DEADLINE EXTENDED: Submissions Due May 14th
Thrillers are films that can be suspenseful, exciting or downright scary! They keep an audience at the edge of their seats with heart-pounding on-screen surprises, characters shrouded in mystery, or storylines meant to thrill and chill. Whether it’s a horror movie madman or secret spy mission ready to unfold, films in this wide-ranging genre emphasize action, tension and atmosphere to exhilarate viewers and leave them wanting more.
Making a thriller of your own? Check out filmmaking tools, tips, and classroom-ready resources on the Beyond the Peaks festival homepage and in our Storytelling and Filmmaking collection on PBS LearningMedia.
Thriller category requirements:
- Films must have a run time of 5 minutes or less.
- Pre-production materials include a script and storyboard.
- Additional materials include a poster, trailer, synopsis, and cast & crew lists.
Students can submit original films in a variety of additional categories including Documentary, Narrative, PSA, and Open.
Discover Thrillers That Outright Exhilarate
Get inspired to create your own thriller with this selection of high anxiety, edge-of-your-seat short films. Explore exciting plots—from supernatural stories inspired by master writer of the macabre Edgar Allen Poe to shadowy agents on a secret mission—there’s lots to discover with thrillers.
Hard Candy | Film School Shorts
“Hard Candy”, an electro-pop, animated noir film by Henry McClellan, follows two shadowy agents on a mission through the underbelly of Oakland, California. Film School Shorts, brought to you by KQED, is a weekly series that showcases short student films, giving emerging filmmakers around the country a platform to show off their top-notch storytelling.
A Collection of South Florida Thrillers | film-maker 510
Watch a compilation of four thrillers—”Daggers Drawn,” “Woodlandish Ghoul,” “La Rose Noire” and “CAMALEÓN”—by local filmmakers in South Florida, showcased in the season five finale of PBS South Florida’s film-maker series. Hear from the directors and writers of these short films as they describe the production process and inspiration behind each of the thrilling features they’ve brought to life on screen.
Steadfast Stanley | Film School Shorts
In “Steadfast Stanley”, a short film by John Cody Kim made at CalArts, a faithful dog must journey through the zombie apocalypse to save his best friend. Film School Shorts, brought to you by KQED, is a weekly series that showcases short student films, giving emerging filmmakers around the country a platform to show off their top-notch storytelling.
Enter the “Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival”!
To get started, create a student or teacher account on Launchpad. Explore tutorials, resources, and step-by-step instructions on how to successfully submit your completed film entries!
Documentary | PSA | Narrative | Thriller | Open entry
Submissions are due May 14th with winners announced at an end-of-school year Red Carpet Showcase. The top three winners will receive a cash prize and video supplies!
Sign up for Beyond the Peaks!
Register your account today to get started, and receive email updates about the festival.
