Block I: Giving Up The Ghost, When They Come, Checkpoint, Kickstart My Heart, RINGWORMS, Home Video, No Trophies, SQUARE, The Call

When They Come

Vanessa learns that a vengeful and superstitious ex has killed himself and now suspects she may have had a hand in pushing him over the edge. As Vanessa gathers the sombre details, suspicion isn’t the only thing that begins to creep into her world. Filmed in a single, continuous shot, this film stares at the inevitability of consequences, and what happens when they come…

Boasting a cast and crew whose credits include "Slasher", "The Boys", "Silent Hill: Revelation", "Resident Evil: Retribution", “Becky”, “See” and "Cursed Films", "When They Come" conjures a wealth of dark experience.

Kickstart My Heart

After a gruesome car accident, a young woman fights her mind's 3 levels of hell to survive.

Checkpoint

After mysteriously awakening in a barren alien landscape, a self-serving prisoner must conquer a series of grueling trials in order to reunite with his lost love.

SQUARE

Two misfit mobsters set out to bury to bury a body, only to find her not quite dead yet.

The Call

1965. A small man in a big world works hard to close a deal, doing everything he can to please his boss. But the clock is ticking, and someone is out to get him.

Director Statement

I've always been intrigued by films that have compelling stories told within the confines of few settings. That is why directing The Call, as well as co-writing it, means a lot to me. Despite the film's one setting and the protagonist's seemingly trivial predicament, its story still takes a deep dive into the darkest corners of the human condition. The film stems from my fascination with dark and sinister tales that are grounded in reality. Thus, I saw The Call as an opportunity to create a metaphor for the anxious and paranoid times we live in.

This production was truly a labor of love. From the very beginning, I envisioned the film to be shot on 16mm black and white film with a 4:3 aspect ratio. This combination was very effective in terms of creating a sense of claustrophobia which speaks to the protagonist's state of mind. The cinematographer, Armaan Virani, completely understood the look I was going for and implemented it perfectly. Casting the film was very exciting. As soon as I watched Tom's audition I knew he was the right choice. His talent, dedication and attention to detail shine thru in his performance.

Unfortunately, production was delayed twice due to the challenges presented to us by the pandemic. But my collaborators and I didn't let these setbacks stop us. We worked hard on getting all the details right knowing the film will get made no matter what. And that it did. I am proud of the film and look forward to screening it for festival audiences.

Giving Up The Ghost

Parents-to-be Scott and Arianna don’t quite see eye to eye on a few things, particularly that Scott’s best friend, Harold, lives in their basement. And the fact that Harold happens to be a ghost.

RINGWORMS

After discovering her boyfriend’s plan to propose on their weekend vacation, a young girl undergoes a crisis of commitment which attracts the attention of a sinister cult.

No Trophies

When a father's nighttime picnic with his child is interrupted by a group of thugs, it turns out that being at the wrong place at the wrong time can actually be a good thing -- especially in light of the fact that the father, Joshua, is a holy man who believes his child's "curse" is a gift. Oh, and did we mention that said "child" also happens to be a werewolf?

Home Video

A woman receives a disturbing video of herself from the future