"Unwavering": Reclaiming Courage and Community Through Collective Filmmaking
Christine Hughes and Alexandra Hsu’s Unwavering bridges 1960s activism with today’s fight for racial justice, identity, and collective courage.
Festivals
Coverage and insights from the world’s leading film festivals, including HollyShorts, Nòt Film Fest, FilmQuest, and TIFF. Explore interviews, reviews, and behind-the-scenes stories that spotlight filmmakers and their work on the international stage.
Awake to Dread: Hana Kazim’s “Yathoom” and the Rise of Arabic Cosmic Horror
Hana Kazim’s "Yathoom" transforms sleep paralysis into cosmic horror, marking a bold Arabic-language entry in global genre cinema.
Facing Fear Through Sound: Richie Harrington’s “Grima” Turns Guilt Into Horror
Richie Harrington’s "Grima" transforms primal fear into visceral horror, exploring guilt through sensory storytelling and practical effects.
Inclusive Sci-Fi Thriller "The Falling" Redefines Independent Filmmaking
A psychological sci-fi thriller exploring AI, therapy, and trauma, made by an inclusive crew of adults with disabilities and their mentors.
"Defile": When Horror Becomes a Mirror for Modern Anxiety
Brian Sepanzyk’s "Defile" delivers bold psychological horror with Tanaya Beatty and Jeff Zwicker, blending raw emotion and fearless indie craft.
Inside the Nine-Year Odyssey of "We Put the World to Sleep"
Adrian Țofei and Duru Yücel’s "We Put the World to Sleep" is a nine-year metaphysical odyssey that blurs reality, genre, and the boundaries of independent filmmaking.
Finding Light in the Madness: Julian Park’s "Shitfly" Breaks the Psyche Wide Open
Julian Park transforms personal burnout into "Shitfly", a haunting psychological thriller of guilt, fire, and fragile hope.
"Texas Strange": Justin Evans’ Lean Filmmaking Revolution
Justin Evans redefines indie cinema with "Texas Strange", using his self-invented Nairobi lighting system to prove that epic, Hollywood-quality films can be made with a micro crew through his “Lean Filmmaking” approach.
Breathing Through Fear: August J. Soto’s Transcendent Body Horror “Respirar”
August J. Soto transforms personal fears and cultural identity into visceral body horror with "Respirar", a trans-centered story of healing and transformation.
Building Love and Worlds: Adrian Bobb’s Sci-Fi Vision in “Drifters”
Adrian Bobb’s “Drifters” transforms a tale of love and loss into a technically ambitious sci-fi romance, proving that independent filmmaking can be as emotionally expansive as it is visually stunning.
Inside “THE VANITY”: Megan Rosati’s Dystopian Reflection on Social Media and Self
Megan Rosati’s "THE VANITY" turns social media obsession into sci-fi horror, exposing the human cost of constant self-performance.
Confronting Fear Through Silence in Rafael De Leon’s "Vowels"
Rafael De Leon Jr. transforms his struggle with a speech impediment into the haunting psychological horror short "Vowels", where silence becomes its own kind of terror.
Trapped in Time: Rebecca Berrih’s “Slow” Turns Fear Into Motion
Rebecca Berrih’s genre-bending short "Slow" traps viewers in a haunting slow-motion nightmare, blending thriller, horror, and sci-fi with visceral sound design.
Facing the Fear of Never Being Enough in “The Other Girl”
Madeleine Coghlan’s "The Other Girl" turns the actor’s nightmare audition into a slow-burn horror filled with dark humor, creative flair, and indie filmmaking spirit.
Repression and Revelation: David Hartstone’s “All Us Animals” Reclaims the Female Psyche
David Hartstone’s "All Us Animals" turns 1950s Americana into a haunting noir drama about repression, desire, and a woman’s fight for freedom.
The Neese Twins Redefine Faith and Comedy in "Guardian Asshole"
At FilmQuest 2025, twin filmmakers Jamie and Jason Neese explore faith, friendship, and humanity in their bold spiritual sci-fi dark comedy.