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The Old Gods (CANADA)
SYNOPSIS: After long eons beneath the sea, the time has come for the Old Gods to rise from the depths to reclaim the Earth once more. The cities of men will fall beneath their titan tread, and their ravenous tentacles will devour all that flee before them.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Noah Van Buhren
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Exclusive Screening
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Noah Van Buhren is an Animator and Filmmaker from the stormy shores of Vancouver, Canada. He has had a lifelong obsession with bringing monsters to life on the screen. This has led to him working as Creature FX Artist on shows for Disney+, including the Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Animated series, as well as on many independent horror movies with his weird friends.
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The Seeing Eye Dog Who Saw Too Much (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a blind violinist earns first chair at the Rome Symphony, a black-gloved killer begins picking off her fellow musicians, and the only witness to the crimes is her seeing-eye dog.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence
DIRECTOR: Eric Jackowitz
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 31st @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Eric Jackowitz is a Miami-born musician-turned-filmmaker whose creative journey began behind a drum kit. After drumming through childhood, Berklee College of Music, and performances with artists like George Clinton, Blake Mills, and Nick Waterhouse, Eric co-founded the bands The Cooties and Wolves of Glendale. His transition to filmmaking began in 2018, directing music videos for his band Cape Weather, which ultimately led to his debut short film, The Seeing Eye Dog Who Saw Too Much. Influenced by Dario Argento, John Carpenter, Quentin Tarantino, and Spike Jonze, Eric’s work blends music, humor, and genre filmmaking into a style that is as rhythmic as it is cinematic. Like Carpenter, he edits and scores his own films, ensuring his singular creative voice carries through every frame. His goal is simple: to create films that immerse, entertain, and stay with audiences long after the credits roll.
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The Shift (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a food delivery driver is kidnapped during a drop off, his teenage daughter must enter the mysterious mansion and save him from the darkness within.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Joey Long
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Joey Long has been making independent short films for nearly a decade, screening them at hundreds of film festivals around the world, and winning numerous awards in the process. For example, A Purgatory Story premiered at Cleveland International Film Festival, where it won “Best Midnight Short”. It also won “Best Original Screenplay” at the legendary sci-fi/fantasy/horror festival FilmQuest, currently has millions of views on multiple platforms, and qualified for the 92nd annual Academy Awards.
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The Smother (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Jack tries to outrace a mysterious supernatural entity known as The Smother, but unexpectedly runs into an old friend.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language
DIRECTOR: Ben Kadie
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ben was born and raised in Seattle, and now lives in Long Beach. Ben wants to make movies that connect through empathy and advocate for social justice and equality… and to shoe-horn puppets into as many projects as possible.
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The Soulless (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Two high-school bookworms lure their bullies into a forest to expel the bad from their souls, only to end up face to face with something far worse.
RATINGS GUIDE: Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Liam Hooper
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 29th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Liam Hooper began directing in his native UK before going on to helm an award-winning feature film and second-unit direct across film and television. Now based in Los Angeles, he has directed screen legend Christopher Lloyd, led two television pilots, and continues to develop bold, character-driven genre projects across film and television.
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The Veil (BRAZIL)
SYNOPSIS: A religious cult with fake possession rituals spirals into darkness when the pastor’s daughter is truly taken by an entity.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Language, Strong Sensuality, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Gabriel Motta
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 31st @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Gabriel Motta directed the shorts Pastrana (Best Brazilian Short at Brasília and Gramado; selected for Tribeca and BAFICI) and The Veil (TIFF premiere; Guadalajara, San Francisco, BIFAN & Palm Springs Shortfest). He is developing The Veil as his feature debut — selected for the 2026 Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), where it won the Fantastic 7 Award, a collaboration between HAF, Sitges, and Marché du Film, and presented at the Cannes Film Market in 2026.
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The Witchening (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A babysitter dismisses a child’s bedtime story about a vengeful witch, but she soon learns it’s all true…
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Mild Language, Brief Nudity, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: MK Kopp
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 22nd @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: MK Kopp is a horror filmmaker based in Nashville, TN.
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The Work (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A dysfunctional couple decides that the only way to solve their relationship problems is to murder their therapist.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Strong Language, Sensuality, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Maxwell Morro
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Maxwell Morro is an emerging independent filmmaker, serving as both director & producer across a diverse range of projects. His creative energy spans from experimental short films to documentary segments and now narrative features. His recent projects are Valley of the Horntak, where he takes on multiple key roles as director, writer and producer, highlighting his hands
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There is Always a Monster (SPAIN)
SYNOPSIS: A police investigation turns into a nightmare when a mutant creature unleashes terror inside the building.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Language
DIRECTOR: Gastón Haag
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: US Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 22nd @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Gastón Haag is a Spain-based director, writer, and actor known for his provocative, dark-humored style blending comedy, horror, and social satire. He created the Disney+ horror-comedy series There’s Something in the Woods (premiered at Sitges) and has won over 200 international awards for his short films.
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Thick Skin (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A hispanic woman spirals into a violent confrontation with her own body when her attempts at control begin to physically transform her.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Helena Hawkes
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 30th @ 6:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Helena Hawkes is a New Mexico native and the middle child to a mixed Hispanic family of ten children. Hawkes set foot on her first film set in the sixth grade and, since then, the screenwriter, director, painter and occasional poet honed her genre skills as an intern and later assistant to Jason Blum at Blumhouse Productions. Hawkes also worked as an apprentice to horror screenwriter and director, Leigh Whannell, while developing her own projects. As a writer, Hawkes explores female-driven tales that deal with family dynamics, identity, transformation and self-identity all of which are told through a genre and sometimes surrealist lens.
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This is a Zombie Movie (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Mara gets evicted from her apartment during a zombie apocalypse
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence
DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Perla
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: US Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Raised in the midwest in a blended family, Elizabeth’s upbringing was also culturally influenced by her Uruguayan step-mom and Jewish family. Her background in the industry began in acting from where she has also transitioned into working in the camera department, writing, and directing. Last year Elizabeth was cast in the supporting role of Betsy in Paul Shrader’s “Basics of Philosophy”. “This is a Zombie Movie”, Elizabeth’s sophomore short film, premiered at Fantasia 2026.
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‘Til Death Do Us Part (IRELAND)
SYNOPSIS: After murdering his wife, Jimmy tries to bury her in a dark forest — but even as a corpse, she won’t stop nagging him.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Adam Collins
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: International Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Exclusive Screening
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Adam is an award winning Writer / Director based between Dublin and London. His work blends visually-driven storytelling with sharp dialogue and colourful characters. With a background in editing high-end TV and Film, Adam brings a wealth of experience not only to the creative side of filmmaking, but also the technical.
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Tina and the Fly (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After a terrible breakup, a woman develops a toxic codependent relationship with a house fly.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Barrett Lesly Shuler
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Barrett Lesly Shuler is a Queen’s based writer/director who likes to focus on the grounded absurdity of life. His films gaze at small seemingly insignificant moments that unfold into larger life altering events.
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To Be Human (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After growing weary of endless reincarnation, a man steals a UFO and journeys to the edge of the universe to uncover the meaning of life.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Mark Reyes
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 29th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Mark Reyes is an award-winning NYC filmmaker and visual artist known for surreal short films, experimental animation, and mixed-media storytelling blending live action, VFX, and practical design. His work has screened at Fantasia, FilmQuest, Fantaspoa, Brooklyn Film Festival, BUFF, and Bushwick Film Festival, with The Nightwalker winning the 3rd Place Audience Award at Fantasia. Reyes creates atmospheric, emotionally driven genre films that explore dream logic, cosmic horror, and visual worldbuilding.
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To Catch a Siren (GERMAY / SWITZERLAND / UK)
SYNOPSIS: A young refugee desperately searches for her mother, who she believes to be a mermaid.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Raphaela Wagner
GENRE: Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 28th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Raphaela Wagner is a multilingual director based between London and Zürich, known for exploring the boundary between realism and fantasy through socially relevant stories. Her portfolio includes the short films ‘Saitenstich’ and ‘The Draft’, the live-action direction of the interactive project ‘Cuttlefish’, and her stage debut directing Verdi’s ‘Un ballo in maschera’. She consistently places strong female characters at the centre of her diverse work in film, theatre, and interactive media.
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Tor Lewa (UK)
SYNOPSIS: A struggling alcoholic, haunted by his past, is stalked by a dark wolf. On the brink of submission, his mother fights to save him.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Paul Holbrook
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: North American Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 30th @ 3:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Paul Holbrook is a multi-award-winning writer and director, known for his emotionally charged, character-driven storytelling explored via cinematic and genre specific projects. His work has screened at BAFTA, BIFA, and Oscar-qualifying festivals with acclaimed shorts like Hungry Joe, Hollow and Old Windows. Selected for BFI Network@LFF, BBC Voices, and The Brit List 2024, Paul is establishing himself as one of the UK’s most compelling emerging voices, with multiple film and TV projects in development. Paul is represented by United Agents.
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Total Party Kill (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When an all-female TTRPG group uncovers a sinister demonic presence hidden within one of their game’s miniatures, their fantasy adventure spirals into a terrifying battle for survival—where the stakes are all too real.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Langauge, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Alan Sanchez
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Alan Sanchez is a Latino writer, director, and producer born and raised in San Bernardino, California. Inspired by the VHS tapes and genre films of his childhood, he has been making films since the age of 14 and is known for his shorts WATCHER and Total Party Kill, which have screened at acclaimed genre and film festivals. His work blends a love for horror, dark humor, and practical filmmaking, drawing inspiration from genre legends while carving out a distinct voice of his own.
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Totem (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A young Osage succumbs to a hellish being.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Sensuality, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Clayton Henderson
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: After high school, Clayton moved to Shreveport, Louisiana to immerse himself in the growing film scene of the area by working on film crews, writing scripts, and filming his own shorts. In 2022 Clayton was accepted into a New York Film Academy summer filmmaking program and spent 2 months in Florence, Italy participating in the workshop. Clayton has completed 4 of his own short film productions, worked on 5 features and countless other short films.
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Tranquil (CANADA)
SYNOPSIS: When a U.S. senator mysteriously disappears, a team of intelligence specialists defy government orders to search for him. In a race against time, they must navigate a high-stakes game of surveillance, cover-ups and digital breadcrumbs.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence
DIRECTOR: Miguel Barbosa
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: US Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 30th @ 9:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Miguel Barbosa is a self-taught filmmaker. His journey began making skateboard videos with friends, which led to directing pop punk music videos. His work is tactile and grounded, emphasizing rich visual texture and layered subtext, reshaping how people view the world.
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Tria Fata (FRANCE)
SYNOPSIS: Robert seeks to escape his fate: Charcot’s disease. He believes he has discovered a way out through the myth of the Fates and his research into Cévennes silk.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Camille Tello & Leslie Crocquefere
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: US Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 26th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Camille Tello and Leslie Crocquefere met at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and have since formed a passionate filmmaking duo rooted in independent cinema. Hailing from the Occitanie region, they combine their talents to create ambitious, atmospheric, and deeply human genre films. Camille Tello—a director and composer—focuses on crafting powerful visual worlds, prioritizing authenticity by shooting on location without digital effects. Leslie Crocquefere—a screenwriter and co-director—weaves captivating narratives that explore the human psyche through the lens of the fantastic and mythology. Together, they directed the acclaimed genre short film *Calvin*, which was selected for numerous festivals, and are continuing to develop their unique cinematic universe with their new project, *Tria Fata*; both are powerful works that they are currently developing into feature films.
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