Ripcord’s Halloween Film Festival is distributing $200,000 in cash prizes to ten genre shorts. The first-place winner receives $100,000, a substantial sum for independent short-form filmmaking. According to iHorror, the festival is putting this total amount in front of ten selected films this October.
Submissions are currently open and close on October 1. Filmmakers can enter their work through FilmFreeway or directly via ripcord.film. The entry fee is required, and iHorror notes that the rules are narrow, advising creators to read them carefully before paying.
Eligibility is restricted to specific genres: horror, thriller, science fiction, or fantasy. The runtime must be between 4 and 30 minutes. Additionally, the film must have been completed within the past 24 months. Language requirements specify that the short must be in English or include English subtitles.
Beyond the cash prizes, all ten finalists will be flown to Los Angeles for a live finale. The festival covers airfare, hotel accommodations, per diem, and airport transfers. This travel package includes hotel rooms for California-based filmmakers who do not already reside in Los Angeles.
The festival has not announced the specific dates for the live finale beyond the October timeframe. iHorror reported that they could not find additional details regarding the exact schedule or venue for the event. The primary focus of the announcement remains the financial support and travel benefits for the selected finalists.
This structure provides a clear pathway for emerging horror and genre filmmakers to gain visibility and financial support. The combination of a high first-place prize and covered travel costs reduces the barrier to entry for the final stage of the competition. The deadline of October 1 creates a tight window for submission.