Ripcord Halloween Film Festival Awards $100,000 Grand Prize to Julian Doan for ‘Long’s Long Lost & Mini Mart’

The inaugural Ripcord Halloween Film Festival made history by awarding a $100,000 grand prize to director Julian Doan for his short film “Long’s Long Lost & Mini Mart.” This is the largest cash prize ever offered at a short film festival, instantly positioning the event as a major player in genre filmmaking. Doan’s win underscores the festival’s commitment to elevating emerging talent with life-changing financial support. The jury included Tim Miller, director of “Deadpool,” and Jean Lauer, among other industry figures, lending serious credibility to the competition. For independent filmmakers, this prize represents not just money but a powerful launchpad for future projects. The festival’s focus on Halloween-themed content taps into a growing appetite for horror and dark fantasy, giving creators a dedicated platform to showcase their work. As the festival grows, it could become a key incubator for the next wave of horror directors. Doan’s victory may well inspire a surge in submissions next year, raising the bar for short-form storytelling in the genre.