The 15 Second Horror Film Challenge is a nonprofit international filmmaking contest in which celebrity judges decide the top films and conventions screen our greatest hits!

Founded/programmed by filmmaker Andrew J.D. Robinson, the contest has received 1000+ entries. Troma has showcased our top films onto the official TromaMovies YouTube channel for each edition. Last year, their showcase became the #21 trending on YouTube generating 9 million views across the top 20— 3 million+ for 1st place alone as of August ’18.

Our judge panels ranges from old school icons to new wave voices. This year’s fourth annual panel features:

Alan Bagh (Birdemic 1 & 2) Alex Essoe (Starry Eyes) Amy Steel (Friday the 13th Part II) Barbara Magnolfi (Suspiria) Barbie Wilde (Hellbound: Hellraiser II) Bloodbath & Beyond (News/Reviews/Interviews) Bonnie Aarons (The Conjuring 2, Mulholland Drive) Catherine Mary Stewart (Night of the Creeps) Cindy Hinds (The Brood, The Dead Zone) Crypticon Seattle David Howard Thornton (Terrifier) Ellie Church (Frankenstein Created Bikers) Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp) FIlmQuest Geretta Geretta (Demons) Hannah Fierman (V/H/S, Siren)

HorrorHound Jackey Raye Newyman Jones (Manos: The Hands of Fate) Jason Lively (Night of the Creeps) Jennilee Murray (Smash Cut) Jessica Cameron (American Guinea Pig: The Song of Solomon) Jill Gevargizian (42 Counts, The Stylist) Joe Castro (Terror Toons, Night of the Demons III) Kansas Bowling (The B.C. Butcher) Kelli Maroney (Night of the Comet, Chopping Mall) Kevin Van Hentenryck (Basket Case, Brain Damage) Kevin Martin (Straight to Video: A B-Movie Odyssey) Laura Ortiz (Victor Crowley, The Hills Have Eyes) Laurence R. Harvey (The Human Centipede 2) Lloyd Kaufman (Troma) Lotta Losten (Lights Out) Mark Torgl (The Toxic Avenger) Melanie Kinnaman (Friday the 13th Part V) Mick Strawn (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 art director) Nicholas Vince (Hellraiser, Nightbreed) Nightmare on Film Street (News/Podcast) Reagan Dale Neis (Daywalt Horror) Simon Bamford (Hellraiser, Nightbreed) Spooky Astronauts (Reviews/Interviews) Tiffany Shepis (Troma, Sharknado 2) Tina Romero (Queens of the Dead) and Will Keenan (Terror Firmer, Tromeo & Juliet)

Our past panels included David F. Sandberg (Lights Out), Helene Udy (My Bloody Valentine), Thommy Hutson (Never Sleep Again), Uwe Boll (House of the Dead), Lee Demarbre (Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter), Marc Sheffler (Last House on the Left), Adam Marcus (Jason Goes to Hell), William Butler (Night of the Living Dead 1990) and Chelsey Valentine (American Horror Story). The philosophy of the generously sized panels is to bring a horror convention experience to the community in a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have your favourites possibly choose one of your entries— furthered by each judge produces a selfie of themselves holding a sign of the titles of their top picks. Since ’17, the judges’ picks expanded from five into ten instead!

The 15 Second Horror Film Challenge has been featured in FilmFreeway’s Top 100 Best Reviewed festivals since ’16 for its friendl public relations and engaging promos and showcasess. Its nonprofit structure deepens its inclusivity, enabling international filmmakers despite skill level or economic means can participate within a low risk, high return perimeters.

Whether you’re a professional building a portfolio or someone exploring the arts, all we want to know is: Can you scare us in 15 seconds? Scare us 365 days of the year at 15secondhorror.ca