"Screams By The Sea" is an international film festival celebrating independent horror & genre cinema. We’re on a mission to discover and promote diverse & emerging fantastical programing.

👻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 two day event that will include:
🔪6 Feature films;
🔪180 min of short films (Read rules)
🔪Live screen writing competition

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.

👻SCRIPT-TO-SCREEN WRITING COMPETITION👻
In addition to our film screenings, networking events, & film making panels, we’re thrilled to host a feature film screenwriting competition. Four talented screenwriters will be shortlisted to pitch their screenplays to our judges and guests in the spotlight of the main stage at the event. A panle of industry leaders will award BEST SCREENPLAY to on winning screenply.

Awards & Prizes

Audience choice - Best short film.
Audience choice - Best feature film.
Best Screenplay (funded production deal).

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 genre filmmakers worldwide.
b. We accept feature films and short films within the wide horror & sci-fi genre.
c. Films must be completed after 2025.
d. By submitting a film, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights and grant permission for the Festival to screen it.
e. 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 read by qualified readers.

Festival Screenings and Events:
a. The Festival takes place in Bournemouth, 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.
e. The Festival may use any or all of the selected matterial during screenings and additional events to promote the films and the festival.

Awards and Prizes:
a. Awards include Audience Choice Award and Screenplay Award.
b. Winners are chosen by our amazing audience at the end of the final film of the day.
c. Screenplay Award - Joury of 3 industry professionals will assess the pitches on the day.

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.

15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • James Smith

    Huge thanks to Scream by the Sea for selecting my film! The festival put together an amazing program with top-tier coordination and communication throughout. The press coverage was also a fantastic bonus. Amazing to be part of this lineup and truly hope to attend in person next time!

    March 2026
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  • Diani Citra

    Great programming, great people who clearly have a shared (and slightly concerning) love for all things creepy, unsettling, and beautifully strange, and a genuinely supportive atmosphere.

    Screams by the Sea is such a thoughtfully curated festival. It creates real opportunities for connection without feeling overwhelming. A fantastic space for horror filmmakers and writers.

    10/10 Highly recommended.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Diani. We loved hearing your pitch in the screenwriting competition. We love seeing our writing community grow around the festival. 👻

  • Dave Gardner

    Really supportive festival with great comms. Got lots of nice letterboxd reviews too for our film 'Surprise!'. Radi and the team were very kind and this is a great fest.

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the kind words Dave. We love hearing all of the awesome comments about your film.

  • Brock LaBorde

    What a lovely fest. I was lucky enough to compete as a Finalist in their Script to Screen Competition, and it was a legit cool experience that taught me a lot and introduced my writing to a lot of execs, producers, and fans. Hope I can participate in this fest for years to come!

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congratulation Brock. We can't wait to see where you take the screenplay. We can't wait to see you there on the next one :)

  • Samuel Carter

    Absolute joy of a festival! The programmers are extremely friendly and approachable and obviously share a huge passion for cinema and horror in particular.
    The whole day is thoughtfully designed so that movie goers and filmmakers can get the absolute most out of enjoying the films whilst also being able to network and learn valuable lessons at the various filmmaking senimars.
    10/10 would go again!

    June 2025
    Helpful