ALTER (horror) and DUST (sci-fi) are two of the internet’s most-watched short film destinations, with just under 7 million subscribers on YouTube. We curate standout genre short films from around the world, releasing one short per week per channel.

That means every selection matters. Before submitting, please make sure your film aligns with our tone and genre. Over three seasons, we’ve accepted just under 140 films.

You can get a strong sense of our taste by watching what we’ve already programmed. Please don’t rely on festival categorization - just because a film played at a horror or sci-fi festival doesn’t mean it fits our channels. Midnight comedies, thrillers, psychological dramas, abstract/experimental pieces, and fantasy epics might contain genre elements, but they’re not necessarily horror or sci-fi.

If your film fits what we do, we’d love to see it. Once accepted, a team member will reach out with onboarding info and a release timeline.

Awards & Prizes

A release on ALTER or DUST includes:
● Massive Reach – Thousands to hundreds of thousands of views per film
● Industry Eyes – A trusted source for agents, managers, and producers scouting talent
● Non-Exclusive Terms – You retain full rights; remove anytime
● Full Promo Support – Creative rollout handled by our in-house team
● Audience Data – Request a post-launch analytics report with viewer behavior & engagement

Our curation has been featured in both Collider & GQ:
● https://collider.com/alter-youtube-channel-horror-shorts-streaming-free/
● https://www.gq.com/story/youtube-horror-shorts-new-filmmakers-alter-racka-racka-skinamarink-talk-to-me

Rules & Terms

● Runtime: 5–20 min preferred. Longer films face tougher competition.
● Rights: You must have all necessary rights secured, especially music.
● Festival Timing: Not ready to go public yet? We can hold your film until you're done with the fest circuit.
● Series: Acceptance does not imply support for future episodes or seasons.
● Features: Not accepted unless clearly restructured as a short-form series.
● Refunds: No refunds for any reason once submitted.
● Use of AI: DUST showcases one AI short film every month. If AI was used in the creation of your film, please list out what programs and software you used.

FAQ
● When should I submit? As soon as your film is finished. We schedule months in advance
● Is my old film eligible? Yes—even if it’s years or decades old
● Is this exclusive? No—our showcase is non-exclusive
● When will my film launch? Once accepted, we’ll onboard you, collect assets, and schedule your release
● Will my film go viral? No promises—but we’ll give it the best platform and promotion possible

IMPORTANT: Please be advised that ALTER & DUST, any affiliates, or their respective executives do not read or consider any unsolicited literary material, including, without limitation, scripts, musical compositions, product ideas, lyrics, concepts, ideas or suggestions. For the avoidance of doubt, any written materials you submit will not be read, and will be immediately deleted.
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • James A Sims

    This is my second film premiere with DUST and I couldn’t be more happy with the release. Looking forward to the next film release with their team!

    January 2023
    Helpful
  • James Rogers-Gahan

    We are thrilled to be selected by Alter & Dust. Our experience has been an exceptional one and their line up of content is innovative and inspiring!

    January 2023
    Helpful
  • Helen Warner

    Cannot recommend the team at Alter enough, their communication is excellent, the whole process was very easy. Brilliant exposure and the loveliest people to deal with. Thanks again

    January 2023
    Helpful