Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Deadline
- 10/27/2026
In short
The 14th annual Ten Scary Minutes invites anyone with a smartphone or action cam to create a horror movie 10 minutes or less for a chance to win $500.
Ten Scary Minutes 2026 – Horror Movie Contest
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 10/27/202688 days left
$500
First place prize
10 minutes or less
Maximum film length
Horror movie
Genre
Free
Entry fee
14th annual event
Contest longevity
Overview
The Ten Scary Minutes contest is an annual horror movie-making competition entering its 14th year in 2026. Participants are challenged to create a short horror movie, up to ten minutes in length, using readily available equipment such as smartphones or POV cameras. The contest encourages creativity and imagination within the horror genre, embracing styles from Gothic scary to B-movie campy. This not-for-profit initiative aims to ignite imaginations and provide a platform for budding, grass-roots movie producers to showcase their work. The organizers emphasize having fun and utilizing user-friendly video editing options to bring stories to life. While 360 immersive video is not supported, the contest is open to a broad thematic scope within horror. The competition offers a prize for the first-place winner, along with social recognition and the potential for a production to go viral. It serves as an opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to gain experience and exposure in the horror genre.
What to build
Create a horror movie that is ten minutes or less in length. The movie can explore any sub-genre of horror, including Gothic scary, Hitchcockian suspense, shock scary, mock scary, or B-movie campy. Participants are encouraged to use readily available video recording devices like smartphones or action cameras and user-friendly editing software.
Prizes
1st Place
US dollars, plus social 'cred' and potential for the production to go viral.
$500
Eligibility
The contest is open to anyone interested in creating a horror movie. There are no specified age, status, or regional restrictions mentioned. The competition is designed to be accessible to 'grass-roots budding movie producers'.
How to enter
- Create a horror movie that is ten minutes or less in length.
- Check the official website for detailed submission instructions.
Submission requirements
- Film must be a horror movie.
- Film must be a maximum of ten (10) minutes in length (including 20 seconds of credits is ideal).
- 360 immersive video is not supported.