Vancouver horror show film festival
BC SCREENWRITER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
VHS 2025 is introducing its inaugural
BC Screenwriters Development Program
Open to BC-based emerging screenwriters.
Submit your completed draft of a short (25 pages or less) horror screenplay
for a chance to be one of three writers selected for the program.
Program Details
The Three selected BC-based screenwriters will have their scripts performed as part of a live table read series to an audience of horror film fans, industry professionals, a panel of three established screenwriters, and of course – the writer themselves!
As part of the table read, the writer will receive constructive feedback from the panel on what worked, what didn’t, where the strengths and opportunities lie, and provide advice on how to elevate the script for the next draft.
The panel will then vote to select the official winner for Best BC Screenplay which will be announced live at The VHS 2025 Golden Tape Awards.
Following the table read series, all attendees, panelists and writers will be invited to an industry mixer nearby. In the following weeks, each of the three writers will be paired with a professional script editor for a one-on-one session to provide further advice and guidance on developing their scripts into the next draft.
Eligibility
Screenwriters must be based in British Columbia.
Screenwriters may not have been the lead writer on a produced feature film with a theatrical release.
Screenwriters may have been the lead writer on a completed short film.
Scripts must be 25 pages or under including title page.
VHS takes a broad and liberal definition for what constitutes "horror", and will accept submissions in adjacent genres like Dark Drama or Gothic Fiction so long as scripts contain elements which share thematic, stylistic, or psychological elements associated with horror.
Scripts must be in English, or be provided with English translation.
Panelists
Dennis Heaton
Dennis Heaton is a writer, showrunner, and executive producer currently working on Fox's "Murder in a Small Town", and show-ran Netflix's "The Order".
Karen Lam
Karen Lam is a celebrated and award-winning horror director ("Curse of Willow Song", "Evangeline", "Armageddon Road") and writer.
Graeme Manson is the series creator of "Orphan Black", showrunner for TNT's "Snowpiercer", and the co-writer of the Canadian sci-fi horror indie cult classic "Cube".
Graeme Manson
Presented by
Alan and Gwendoline
Pyatt Foundation
