As Halloween approaches, horror features dominate the spotlight, but the Ripcord Halloween Film Festival is proving that short films can deliver just as much fright in a fraction of the time. This year, the festival has launched its most ambitious short film competition yet, with a record-breaking prize pool and a jury led by Deadpool director Tim Miller.
From over 500 submissions, the festival has narrowed the field to a dozen finalists—a "Dirty Dozen" that will be screened on October 29 at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The following day, October 30, the winners will be announced, with the top prize taking home $100,000, the largest purse ever offered in a short film contest. An additional $100,000 will be distributed among the runners-up.
If you can't make it to Los Angeles, don't worry—all 50 semifinalist entries are available to stream for free on Ripcord.film.
Meet the Jury
The five-member jury brings a wealth of experience from across the horror and film industries. In addition to Tim Miller, known for his work on Deadpool and Terminator: Dark Fate, the panel includes:
- Jean Anne Lauer, director of short film programming at Fantastic Fest in Austin.
- Lisa Ogdie, a short film programmer for the Sundance Film Festival.
- Neville Page, a creature designer whose credits include Star Trek, Avatar, and Tron: Legacy, and a judge on Face Off.
- Peter Phok, a producer known for horror hits like The House of the Devil, Stake Land, and Ti West's X trilogy.
This diverse group of experts will have the tough task of selecting a winner from a lineup that ranges from creepy to comedic, featuring everything from puppets to poltergeists to pizza.
The 12 Finalists
Here's a look at the films competing for the top prize:
- Blossom Needs a Ride Home (Dir. Tim Schwagel): After defeating a bloodthirsty maniac, Blossom just needs a ride home. What a hassle.
- Breeder (Dir. Sapphire Sandalo): A woman on the fence about having kids is hunted by a demonic horse-man from Filipino folklore.
- Dirty Fuzz (Dir. Daniel Chimes): A rookie cop accidentally shoots her corrupt partner and must team up with underworld characters to cover it up.
- Dream Creep (Dir. Carlos A.F. Lopez): A couple is awakened by sounds coming from an unlikely orifice.
- Harold Eats Maude (Dirs. Carl Fry & Maxwell Nalevansky): A cannibal who can't stop eating priests forms an unlikely bond with his stalker.
- Hour of Blood (Dir. Marcella Ochoa): In 1915 Texas, a young girl defends her ranch against a dark threat when ranchers go missing.
- It Helps (Dir. J. Zachary Thurman): A sleepless woman discovers her brother's sleep machine is keeping an unspeakable presence at bay.
- Long's Long Lost & Mini Mart (Dir. Julian Doan): In a Little Saigon convenience store, a young man reanimates his dead father for one last conversation.
- Make Me a Pizza (Dir. Talia Shea Levin): A bored housewife seduces the pizza guy, but is desire worth $29.99?
- Rat! (Dir. Neal Suresh Mulani): A music journalist accuses a pop star of queerbaiting, and the singer's fans descend on his cabin.
- Spanked by a Ghost (Dir. Katelyn Douglass): A woman is spanked by an unseen entity, awakening a force she can't control.
- Zippy's House (Dir. Sophia Parella): A teen attends a classmate's birthday party and discovers he's the only guest—and the host's brother is in permanent time-out.
This eclectic mix promises something for every horror fan, from supernatural scares to dark comedy. The festival's expansion from ten to twelve finalists reflects the tight competition among the entries.
For those eager to see what the buzz is about, a teaser of the finalists is available below. The winners will be announced on October 30, and we'll be sure to bring you the results. In the meantime, check out our other horror coverage, including Stephen King's shortest, sharpest novels for your Halloween reading list.
