"Screams By The Sea" International Film Festival is a celebration of independent horror & genre cinema. We’re on a mission to discover and promote diverse & emerging talent.
Engage with fellow horror fans, share spine-chilling tales, and participate in the activities alongside the films.

👻WHAT WE LOOK FOR👻
"Screams By The Sea" is an international film festival open for submissions from all around the word. We want to see: horror, thriller, comedy-horror, fantasy, sci-fi, & documentaries. We're going to program one day event that will include:
🔪 5 Feature films;
🔪60 min of short films (Read rules)
🔪Script-to-Screen Writing competition (Funded production deal awarded)
🔪Your trailers (Read rules)

If you'd chosen to premiere your feature film at our festival, and you're selected for the programming we would like to make your premiere a worldwide success. Let us know if that is the case in your Cover Letter.

👻SHORT FILM OPPORTUNITY👻
Our goal is to always expand, and so we would like to shine the spotlight on our short film selection. All short films shown at our next event will have the opportunity to be acquired for an anthology feature film with a worldwide distribution. To be eligible for this opportunity your short needs to fit the theme of: SUPERNATURAL HORROR. Ghost, demons, poltergeists, possessions, ‘evil books’, funny or blood-chilling all are welcome.

👻SCRIPT-TO-SCREEN WRITING COMPETITION👻
But that's not all! In addition to our film screenings, networking events, & film making panels, we’re thrilled to host a feature film screenwriting competition that will launch your horror story onto the big screen. Four talented screenwriters will be shortlisted to present their stories to our guests of film professionals in the spotlight of the main stage at the event. One winning feature length script will be produced by Silent D Pictures and the writer will be offered a contract for the production of the film.

Join us at Screams by the Sea and unleash your fear. Whether you're a die-hard horror fan or simply seeking an adrenaline-fueled adventure, this festival promises to leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Awards & Prizes

Audience choice award.
Best Screenplay.
Short film anthology.

Rules & Terms

Terms and Conditions - Screams by the Sea International Horror Film Festival

Eligibility:
a. Screams by the Sea International Horror Film Festival ("the Festival") is open to horror filmmakers worldwide.
b. We accept feature films and short films within the horror genre.
c. Films must be completed after 2019.
d. By submitting a film, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights and grant permission for the Festival to screen it.
e. The feature films submitted need to be rated 15+.
f. The filmmakers&producers of the films shown in the SHORT FILM SELECTION must own the worldwide rights to their movies.

Submission Guidelines:
a. Submit your film through our official platform before the specified deadlines.
b. Fill out the entry form with accurate information.
c. Additional materials like trailers and still images will be used to promote the filmmakers and the Festival.

Selection Process:
a. Our team will review all submitted films and make the final selections.
b. Our decisions are final.
c. Each feature film is watched and discussed by internal panel to ensure the best possible curation.
d. Screenplays are assigned and red by qualified readers.

Festival Screenings and Events:
a. The Festival takes place in Dorset, England, on specified dates.
b. We schedule and program the selected films.
c. Filmmakers of selected films must provide screening copies in the specified format and time frame.
d. The Festival has selection of additional events running along side the screenings. Refer to the Festivals website for additional information.

Awards and Prizes:
a. Awards include Audience Choice Award.
b. Winners are chosen by our amazing audience at the end of the final film of the day.
c. Screenplay Award - The winning screenplay will be offered a production deal at the event.
d. The selected short films will be offered the opportunity to be included in a Anthology Feature film the terms of such offer will be provided by Silent D Pictures ltd.

Promotion and Publicity:
a. By submitting a film, you grant us the right to use excerpts, stills, video and audio for promotional materials.
b. We encourage filmmakers to actively promote their films and the Festival.

Liability:
a. The Festival organizers and affiliates are not liable for any damages or losses.
b. Filmmakers are responsible for obtaining necessary rights and permissions.
c. Any issues arisen from the films or filmmakers not having the correct rights to exhibit any or all audio visual materials at the Festival will be forwarded to the corresponding film makers.

Acceptance of Terms:
a. Submitting a film indicates acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Screenwriting Competition:
a. We're hosting a feature film screenwriting competition throughout the Festival.
b. The winning screenwriter will be awarded a production deal.
c. Competition rules and deadlines will be announced separately.

We welcome horror filmmakers to submit their work to the Screams by the Sea International Horror Film Festival. Get ready to showcase your chilling creations and be part of the horror community!
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Wyn Wallace

    I am stunned by what a success this festival was. I know Radi and would never doubt him but this huge undertaking was pulled off so well. A huge credit to Radi and Djonny's hard work. I think the program of films was a perfect variety that seemed tailor made for the festival and was well recieved. They packed so much into a one day event without it seeming too much and the screenwriting contest for which a production deal was awarded on the day is so incredibly cool. This festival offers so much to indie filmmakers and the community I hope the festival continues to grow and grow.

    February 2024
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  • Abby Selden

    Wasn't able to make it in person but was very impressed by how the festival was run and hope to attend next year!

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Wow! We would be delighted to meet you in person next year, Abby. Thank you for being part of our very first screenwriting competition. 👏

  • Mitchell Tolliday

    I was fortunate to have my feature film "Murder Ballads: How to make it in Rock 'n' Roll" play at Screams by the Sea in 2024. It was a great pleasure to be a part of the festival.

    The communication was top notch throughout, engaging with all the filmmakers involved ahead of time to help promote their films and the festival - with regular social media updates about everything they had lined up. The festival itself was an absolute joy, the crowd was super engaged and enthusiastic, the talks were varied and informative and the networking was lots of fun.

    Radi, Djonny and their wonderful team have truly created something very special with Screams By Sea; building not only a excellent film festival but an amazing film community too. I would highly recommend it to anyone!

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for being part of this years festival, Mitch. We had such fun opening the festival with your film. Hope we see you there next year. :)

  • Stewart Sparke

    I was incredibly thankful to Screams by the Sea for accepting my feature film 'How to Kill Monsters' for the 2024 edition of the festival at which the film won the audience award for Best Film. Communication from the festival director was excellent and I was always kept up to date on the schedule and important information at every step. They were also very accommodating of our cast who were warmly welcomed at the venue and it made the festival a very inclusive and supportive atmosphere for filmmakers and attendees alike.

    The team were also highly organised with marketing the festival and the films screening at it, posting regularly on social media and providing coverage on local press outlets to encourage attendance. I would recommend Screams by the Sea to any horror filmmakers out there who are looking for a festival that supports independent horror films and the filmmakers behind them.

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Wow. Thank you for the amazing words Stewart. And congratulations on the win. 👏

  • Christopher Lang

    I had a great time at this festival. Radi and his brilliant team made sure I was made welcome. I had the pleasure of pitching my screenplay ' Witch in the Woods' at the pitching competition. Great films and great talks. The networking event was good as well.

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the kind words Christopher, and thank you for being part of our first film festival.