In this video I’m giving you the final update before things get chaotic with the screening party—because the clock is winding down on my seventh annual Horror Short Film Contest. This year was honestly wild: 197 films were made and submitted, and I’m blown away by the level of talent. The quality across the board—from the creative ideas and practical effects to cinematography, original scores, and sound design—felt like the best we’ve seen in all seven years. I also want to say this clearly: if you participated at all, you should be proud. Making a film is a big undertaking no matter your budget, and on indie sets you’re usually wearing a ton of hats and juggling a million moving parts. A lot of people sit on the sideline and make excuses—if you submitted, you didn’t. I’m proud of you. I’m also transparent here about the “business” side: I invest my own time and personal finances into this, and I don’t make money doing it—I actually lose money every year. I do it because I’m passionate about supporting filmmakers and giving you a reason to go create. I announce this year’s finalists, and I share details for the October 25th screening party and award night in LA—open to anyone who grabs a ticket—and I tell you to follow me on IG for the rest of the updates.