Mutilated bodies! Melted brains! When it comes to killers, no one and nothing is quite as demented, as twisted, as prolific as… PLASTIC! Eat your heart out, Freddy Krueger. (But be warned: there’s probably plastic in it.)

Plastic pollution and microplastics haunt every aspect of life on earth. Plastics have been found in the stomachs of whales, fish, and birds. Microplastics have been found in human blood, hearts, lung tissue, placenta, and even breast milk. Beaches and shorelines are regularly lined with plastic pollution, with more washing up daily, like ghosts of our past trash. The plastic pollution horrors persist, but if we collectively work to highlight these issues, we can Flip the Script on Plastics and work towards a plastic-free future. 

We are now accepting submissions for PLASTIC KILLS! A horror short film competition, sponsored by Hollywood, Health and Society (HH&S) and Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC), designed to highlight the terrors of plastic pollution and its toxic effects to our bodies, our children, our pets, and our planet.

Tell whatever story you want in a short 1-3 minute horror film. The tone can be straight horror, comedic horror, thriller, or suspense; just remember, we’re dealing with a killer here.

RULES

• The short must highlight the horrors and/or toxic effects of plastic and plastic pollution in a creative way. 
• All submissions must pass The Begley-Cohen Test 
  • A film or TV show passes the Begley-Cohen Test if...
  • (1) No single-use plastics appear on screen (i.e., the film/show is set in a time with no plastic, or plastics are replaced with refillable, reusable, or package-free options), or…
  • (2) If a single-use plastic item appears on screen, it is portrayed or discussed as problematic.

For specific rules, terms and to enter, visit the PLASTIC KILLS SHORT FILM COMPETITION portal. 

There is no entry fee. The deadline for submissions is October 9, 2023. The winning film will be awarded $2000. HH&S and PPC will announce the winner on Halloween, October 31, 2023.