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Red Velvet (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A charismatic serial killer goes on his dream date with his dream victim.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Language, Strong Language, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Haley Hope
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 26th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Haley Hope is an Academy Nicholl fellow for her original screenplay, PUMPING BLACK, which is slated to shoot in France in Fall 2026 starring Natalie Portman and Jonathan Bailey. As a screenwriter, she has worked with Amazon, AGBO, Thunder Road, Crooked Highway, and others. She is a graduate of UCLA and received her MFA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. RED VELVET is her directorial debut.
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Redneck (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A redhead girl born into Appalachia’s hidden clan of soul stealers runs from the violent destiny awaiting her. When sanctuary becomes another trap, she must choose between her humanity and the hunger that defines her bloodline.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Alexandria Basso
GENRE: Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 28th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: In her directorial debut, Alexandria Basso reclaims the stigma of red hair as gothic folklore, transforming centuries of superstition into a distinctly American mythology. She and her sister, actress Annalise Basso, explore belonging, tradition, and family through their shared redheaded heritage, turning identity and inheritance into something darkly playful and mythic.
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Remembrance of Night Whispers (CANADA)
SYNOPSIS: A young man catches a glimpse into his late father’s enigmatic past.
RATINGS GUIDE: Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Lucien Leung
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Exclusive Screening
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Born and raised in a multicultural environment, Lucien has been exploring how different languages can shape one’s psychological landscape. After declining an offer to study in counselling psychology, he decided to focus on linguistics while remaining interested in analogue filmmaking.
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Reset (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In a world where citizens are reset to six at age 65, a young woman must care for her newly-reset mother and find her estranged father before the state intervenes— only to discover that healing her family means reparenting the child her mother never got to be.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language
DIRECTOR: Celine Tien & Jerry Hsu
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: US Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 29th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Celine Tien is the Founder of Flowly, an NIH-backed VR healthtech company, and creator of Pippa’s Pan
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Room at the Inn (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A Texas innkeeper’s quiet night is thrown into chaos when two separate guests arrive, both looking to rent his underground bomb shelter.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Danny Whalen & Zach Wolff
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: WHALENWOLFF is the collaboration of Danny Whalen and Zach Wolff. The duo met at Emerson College and have been writing screenplays together for over a decade. This is their directorial debut. Zach works at Last Week Tonight and Danny works in TV development. They are represented by Matt Leipzig at Modern Literary Arts.
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Sapling (UK)
SYNOPSIS: A grieving mother returns to the cursed woodland where her son vanished, forcing her abusive husband to face the monstrous consequence of the violence he left behind.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Strong Language, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Ben Franklin & Anthony Melton
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ben Franklin and Anthony Melton are British writer-directors and co-creators of Bloody Cuts, the award-winning horror anthology behind acclaimed shorts including Don’t Move and The Birch. Their work has reached millions worldwide and led to collaborations with Crypt TV and 20th Digital/Disney. Sapling marks their return to short-form horror and the beginning of a new chapter for Bloody Cuts.
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Scissors (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A slasher with a grudge meets his match when a group of queer friends on a weekend getaway turns his killing spree into a bloody night he never saw coming
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Strong Langauge, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Hannah Alline
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Hailing from Arkansas, Hannah Alline is a director and actor known for Doom Patrol, Strays, The Hunt, Ozark, Yule Log, NCIS: Origins, Mayfair Witches, and NEON’s I Love Boosters. She is also co-founder and producer of award-winning Juice Box Films, with work showcased at Sundance, SXSW, Fantastic Fest, HollyShorts, Cannes, and Palm Springs Shortsfest.
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Scullion (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A playful couple test their household chore habits and unknowingly summon a vengeful presence.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Trevor Graciano
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Trevor is a Central Oregon–based filmmaker who first fell in love with the medium during the camcorder craze of the 80s and 90s. He has directed several short films, including Money Tree (Pacific Southwest Emmy winner), along with a range of award-winning micro films. His work draws inspiration from the scrappy, inventive spirit of VHS-era genre cinema and cult classics. While he has continued to expand his creative portfolio over the years, Scullion marks his first produced film in fifteen years.
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Secondhand (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A troubled young woman with a unique gift discovers the trophies of a dormant serial killer at a secondhand store.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Chris Lofing & Travis Cluff
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Chris & Travis, founders of Tremendum Pictures, began making viral videos on zero budgets, including “Man Jumps Out of a Plane with No Parachute,” which amassed more than 200 million views worldwide. They co-wrote, co-directed and co-produced the $100,000 horror film The Gallows, which grossed over $42 million globally and became one of the most successful films ever based on ROI. They went on to create The Gallows Act II, Prey and Held, further establishing their reputation for turning ambitious genre projects into successful low-budget productions. They are currently developing new projects, including an original film with Angel Studios starring King Bach.
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Severed (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In a dystopian world, a woman does her best to follow the rules, despite pushback from her husband. An important discovery persuades her to rethink her own values.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Megan Duffy
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 23rd @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Megan Duffy is a Los Angeles based actress and filmmaker who has appeared in over 50 national commercials, a leading role opposite Elijah Wood in the Cannes Official Selection feature film Maniac, a recurring guest star role on the final season of Showtime’s The Affair, and other TV guest appearances including Torchwood, Criminal Minds, and Mad Men. Megan next stars in the indie dramas “Gracias Padre” alongside cast members Rhys Coiro and Matthew Jacobs, from director Jen Kuhn, as well as “The Guide” opposite Bill Sage from director Izzy Lee. As a director Megan made her directorial debut with a music video for the LA based electronic dance duo Smoke Season, and since then has had her directing work exhibited at film festivals around the world including the Chattanooga Film Festival, Filmquest, Screamfest, Chicago Horror, Atlanta Horrorfest, LA Comedy Fest and exhibited online via W Magazine, Elizabeth Bank’s WhoHaHa, and Fangoria.
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Shadow in the Desert (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After a reckless, drug-fueled robbery on the Navajo reservation, a young woman escapes with stolen goods and a black leather pouch she doesn’t realize carries a corrupting influence. As its grip tightens and the person she stole it from begins to close in, she’s driven toward a brutal confrontation with something far more dangerous than she ever expected — and her own addiction — before both consume her completely.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Language, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Boise Esquerra
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 23rd @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Boise Esquerra is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter and director and a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, dedicated to crafting compelling genre stories that amplify diverse and underrepresented perspectives. A graduate of the New York Film Academy with a double MFA in Filmmaking and Screenwriting, he wrote the hit shark thriller The Black Demon, which reached #1 on Amazon Prime in 2023 and held the top spot for seven weeks, and co-wrote its upcoming sequel, The Black Demon: Atlantis. His award-winning films have screened at festivals including Austin, Screamfest, Nashville, Bend, FilmQuest, Santa Fe, and LA Skins, while his industry collaborations include Mucho Mas Media and Silk Mass Productions. Working across horror, thriller, and drama, Boise continues to write and direct projects that combine cultural depth, emotional impact, and cinematic storytelling while expanding the voices represented on screen.
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Shelly (AUSTRALIA)
SYNOPSIS: Widowed fisherman Keith Herring’s lonely life is disrupted when an unexpected catch interrupts his attempt to scatter his wife’s ashes. What begins as an unlikely source of solace slowly curdles into obsession, as grief, devotion and the human need for connection collide with the unknowable pull of the deep.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language, Nudity
DIRECTOR: James Chappell
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: International Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: James Chappell is an award-winning Australian filmmaker known for visually distinctive, performance-driven storytelling. His work has earned two ARIA Awards for Best Music Video and three Vimeo Staff Picks. His short film Shelly, starring Gary Sweet, continues his focus on character-led stories that balance dark humour, emotion and cinematic world-building.
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Shoot Day (USA)
SYNOPSIS: An outgunned crew fights against all odds, as mounting pressure and dwindling resources threaten their chances of survival.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Lydelle Jackson
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 25th @ 9:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Lydelle Jackson is an LA and DMV based writer/director whose work blends grounded drama with genre-bending and meta-textual storytelling. His films often explore identity, perception, and psychological aftermath through a visceral visual lens.
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Silver Anniversary (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A housewife’s bourgeois existence unravels when faced with her husband’s insatiable lycanthropy.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language, Sensuality, Adult Content, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: D.M. Harring
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 26th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: D.M. Harring is an award-winning writer/director based in Los Angeles. He was an Executive Story Editor on ABC’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP and previously wrote on FOX’s ROSEWOOD. He has developed projects for CBS, Warner Bros TV, Keshet International, Jon M. Chu, Wilmer Valderrama, and Courtney B. Vance, among others.
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Space Chai (NEW ZEALAND)
SYNOPSIS: In a low budget sci fi parallel universe, two strangers decide to have a break in the middle of an intersellar war and question the meaning of it all.
RATINGS GUIDE: Brief Nudity, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Christian Nicolson
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 25th @ 6:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: An artist-filmmaker with a distinctive visual style, Christian Nicolson made his mark with low-budget sci-fi comedy. His debut feature, This Giant Papier Mache Boulder is Actually Really Heavy (2016), screened at 20+ international festivals, including Biff, Lund, and Fantaspoa, won 8 awards, achieved theatrical releases, and a great review in the LA Times. He is currently developing his second feature with the New Zealand Film Commission while completing self-funded shorts and a comedy Western script.
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Spilled Milk (USA)
SYNOPSIS: What really happened to all those deadbeat dads who went to the store to get milk? Trey Carver’s late-night trip to a convenience store to confront his troubled past leads him to an encounter with the mysterious Milk Man, and things quickly go sour.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Language, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Jared Leaf
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 27th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jared Leaf is a Bay Area born, award-winning writer-director telling stories where the funny, the frightening, and the familiar collide. Jared was selected as one of five from 3,666 applicants for Jordan Peele’s inaugural No Drama Initiative powered by Monkeypaw, Universal, and TIFF. A former football player, Jared’s approach to filmmaking is shaped by the same things that shaped him on the field: preparation, trust, and teamwork.
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Stain (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After a one-night stand, a woman discovers the cum stain on her bedsheets has come to life — and it has opinions.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Language, Strong Sensuality, Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Autumn Palen
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 29th @ 11:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Autumn Palen is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she earned a BFA in Film & TV Production. The Little Death, her short about a woman’s unconventional quest for self love, screened at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles and Femme Frontera Film Festival. With funding from the Library of Congress, TV5Monde, and Create Louisiana, Autumn lensed and edited Musiques, which premiered at the 2025 New Orleans French Film Festival. Autumn is LA-based, where she can be found bringing surreal stories to life, and laughing at her own dumb jokes.
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Starpost (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a ragtag team of pilots, led by the no-nonsense Scout, gets caught in a deadly dogfight over a hostile planet, it’s up to them to outsmart enemy forces, dodge explosive fire, and escape with vital intel that could change the course of the war.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Nick & Lexie Trivundza
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 23rd @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Nick + Lexie Trivundza are an award-winning directing duo. Their work has screened at Film Festivals around the world and their client list includes the biggest brands in the world. Their most recent film, BackSpace, gained 100K views in its first 24 hours. The series has since been viewed over 1M times. Their previous work includes the feature film Danger! Danger! which made its World Premiere at the Pasadena International Film Festival, with an international release on March 15, 2022. This was their second feature film following their award-winning debut, The West and the Ruthless, which premiered at AIFF with a global release by Sony Pictures.
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Stay In (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A recluse is forced to confront a dark secret from years past that has kept him from going outside after midnight.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Language, Sensuality, Intense Imagery
DIRECTOR: Michael Buran
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Michael Buran is a writer and director based in NYC. He got his start editing commercials and independent films, developing a sharp eye for visual storytelling. His award-winning debut, THE WIDOWER, premiered at Dances With Films in 2024. His latest short, STAY IN, has followed with an even stronger festival run, and he is now in late-stage development on his first feature film.
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Story Arcs Inc. (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a call center rep at a company that sells predetermined lives is fed up with his allotment in life, he risks it all to rewrite his fate.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Alex Rouleau
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Sunday, Oct. 25th @ 3:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Raised in small-town Connecticut and based in New York City, Alex Rouleau is a camera assistant by day and a writer/director by night whose work blends sincerity with absurd, genre-driven ideas. He continues to write and direct films about underdogs, self-sabotagers, and people living with their fears.
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Summer Project (JAPAN)
SYNOPSIS: A lonely Japanese boy who can’t fit in at school finds a human head in a suitcase dumped by the river and takes it home as his summer research project. Through this gruesome secret he finally makes friends—until innocent curiosity crosses a line that cannot be undone.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Yuki Hara
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 22nd @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Yuki Hara is a Japanese director, screenwriter, and producer specializing in horror and thrillers. He gained global recognition writing, directing, and producing the series Scam (2019), distributed internationally as a Netflix Original. The founder of Ghost Gate Films and a key creative at Yami—a horror studio backed by a major Japanese TV network—Hara produced the Warner Bros. feature Re/Member (2022), Japan’s No.1 horror box office hit, and wrote and produced its 2025 sequel.
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