Independent horror filmmakers have a new shot at the big leagues. Provo, Utah-based InTension Industries has launched The Million-Dollar Shortcut, a national competition that will select one emerging filmmaker’s short and develop, produce, and release it as a feature film with a $1 million production budget.
The Million-Dollar Shortcut (2026) — official competition image. Courtesy of InTension Industries.
The Million-Dollar Shortcut is open to short films in the horror, thriller, suspense, and related genres. Entries must run under 40 minutes and be submitted via an active YouTube link, and the competition is open to U.S. residents 18 and older, excluding Maryland, Colorado, North Dakota, and Connecticut. Early-bird entries cost $150 through November 29, 2026, standard entries cost $195 through January 10, 2027, and final submissions cost $250 through February 5, 2027.
Fans get a say, too. Audience voting begins February 8, 2027, and narrows the field to the top 100 films, then to 25 in a second round where entrants must also submit a vision video. The top 25 then deliver a screenplay and production brief, the company’s producers select a top 10 by May 10, and those finalists take part in development meetings in May. The audience favorite is guaranteed a spot in that final round, and the winner is expected to be announced in summer 2027. Top 10 finalists also receive a development session, and the top 25 get personalized script feedback. Note that the grand prize is a feature production, not a cash award.
The InTension team includes producer Brigham Taylor (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Jungle Book, TRON: Legacy), former Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures executive Ian Puente, producer Dave Hunter (Don Verdean), and Tom Goodall (Christopher Robin). The company premiered its first feature, Whiskey Throttle, at FilmQuest and has the science fiction thriller Sentinel, featuring Steve Zahn and Rick Gomez, in the works.
“The future of distribution is community. Audiences want more than something to watch; they want to connect. This competition is about building a community around great storytelling,” said Dave Hunter, producer, InTension Industries.
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