Sam Raimi Launches $25,000 Horror Award to Help Fund the Next Generation of Filmmakers

Evil Dead filmmaker Sam Raimi is teaming up with Decentralized Pictures to help discover and support the next generation of horror filmmakers through a new initiative offering $25,000 to produce an original short horror film.

While Raimi has become widely recognized for his work on the Spider-Man trilogy and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, his career began in horror, where he established his signature filmmaking style with The Evil Dead trilogy. Now, the filmmaker is looking to open doors for emerging directors with a compelling vision for the genre.

The newly announced Sam Raimi Horror Award will select one filmmaker to receive $25,000 in production funding, alongside mentoring support, publicity and advertising (P&A) assistance, and distribution of the completed short film on the upcoming DCP+ streaming platform.

“This collaboration with Decentralized Pictures to help elevate promising filmmaking talent has been both a professional and personal passion of mine,” said Raimi. “I can’t wait to discover the next standout horror visionary that will have audiences screaming in fright and delight.”

The award is designed to recognize an emerging storyteller with a distinctive perspective on horror. Applicants are encouraged to approach the genre in original and unconventional ways, whether through psychological horror, supernatural terror, visceral scares, comedy, or something entirely unexpected.

Raimi’s filmography includes the Evil Dead franchise, Darkman, Drag Me to Hell, and the recent survival thriller Send Help. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated how horror can go beyond scares to deliver memorable characters, imaginative storytelling, and deeply human themes.

Sam Raimi Horror Award: Submission Requirements

Filmmakers interested in applying must provide the following materials:

• Submission Fee: $25, which goes toward compensating community members for moderation and peer reviews.
• Short Video: A sample demonstrating the filmmaker’s creative perspective, storytelling ability, and production capabilities. This can be a previously produced scene, short film excerpt, visual sample, teaser, or proof of concept.
• Project Description: A one-page document or lookbook outlining the proposed short film, including a synopsis and visual references.

According to Decentralized Pictures, 100% of submission fees are distributed to community members participating in moderation and peer reviews. The platform is free to join and allows members to earn these fees through active participation, with the goal of making opportunities more accessible to filmmakers regardless of their financial background.

Submissions are open now through December 31, 2026, with the community review period ending 14 days after submissions close. Finalists will be announced shortly afterward.

The final recipient will be selected by a panel featuring Sam Raimi, Roman Coppola, Jed Shepherd, Eduardo Sánchez, Leo Matchett, and Emma Raimi.

The initiative follows Decentralized Pictures’ recent Sofia Coppola Short Film Award and the recently announced Kevin Smith Casting Award, continuing the nonprofit’s efforts to make filmmaking opportunities more accessible through community-driven selection.

Full eligibility details and submission requirements for the Sam Raimi Horror Award can be found here⁠.