Screams By The Sea

"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.

Audience choice award.
Best Screenplay.
Short film anthology.

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!

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Zack McCune

A great event organized by fantastically passionate people.

April 2025

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you so much for the kind words, Zack.
Nicolas Luquet

Epic one-day festival, masterfully orchestrated by Radi, who blows minds with insane energy and a burning passion to bring the best of international fantasy to the charming town of Bournemouth! 🔥⚡️❤️

April 2025

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you so much for being such a big part of this years festival, Aurelia. We loved screening SCARLET BLUE, and your masterclass was awesome. 👻
Chris Reading

Great Festival! We wish them all the best for future years!

April 2025

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Response from festival:

Thank you Chris. We loved having your cast members visit us for the screening of Time Travel Is Dangerous. We're already scheming plans for next year 👻
Mark Walker

Absolutely fantastic day, so well organised and amazing value. Massive thanks to Radi and the team for putting together such a great schedule. Will be back next year for sure!

April 2025

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Response from festival:

It was such a pleasure to have you with us Mark. Can't wait to do it all again 👻
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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