DETAILS

• RULES
  Filmmakers can be located anywhere in the world.
  Films must be micro-budget genre- ie. horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, dark thriller-feature-length films.
  Pitch and Project must be predominantly in English.
  Films must be completed within one calendar year of receiving the prize.
  Filmmakers must have written or be the owner of original material. 
  The film must be able to be completed with the 100k provided and have no prior distribution or sales deals already in place.
  Chroma will have world-wide distribution and sales rights to the completed films in perpetuity and will provide all contracts and legal documentation surrounding ownership and revenue share percentages prior to pitch event. 
• APPLICATION TIMELINE:
  June 16—Submission Window OPENS
  August 8 — Submissions CLOSE and finalist interview begin
  August 22nd—Final Projects Selected
  Notifications August 22nd
  September 22nd, 2025 —Pitch Lab @ Fantastic Fest
• FAQ
  May I submit more than one project?
  ‍You may submit up to two (2) projects but they will need to be separate submissions.How long should my script be?There is no absolute, but THIS is a micro-budget feature film contest. We would suggest something between 75-100 pages. Nothing below 75 or above 120 will be accepted without prior approval. 
  ‍Do you consider scripts written in a language other than English?
  ‍All films will have to be English language and submission scripts must be predominantly in  English. The inclusion of other languages does not disqualify a film as long as English remains the predominant language.
  ‍How many projects will be selected? Are there multiple rounds like in other Labs and pitch contests? Apox. 10-20 projects will be chosen for  an interview round with our selection team. From there, up to 5 finalists will be selected  to come to Austin, Texas to pitch our industry panel during Fantastic Fest. The finalists must put together a Proof of Concept/Pitch video to show during the pitches in Austin. The panel will select ONE team as the winning project team. The winning team will be offered the $100k financing and distribution deal.
  I already have a proof of concept video, should I submit it? Will I have to make another one?
  ‍That’s great. You are ahead of the whats this word? curve? You may  send it with your project submission if you like. If you are selected as a finalist, our selection team may offer  suggestions or additions to your video or pitch ahead of your final pitch presentation . Our goal is to support you and help you craft your strongest pitch possible so you feel confident in front of the jury. 
  ‍These are my ideas! Are you going to protect them? Will they be shared?
  ‍We share your pitches, scripts and ideas with a small trusted group of readers. As a finalist your projects will then be shared with an outside group of judges before you pitch your project on stage during the festival. Because we are filmmakers first, we always recommend registering your script with the WGA for a very small fee, you do not need to be a WGA member to utilize its registration service.
  ‍When I apply for or if I am selected for the pitch competition, does Fantastic Fest own my screenplay? No. Fantastic Fest does not own any submitted intellectual property. However, If you are selected as a finalist you must sign an agreement with Chroma to fund, distribute, and sell your film worldwide to participate in the pitches. What kind of films are we looking for?Genre Films! Horror, Sci-fi, Thrillers. More specifically… creature features, witches, ghosts, zombies, slashers, action, revenge thrillers, aliens, body horror, gothic horror, western horrors, and haunted houses in the woods. We want to support filmmakers at all levels and champion diverse stories from across the genre space.
  What are the stipulations of receiving the funding?
  ‍This movie must be finished in one calendar year. Though submitted projects are mostly in the 100k or under budget range, we are open to receiving projects looking for finishing funds that meet the other requirements. If you have additional financing in place, please detail that in the budget and “creative statement” sections.
  Additional Considerations: The team will assess the project’s feasibility and financial viability, as well as likelihood of success within the genre spaceProjects must feature compelling, original subject matter and be categorized as a genre film.We welcome international projects and/or co-productions to submit as long as they can meet the language and distribution requirements. Please reach out to us with specific co-production and international questions at pitches@fantasticfest.com.