Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Stefano Pennisi’s transition from horror writing to directing marks a defining moment in his filmmaking journey.
- The film’s suspenseful, minimalist horror approach emphasizes fear of the unknown, inviting audience imagination to take center stage.
- Independent filmmaking’s freedom and community support were vital to the creation and success of this atmospheric short.
Brooklyn-based filmmaker Stefano Pennisi brings his independent horror short dont.4get2smile to FilmQuest 2025, delivering a chilling exploration of social media anxiety and unseen menace.
Pennisi, who wrote and directed the film, collaborates with co-producer and cinematographer Bernard Hunt and lead actress Sabrina Schlegel-Mejia to craft a suspenseful visual experience.
This project follows Pennisi’s acclaimed debut The Fisherman and his crime thriller Blue Bison, solidifying his growing reputation in genre filmmaking.
What drew you to make this film? Why this story, and why now?
I've been a filmmaker for over 20 years and I've always loved horror. I spent the last 5 years writing horror features but was desperate to actually make another film so I decided to make a horror short. This was my first exploration into actual horror filmmaking and I wanted to experiment and see if I could make something that would actually scare audiences. I wanted to prove to myself that all my horror writing would actually translate into something scary on the screen.
I was home alone and I had just watched a scary movie and was kind of creeped out so I was on my phone trying to 'un-scare' myself and the idea just kinda popped in my head. Once I thought of it, I said to myself 'that's the horror short I'm going to make.
"It's the not knowing that is the most terrifying."
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time—creatively or logistically? Was there a moment on set or in post that completely changed how you saw the story?
I think I really learned my style of horror filmmaking and what I find to be the best ways to build suspense and scare the audience. Every filmmaker is going to approach it differently but discovering how to really set the stage of a scene, set the pacing, how to use sound design to build upon the environment to draw the audience in was all a great learning experience for me. I had my idea of how to approach this but actually executing it and then improving upon it was the biggest learning experience for me on this project.
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
To not spoil too much, there is a moment halfway through the film where the protagonist walks up a set of stairs and looks down a long dark hallway and we see and hear a camera flash in the distance. At this moment, the audience knows she's in danger and knows she shouldn't walk down the hallway, but they don't know why. This is my favorite part of the film and it represents what I love in horror films and horror filmmaking. It's the not knowing that is the most terrifying. Every time I watch the film with an audience I can feel the theater tighten up and you can feel the suspense. I know at this moment, they're in it. As I continue to make horror films, I'm going to lean into the approach of scaring the audience with less - give them just enough to let them know something isn't right but allow their own imagination to scare them.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
I had shot an alternate ending that I loved but it just wasn't working so I had to fully cut it from the short. It was devastating but ultimately the right call.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
That this was a fun horror short and that as a filmmaker I know how to build suspense. Not only was this a proof of concept for a bigger film but proof that I as a filmmaker know how to make horror films.
"Do whatever the fuck you want. There are no rules."
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
I think this film has solidified for me that I want to continue to explore the horror genre and make more horror films.
What’s a tool, technique, or resource that really helped you during production?
I think overall it was just the community of fellow passionate filmmakers that I surrounded myself that helped me make this a reality. I could not have done it without all the support of every single person involved and for that I'm truly grateful. I think when people are starting out in filmmaking they need to build a community of like minded and passionate filmmakers so they can all support one another and help each other grow.
Independent filmmakers often rewrite the rules out of necessity. What do you think is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into that on this project? Is there a lesson or breakthrough you’d share with others navigating this path?
I think with independent filmmaking the only rule you should follow is do whatever the fuck you want. There are no rules. That's it's greatest strength. You have to do and get to do whatever it takes to make your film and you should use that as a strength. A lot of times it's the indie filmmakers who are forced to make creative decisions because of limitations that become a brilliant creative breakthrough that inspires other filmmakers and helps shift the evolution of filmmaking and story telling.
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for FilmQuest, one of the world’s top reviewed genre film festivals?
Getting selected into FilmQuest felt like a massive accomplishment. It was at the top of my list of festivals I hoped to get into and it really solidified to me that I'm on the right path. My work is being recognized by one of the most iconic and badass genre festivals in the world and that's filled me with the motivation I needed as an indie filmmaker to keep going.
"Getting selected into FilmQuest felt like a massive accomplishment."
FilmQuest celebrates the majesty and might of genre filmmaking across fantasy, horror, sci-fi, action, thriller, western, kung-fu, and beyond. How does your film fit within—or push the boundaries of—genre storytelling?
My film is a 10 minute horror short that blends both indie filmmaking with a commercial stylistic approach. It was 100% independently produced but crafted in a way that hopefully appeals to both indie filmmakers as well as general audiences.
Where do you see this film going next?
dont.4get2smile is very much a proof of concept. Hopefully there is enough love and buzz around the film that we can get it produced into a feature. If not that then probably Youtube ha.
"At the core of all my work is a desire to tell stories that people connect to and find entertaining."
