 5 screenplays with the highest scores will then advance to an additional round, where they'll be reviewed on a 1–5-point scale.
3. From these top 5, a winner will be chosen based on overall point totals from the additional round only.

Judging will be based off:
1. Story/Concept
2. Originality
3. Plot Structure
4. Style/Tone
5. Pacing
6. Characters
7. Dialogue
8. Theme
9. Content Appropriateness (See Content Standards below)
10. Production/budget: Ability to produce the screenplay on a microbudget (>$500)
a. Judges will evaluate the script's potential to be produced as a compelling short film within a constrained budget, focusing on concepts that are logistically feasible for under $500. It’s important to note that while feasibility is a key consideration, the primary focus remains on the script's creative strength, originality, and overall storytelling excellence as outlined in the other judging criteria.

Prize/Announcement:
The top 5 finalists will be announced on September 15th, 2025. This will be followed by the official announcement of the winning screenplay on September 17th, 2025. All finalists, along with the winning participant, will be notified directly via email and publicly announced on our official social media pages.

Upon the winner's announcement, production of the selected screenplay will commence. The winning participant will have the opportunity to collaborate throughout the planning and filming portion of production (See Rights below for more information).
In the sprit of our 1-month production format for film submitters, our film is currently targeted for completion by September 29th, 2025, with its official premiere scheduled for the festival date, Saturday, October 4th, 2025.

Winner's Prize Package: In addition to seeing their screenplay produced into a film, the winning participant will receive:
• A $500 Gift Card.
• Complimentary admission to the festival event.
• One (1) additional free ticket for a guest to attend the event.
o Note: In instances where a winning screenplay has multiple credited writers, the prize package shall be awarded on a sole capacity basis to the primary participant designated at the time of submission. Prod. J Entertainment will not be responsible for the division or distribution of any prize components among co-writers, nor will duplicate prizes be issued.

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OFFICIAL RULES (TERMS & CONDITIONS):

These official rules state that the process for any dispute between you, competition and sponsor (defined below) in regard to this HorrorCase 2025 Horror Screenwriting Contest must be resolved in binding arbitration on an individual basis. and in any event may not proceed on a class basis or otherwise seek class-wide relief.

To enter this screenplay competition, complete the application, attach your short screenplay and accompanying synopsis, pay the submission fee, agree to these official rules, and submit your application.

COMPETITION OVERVIEW:

For the purposes of these Official Rules, the following capitalized terms shall (where appropriate) have the meanings ascribed to them below:

PARTICIPANT: Refers to any individual who submits an entry into the Competition, regardless of whether their submission is selected as a finalist or winner.

SELECTED PARTICIPANT: Refers specifically to the individual whose screenplay is chosen as the winning entry of the Competition and who accepts the associated prize.

COMPETITION: Refers to the "HorrorCase 2025 Horror Screenwriting Contest."

SPONSOR: Refers to "Prod. J Entertainment," the official sponsor of the Competition.

RELEASED PARTIES: Refers collectively to Competition, Sponsor, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, representatives, consultants, contractors, legal counsel, advertising, public relations, promotional, fulfillment and marketing agencies, website providers, web masters, and other respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, and agents.

RIGHTS:

The selected participant shall retain exclusive copyright to their original submitted screenplay and underlying story. The winning screenplay's credited writer(s) shall be accorded on-screen credit as "Written By" in the film. In the event the winning screenplay was submitted by multiple credited writers, all such writers shall be collectively listed for the "Written By" credit. This credit shall also appear in all relevant promotional and marketing materials where primary creative credits are afforded. The specific placement, size, and format of such credit (e.g., "Writer A & Writer B" for a team, or "Writer A and Writer B" for separate contributions) shall be at the sole discretion of Prod. J Entertainment, in accordance with industry standards. It remains the responsibility of all co-writers to ensure their agreement on who is to be credited for the screenplay.

Important Note on Copyright: While copyright protection for your original screenplay exists automatically once it's written, registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office (copyright.gov) provides additional legal protections and benefits, particularly if you ever need to enforce your rights. We encourage all participants to understand their copyright protections.

Prod. J Entertainment shall assume full and exclusive control over all aspects of the film's production, including but not limited to development, financing, casting, crewing, pre-production, principal photography, post-production, and final cut. Upon completion, Prod. J Entertainment shall exclusively own all rights related to the film's distribution, exhibition, and exploitation in perpetuity, and in all media, whether now known or hereafter devised.

The winning screenplay will be produced as a film, providing the selected participant with the opportunity to see their work translated to the screen. The selected participant shall be invited to participate, if they desire, in a consultative capacity throughout the pre-production and production phases. While their creative input, insights, and feedback will be highly valued, the final creative, editorial, and directorial decisions shall reside exclusively with Prod. J Entertainment and its designated production team. This consultative role does not imply any shared control, joint authorship of the film (as distinct from the underlying screenplay), or additional compensation beyond the stated prize.

By accepting the prize, the Selected Participant irrevocably agrees that Prod. J Entertainment shall have the full and unhindered right to proceed with the production, distribution, and exhibition of the winning screenplay into a film as outlined in these official rules. The Selected Participant expressly waives any right to withdraw the screenplay from production, to prevent the film's completion or distribution, or to demand its return for any reason, including but not limited to creative differences, dissatisfaction with the production, or a change of mind. The right to produce and utilize the screenplay and resulting film, as granted herein, is fully vested upon prize acceptance and is not contingent upon the Selected Participant ongoing collaboration or satisfaction with the production process. Failure or refusal of the Selected Participant to participate in the consultative capacity will not impede Prod. J Entertainment's right to proceed with the production and shall not entitle the Selected Participant to any additional remedies or relief.

PRIVACY:

By entering the competition, participants consent to the use of any information submitted in connection with the competition or thereof as described in these official rules. Except where legally prohibited, each participant grants permission to competition, sponsor (s), and affiliates, to use participants name, address, photographer, videos, voice, likeness, and prize information for advertising, promotional, or other purposes in all forms of media, known or developed later, worldwide, without further compensation, notice, or permission.

By entering the competition, participant represents and warrants that: (a) except for elements that are in the public domain, all elements of the script are wholly original and are not a copy or imitation of other material; (b) Participants has the right to grant all rights granted to sponsor in these official rules and sponsor may exercise such rights without obligation or liability to any third party.

CONTENT STANDARDS:

While the competition encourages creative and impactful horror narratives, Participants are advised that submitted screenplays will be assessed for content appropriateness and suitability for production and public exhibition within a film festival context. This assessment includes, but is not limited to, the depiction of:
• Extreme or gratuitous violence, gore, or brutality.
• Explicit sexual content or nudity that lacks clear narrative justification.
• Themes deemed excessively offensive, exploitative, or purely for shock value, particularly if they extend beyond what is generally accepted for an R-rated theatrical release.

The intent is to produce compelling and unsettling horror that achieves its impact through strong storytelling and craft, rather than through gratuitous excess. Screenplays that, in the sole discretion of the competition and sponsor, are deemed to violate these content standards, or present unmanageable ethical or practical concerns for production or public display, may be disqualified without refund.

FORCE MAJEURE CLAUSE:

Competition and Sponsor have the right to suspend or terminate the performance of its obligations when certain circumstances beyond their control arise, making performance inadvisable, commercially impracticable, illegal, or impossible.

Neither Party shall be liable for delays or failure to perform due to events beyond their reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, government actions, labor strikes, pandemics, or other unforeseeable circumstances ("Force Majeure Event"). The affected Party must notify the other and take reasonable steps to mitigate the impact.
Obligations are suspended during the event, and if it lasts beyond [60] days, either Party may terminate the agreement without liability.

PRODUCTION CONTINGENCY AND PRIZE FULFILLMENT:

Should the production of the winning screenplay into a film not be completed by the specified festival deadline for reasons other than a Force Majeure Event (including, but not limited to, production delays, unforeseen budget constraints, or creative challenges), Prod. J Entertainment reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to postpone the film's premiere, seek alternative distribution, or provide an alternative prize of comparable value to the Participant. In such an event, the Participant will be promptly notified, and the obligation to produce the film, as originally stipulated, shall be deemed fulfilled by the alternative action taken by Prod. J Entertainment.

INDEMNIFICATION:

Participant will indemnify and hold harmless the released parties (competition and sponsor) from any third-party claims arising from participants failure to comply with the eligibility requirements and/or breach of the representations, warranties, and covenants in these official rules.

COMPLIANCE WITH RULES:

All determination by competition and sponsor shall be in their sole and absolute discretion and shall be final and binding on all participants. By entering the competition, each participant agrees to be bound by these rules and accept all decisions regarding the competition as binding, final and not subject to challenge, review, or appeal.

RULE MODIFICATION:

Competition and sponsor may, in its sole discretion, amend, delete, suspend or otherwise modify or replace these rules prior or during the competition, whether in writing, orally, or without any notice, and participants shall be bound thereby by the official rules posted here or on main website prodjvisuals.wixsite.com/prodjvisuals.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY:

The released parties, Prod. J Entertainment, and its affiliates, are not responsible for: (a) any injury or damage to persons or property that may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from participant's participation in the competition; (b) technical failures of any kind; (c) technical or human error that may occur in the administration of the competition or processing of submissions; (d) incorrect information, whether caused by participants, printers, errors, or any equipment used in the competition; or (e) any inability of the winner to accept or use any prize for any reason.

BY PARTICIPATION IN THIS COMPETITION, PARTICIPANT AGREES THAT COMPETITION, SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES. REPRESENTATIVES, CONSULTANTANTS, CONTRACTORS, LEGAL COUNSEL, ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, PROMOTIONAL, FULFILLMENT AND MARKERTING, WEBSITE PROVIDERS, WEB MASTERS, AND OTHEER RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AGENTS (THE "RELEASED PARTIES") WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR, AND SHALL BE HELD HARMLESS BY ENTRANTS AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INJURIES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND TO PERSONS, INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, OR PROPERTY RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM OR PARTICIPATION IN THIS COMPETITION OR ANY COMPETITION RELATED TO ACTIVITY, OR ANY CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DAFAMATION OR INVASION OF PRIVACY. THE RELEASED PARTIES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF ANY PRIZE CANNOT BE AWARDED DUE TO CANCELLATIONS, DELAYS, OR INTERRUPTIONS DUE TO ACTS OF GOD, ACT OF WAR, NATURAL DISASTERS, WEATHER, OR TERRORISM. BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION, ENTRANT AGREES THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY INJURIES, DAMAGES, OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES TO PERSONS, INCLUDING DEATH, OR TO PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF ACCESS TO AND USE OF ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPETITION OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM SUCH SITE.

NO RESCISSION OR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF:

All rights granted under the official rules are irrevocably vested at the time of submission. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no breach by competition or sponsor of these official rules will entitle participant to equitable relief, whether injunctive or otherwise, and participants explicitly waive the right to seek or obtain any form of equitable relief, including the right to enjoin the development, production, and exploitation of our marketing of the script/project. Participant's sole remedy for any breach of these official rules or any other dispute related to this competition and sponsor shall be an action at law solely for compensatory damages. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, participant expressly waives all rights to seek incidental, consequential, special, punitive damages, or lost profits.

WAIVER:

Competition or Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these official rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

SUSPENSION / TERMINATION:

Competition and Sponsor have the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the competition, if an event beyond competition or sponsor's control prevents competition from continuing (e.g., fire, flood, labor dispute, war, terrorist threat, recession, each a "Force Majeure event")

Additionally, competition and sponsor reserve(s) the right to cancel, suspend/or modify the competition or deadlines, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond sponsor's reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the competition, determined by sponsor and its affiliates in their sole discretion. Competition and sponsor have the right to cancel this screenwriting contest without reason.

Competition and sponsor reserve the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be attempting to tamper with or undermine the entry process, any website associated with the competition, and/or the legitimate operation of the competition; to violate the official rules; or to act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. If for any reason, the competition is not capable of running as planned, competition and sponsor may, in their sole discretion, void any suspect entries and (a) modify the competition or suspend the competition to address the impairment and then resume the competition in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these official rules; or (b) terminate the competition altogether and not award the prize. If the competition is terminated prior to the selection of a winner, a full refund will be issued for all submissions. Alternatively, should the competition be terminated after submissions but prior to final judging, sponsor may, in its sole discretion, select a winner based on the non-suspect scripts submitted as of the effective termination date, in which case no refunds will be issued.

It is important to read all the rules, terms and regulations to be in compliance. If you have further questions, please email us: justicebomer@prodjvisuals.com