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THE LAST DRAFT (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Trapped in his isolated Hollywood Hills penthouse, acclaimed novelist James Harper wrestles with a crushing deadline and a crippling case of writer’s block. But as the pages remain blank, eerie knocks echo through the walls, whispers haunt the silence, and his own reflection begins to disobey him. As shadows seep from the corners of his mind and onto the page, James is pulled into a terrifying descent where the line between fiction and reality dissolves.
RATINGS GUIDE: Adult Content
DIRECTOR: Nicholas Guilak
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 25th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Nicholas Guilak is an accomplished actor with over three decades of experience and more than 60 film and television credits to his name. He holds an MFA in Acting from UCLA and a BFA in Film from USC. In the late 1990s through the early 2010s, he founded and led a thriving theater company, where he produced, directed, and starred in critically acclaimed stage productions around the world. As a screenwriter, Guilak has written seven feature films, two television series, and a novel. The Last Draft marks his directorial debut – a psychological thriller that delves into the fractured mind of a novelist consumed by isolation and self-doubt.
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THE LEADER WILL COME (BELGIUM)
SYNOPSIS: On a cold winter’s evening, the residents of the Flemish town of Broekem gather in the local parish hall to celebrate a significant triumph. It promises to be an evening to remember…
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: North American Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 23rd @ 2:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Michiel Geluykens and Manuel Janssens are Belgian filmmakers. They met while studying at the Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema and Sound (RITCS) in Brussels, where they both earned their Master’s degree. They share a passion for telling unconventional stories, often laced with a touch of horror.
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THE LORD OF ALL FUTURE SPACE & TIME (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a duffle bag explodes into existence over the Nevada desert, Dyson Wheeler — set to be hanged — seizes his chance at escape, killing his captor with the shovel he was just using to dig his own shovel. Free to carry on living, Wheeler sets out to avenge the death of his beloved Rachel, and in the process, create our particular pocket of spacetime, The Future That Matters To Us.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Mild Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Chris ???????
GENRE: Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Nov. 1st @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Chris is a filmmaker whose eclectic taste has generated award-winning work across genres. He has a passion for great ideas, for finding excellence in everyone he meets, and for smashing seemingly disparate concepts together and making them sing in perfect harmony.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM: Coming Soon!
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THE MAN THAT I WAVE AT (UK)
SYNOPSIS: Dave’s life is turned upside down after his wife teases him about the identity of the man that he waves at. Unsure who the man is or why he waves, Dave spirals into an existential crisis as he struggles to put the pieces together.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Ben S. Hyland
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 27th @ 10:30 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Ben S. Hyland is a BAFTA Rocliffe winning horror/comedy writer/director from the UK.
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THE MAN UPSTAIRS (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After being kidnapped, Julian wakes up in a stranger’s basement, where another child already lives, and where survival means playing along with the man who calls himself “Dad.” As the boys form a fragile bond, they plot an escape from a twisted domestic nightmare.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Wendy Wang
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 31st @ 6:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Wendy Wang is a Los Angeles–based writer, director, and producer crafting unsettling, psychologically charged thrillers with a strong foundation in independent film. Originally from China and a USC Film School alum, she began her career directing music videos and producing indie horror before expanding into features like Peacefully Conflicted and award-winning shorts including Kickstart My Heart, Inked, and Burn Out. Known for her ability to balance creative vision with production realities, she brings a meticulous, immersive approach to filmmaking that blends atmospheric dread with raw human emotion while fostering inclusive, emotionally safe sets. Outside of filmmaking, Wendy is an avid gamer and a volunteer in both pet rescue and homeless advocacy, drawing on her diverse passions to inform her storytelling.
IMAGES FROM THE FILM: Coming Soon!
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THE MORTICIAN’S DAUGHTER (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After her Mother’s death, Violet must fulfill her Mother’s final wish that she is embalmed by her own daughter. But as she prepares her Mother’s corpse in the funeral home she was raised in, long-buried memories resurface & Violet discovers a terrifying secret…
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sensuality, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Elwood Quincy Walker
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: USA Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Elwood Quincy Walker is an award winning horror director, writer, & producer best known for his viral horror short films “Kissed”,, “The Rule Of Three”, & his branded content work with Universal Studios Hollywood + Halloween Horror Nights.
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THE NIGHT WITHIN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A social worker’s obsession with a case plunges him into a fight for survival against malevolent forces.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Language, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Mark Lammerding
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 31st @ 6:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Mark Lammerding is an award-winning writer, director and composer whose work has screened at major festivals around the world. His debut narrative short ‘Another Life’, starring Sosie Bacon (Smile), premiered at the 2014 Dances With Films festival. Later that year he was a finalist for HBO’s Project Greenlight. In 2018, his short film ‘Yogurt’ premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and went on to win ‘Best LGBTQ Film’ at the Brentwood & Pacific Palisades Film Festival. That same year he was selected as one of the Shots Awards ‘2018 Rising Stars Under 30’. In 2023, he served as Co-Producer for the Peacock original series, Mrs. Davis (2023), co-created by his wife Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof, starring Betty Gilpin (GLOW), which premiered at SXSW.
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THE NIGHTWALKER (USA)
SYNOPSIS: For as long as he could remember, the Nightwalker had journeyed through The Void—an endless night where even the strongest light must fight to survive.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Mark Reyes
GENRE: Fantasy, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Mark Reyes is a filmmaker, visual artist, Eagle Scout, and second-degree black belt from NYC. His passion lies in utilizing a wide array of mediums, including props, costume design, cinematography, editing, animation, and VFX, to capture moods and share insights gained from his experiences on this extraordinary planet.
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THE OTHER GIRL (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In 1963, at an audition, a young actress gives it her all.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language, Sensuality, Adult Content, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Madeleine Coghlan
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 25th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Madeleine Coghlan is an LA based actress, film maker, and filmquest alumni. When she’s not writing and starring in horror films, she writes and acts on ABC’s The Rookie. She relates deeply to both the final girl and the monster under the bed.
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THE PEARL COMB (UK)
SYNOPSIS: In 1893, an endearing Cornish fisherman’s wife captures the attention of the medical profession as the first person to ever cure someone of Tuberculosis. A doctor, hell bent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine, is sent to investigate her miraculous claim – only to discover the source of her unearthly power…
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence
DIRECTOR: ???????
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: THE PEARL COMB follows Ali’s BAFTA long listed short, THE CUNNING MAN. His career began with writing and starring in seven of his own TV series for Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky 1. His series DIRTY TRICKS (Channel 4) was nominated for a British Comedy Award. He’s also an actor. Credits include the BAFTA nominated & BIFA winning film KAJAKI (Dir. Paul Katis), MUSCLE (Dir. Gerard Johnson), HOW TO FAKE A WAR alongside Katherine Parkinson (Dir. Rudolph Herzog) and as series regular DCI Simmons in RAGDOLL for AMC produced by Sid Gentle.
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THE QUACKENING (UK/WALES)
SYNOPSIS: A grumpy Welshman reluctantly visits his grandmother, only to discover she has only gone and got herself cursed! So now he needs to bloody save her (and the world) from a demon duck…before midnight.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language
DIRECTOR: Silly Welsh
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy, Comedy, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 27th @ 10:30 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Silly Welsh filmmaker James Button has had a lot of fun making fun films for fun about dog poo monsters, robotic butlers and now demon ducks.
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THE RAT AMONG US (SWEDEN)
SYNOPSIS: At an over-the-top music video shoot for a renowned Swedish gangster rapper, the entire production is plunged into a ruthless nightmare when 100,000 SEK suddenly goes missing—money borrowed from dubious figures in the criminal underworld. Someone in the room has stolen the cash, and the film set quickly transforms into a hostage situation. No one is allowed to leave until the money is recovered. Hierarchies crumble as a toxic web of suspicion and accusations ensnares the crew. The loss of more than just money looms heavily in the air..
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Strong Language
DIRECTOR: ??????
GENRE: Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: North American Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Thursday, Oct. 23rd @ 2:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: CHIMICHURRI is a filmmaking collective and directing duo rooted in Sweden’s music video scene. They bring gritty realism, sharp satire, and modern-infused storytelling to their work. They turn chaotic real-life moments into cinematic experiences, blending fiction with documentary immediacy and a darkly comedic flavor.
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THE RIDE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A ’76 Plymouth reflects on its journey, witnessing decades of human life, capturing moments of freedom, temptation, and redemption as it changes hands from one owner to the next.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Mild Language, Sensuality
DIRECTOR: Slava Denisov
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 29th @ 8:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Slava Denisov is a Los Angeles-based director and editor. During his studies in Russia, Slava directed several award-winning short films and music videos before moving to Los Angeles, where he began working as an editor on multiple indie and studio projects, along with numerous shorts, music videos, and commercials. His latest directorial work, The Ride, featuring Ron Perlman, has been officially selected by over a dozen festivals, including Oscar-qualifying events, and earning multiple nominations.
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THE RUG (CANADA)
SYNOPSIS: Made with a crew of senior citizens, this short horror film centres around Edna, a senior aged woman who discovers that a discarded throw rug she has found will, for lack of a better word, digest anything left under it. The more it digests, the more it wants. After devouring her pesky landlord and a nosey cop, the rug has gotten so frisky that Edna finds herself trapped in her own home with no way out. Based on the short story by Edo van Belkom, and directed by Sean Cisterna. Funded in part by the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Sean Cisterna
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Sean Cisterna is an award-winning filmmaker whose latest project, Silver Screamers (2025), is a heartwarming feature documentary about a spirited group of senior citizens who unite to make a horror movie. He previously directed the festival-favourite The Long Rider (2022), a sweeping documentary chronicling a 25,000 km horseback journey from Canada to Brazil. His 2019 feature From the Vine, an international coproduction set in the world of Italian wine and starring Emmy winner Joe Pantoliano, was distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Cisterna also directed the critically acclaimed teen cancer drama Kiss and Cry (2017) and Full Out (2015), a gymnastics biopic starring Jennifer Beals—both streaming globally on Netflix.
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THE SAINT ANTOINE (SPAIN)
SYNOPSIS: After a long journey, the Saint Antoine ship arrives on autopilot at the International Space Station. The crew isn’t responding, and the Station decides to send a reconnaissance team to locate and recover a secret cargo the ship is carrying. Upon arriving at the sick bay, the soldiers find several crew members dead without any apparent explanation.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language, , Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: ????????
GENRE: Horror, Sci-Fi
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Oct. 27th @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Senior concept artist and costume illustrator with experience working on Hollywood blockbusters such as Thor: Love and Thunder, Ready Player One, and the upcoming Blue Beetle and Deadpool. He has worked for Marvel DC, Disney, Netflix, LucasFilms, Amazon, and HBO, among others.
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THE SENTRY (CAMBODIA, USA, NORWAY)
SYNOPSIS: A cheeky dismantling of spy tropes and love letter to Cambodia, THE SENTRY follows a suave agent derailed by a guard who won’t stay quiet
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Language
DIRECTOR: Jake Wachtel
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond, Fantastc
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Nov. 1st @ 2:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: American-born filmmaker Jake Wachtel began his career making documentaries for nonprofits in the global south. In 2015, he moved to Cambodia to teach filmmaking to children and fell in love with the country. His debut feature, Karmalink, Cambodia’s first sci-fi film, opened Critics’ Week at Venice 2021 and played 30+ festivals worldwide.
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THE SEQUENCE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: After a terrifying and deeply disturbing nightmare, stay-at-home mom Taylor (Katie Parker) wakes in a panic, convinced that the horrific events she dreamed about must never come to pass. As moving day approaches, rising tension with her husband Thomas (Andrew Pifko) and son Mike (Braxton Alexander) only fuels her growing fear, and when eerie details from her nightmare begin to manifest in reality, Taylor becomes desperate to alter the course of events before her worst fears come true.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence, Language, Adult Content, Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Joe Bandelli
GENRE: Horror, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 31st @ 12:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Joe Bandelli has built a career in indie horror as a writer, director, producer, and actor, best known for producing and portraying the terrifying clown in the Hell House LLC franchise. His credits include writing and directing the horror documentary Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (Paramount+), the horror-comedy Another Cabin in the Woods Movie (Tubi), and producing the horror film 825 Forest Road (Shudder). Drawing from his Egyptian, Assyrian, and Italian heritage, Joe brings diverse and inclusive perspectives to every story he tells. His upcoming projects: Hell House LLC: Lineage, Imposters, and Another Masked Killer Movie, are slated for release in late 2025 and early 2026.
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THE SINGERS (USA)
SYNOPSIS: An impromptu sing-off will decide the best singer in the bar tonight.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Strong Language
DIRECTOR: Sam Davis
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond, Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Nov. 1st @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Sam Davis is an Oscar-nominated multi-hyphenate filmmaker with a foundation in cinematography. He produced and shot the Academy Award-winning Netflix short Period. End of Sentence. and the Disney+ Oscar-nominated short Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó. Sam was the cinematographer on the breakout Sundance feature, Dìdi.
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THE SMELL OF SIN (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Two Vietnam vets are reunited when a priest is called to perform last rites. After dredging up long buried memories the patient reveals the uncanny source of his affliction and the priest comes to realize he’s been summoned for a much more sinister purpose.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Mild Language, , Intense & Scary Imagery
DIRECTOR: Gabriel P. Gonzales
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 28th @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Gabriel P. Gonzales is an American director, writer and production designer. At 13 he began his filmmaking journey experimenting with special makeup effects after seeing George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. He went on to study writing and directing at Azusa Pacific University where he received his Bachelors in Cinematic Arts. After college he began his career in the art directors guild as a production designer for commercials, film and television. He is now focused on his ultimate love of directing horror, eccentric genre films, period pieces and character-driven narratives.
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