Thousands of filmmakers across the world want to be the next Kane Parsons or Curry Barker. Many of them even have the tools and the talent to make the horror happen. What they’re lacking is the audience. That’s where Ripcord emerges from the shadows — not with a scare, but an opportunity.
With Ripcord, fans can rate and review films, follow and interact with the filmmakers, and discover new voices in the genre space. What’s more, they can purchase these films directly from the filmmakers with revenue going right into the creator’s pockets. It’s a community space — and one that’s making moves.
“Ripcord’s Halloween Film Festival is the first step,” says John Hegeman, Festival Director. “Filmmakers get the exposure they need, and fans discover new voices in horror, sci-fi and fantasy they might never have found otherwise.”
As previously reported, Ripcord’s Halloween Film Festival runs Monday, October 19 through Thursday, October 29, and will consist of 50 horror, sci-fi, thriller, and fantasy short films in competition for a $200,000 prize pool. Actually, it’s a little more nuanced than just a big number.
“We wanted the prizes to matter,” Hegeman insists. “Our $100,000 first-place cash prize is the largest in the history of short film festivals, and a combined $100,000 will be shared among the other nine Top 10 finalists. That kind of money can make a real difference in these filmmakers’ careers…”
Here’s the full breakdown…
- First Place: $100,000
- Second Place: $50,000
- Third Place: $25,000
- Fourth Place: $4,000
- Fifth–Tenth Place: $3,500 each
That’s not all, either. The top 10 filmmakers will be flown out to Los Angeles, where their films will screen for a live audience at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre on October 29. All eligible films will be a genre short in horror, thriller, science fiction, or fantasy; 4 and 30 minutes in length; produced within the past two years; and submitted by eligible citizens of the United States or Canada, excluding Quebec.
Submissions wrap up on October 1st with the top 50 selections announced October 12. Then, from October 19th to the 22nd, horror hounds and genre junkies alike can watch the Top 50 short films, engage directly with filmmakers, and vote for their favorites on Ripcord. Those votes will help whittle down the list to — you guessed it — the 10 best filmmakers. As Hegeman notes, “Online audiences can help make [a filmmakers’ career] happen by watching, voting, and championing the films they love.”
Ripcord has only just begun. The Halloween Film Festival is the first of Ripcord’s programming with additional festivals planned on a regular basis. So, if you’re looking to change Horror history, register online for free at Ripcord and find the next filmmaker for everyone to fear.