"Dawn of the Dead" director Zack Snyder at a previous Screamfest

Deadlines for Los Angeles horror film festival and competition approach… but plenty of time if you love frightening schedules!

If you were hoping to enter into this year’s Shriekfest (Oct. 1 – 4 at Raleigh Studios) you’re out of time and out of luck – the submission deadline was June 30th.

But don’t fret! Both Universal Studios and Screamfest allow for a little more time for your chance to shoot some screams and earn some blood money and exposure.

Screamfest, held October 16th-25th at Mann’s Chinese in Hollywood, has a deadline of August 30th for films and screenplays. Top films could earn a $10,000 cash prize, Movie Magic software, film stock, or a first look deal with Stan Winston Productions. Submission form (.pdf)

Universal Horror Nights has teamed up with Chiller this year for the “Scary Good Film Competition,” looking for projects 9o seconds to 3 minutes in length. The top ten films will be posted on the Halloween Horror Nights website, where viewers will vote on which film deserves a $1000 prize and a trip for two to the Chiller Eyegore Awards, here their film will be screened in front of a crazy mix of horror stars and directors, and entry into the Horror Nights’ 2009 opening night immediately following. Submission deadline: August 21st. Entry details.