Ripcord Halloween Film Festival 2026: $200,000 Short Film Contest

Put a finished genre short in front of online audiences and a Hollywood jury

Ripcord plans to select 50 films for an online showcase, then fly ten finalists to Los Angeles for an October 29 screening at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Because the contest can close when the entry cap is reached, waiting for the calendar deadline carries extra risk.

Contest details

• Deadline: October 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, or earlier if 7,500 eligible entries are received.
• Who can enter: Eligible filmmakers in permitted locations; Quebec is excluded and full official rules apply.
• Entry fee: $30 standard or $25 student submission fee.
• Prize: $100,000 first prize, $50,000 second, $25,000 third, $4,000 fourth, and $3,500 for each fifth-through-tenth-place finalist.
• Video format: A horror, thriller, science-fiction, or related genre short film no longer than 30 minutes.

Before you submit

Read the organizer’s current rules, confirm music and footage rights, and keep original project files in case finalists are asked to verify their work. Requirements and dates can change after this listing is published.

Visit the official contest page and enter.

Online Video Contests independently summarizes opportunities and is not the contest organizer.