The Hand of Darkness, 8min., USA
Directed by Rowan Kelley
In 1978, Astoria, Oregon, newcomer Alice Mitchell becomes the target of an otherworldly entity hell-bent on consuming her soul to regain its former power.

https://www.instagram.com/rowanrkelley

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The Hand of Darkness was a project my team and I made as part of our academic coursework. I dropped another project of mine in order to make this one instead because I really wanted to create something that felt like a throwback to the 70s and 80s films I love. I wanted to make a short that seemed like it could be the opening of a Stephen King novel, something that felt like IT mixed with The Goonies, Lord of the Rings, and Coraline.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

If I remember correctly, we shot the film in three days over a weekend, with a few weeks of development and pre-production beforehand, all in Los Angeles. Post-production took a bit longer, closer to five or six weeks. We were also attending full-time classes throughout the process, so the deadlines were tight for what we were trying to accomplish.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Great question! I would say, “Supernatural Kidnapping.”

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Oh gosh, so many! Ha. For as simple as the short was, it turned out to be much more complicated than it looks. The first thing that comes to mind is that the film was supposed to take place in Astoria, Oregon, but we could only shoot in suburban and metro Los Angeles. Normally that would be a project killer, but I love these kinds of challenges. I still wanted it all: the exteriors, the iconic Astoria locations, and a house that looked like it belonged there, big and Gothic with character. I also needed a large, imposing attic for the ending scene.

The final result is actually a trick of three different houses stitched together to look like one, plus some VFX work using real stock footage of Astoria I shot on a quick weekend trip to Oregon with a buddy. A bit of color grading also went a long way.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talk about your film in the feedback video?

I was thrilled that the short resonated with people. When I make a film, I primarily keep one audience member in mind: me. Ha! But I am also just a regular moviegoer, and I hope that once the film goes out, it finds the right audience who connects with it.

I love to genre-bash and mix the familiar with the new until it creates something strange and fresh that excites me or that I have never quite seen before. It is not for everyone, but I am a genre nerd at heart. If the film entertains even a single person, or makes someone’s day a little brighter, that is enough for me. To everyone who took time to watch, I give a very large THANK YOU.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I have always been drawn to cinematic experiences and storytelling as a kid. I distinctly remember the first time I realized I wanted to make films was walking out of the theater after seeing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. I remember thinking Peter Jackson had the coolest job in the world, and all I knew was that I wanted to do exactly what he did and build worlds for people to enjoy.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Without a doubt, The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I consider all three films one singular experience, and I have seen them more times than I can count.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

That is a great question. I suppose there is only so much festivals can do, but honestly, just having the opportunity to screen a film in front of an audience is gold. The chance to interact with other like-minded filmmakers is also huge. Any sort of press or interviews help greatly too.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?

I love FilmFreeway. They make it extremely easy to apply to festivals and showcase projects.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Probably a good ribeye steak or fettuccine alfredo!!!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I am currently in the middle of festival runs for both The Hand of Darkness and my most recent project, A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA. It is a 26-minute epic horror TV episode, a 90s science fiction, multi-dimensional monster-hunt story centered around a group of soldiers from a covert government organization called the DCA (Department of Creature Affairs).

Alongside those, I am writing and beginning early development on what I hope will be my first feature film: The Dark Labyrinth. It is an epic dark fantasy adventure I plan to make as a stop-motion animation. It is a story I absolutely love and cannot wait to share one day. The best way I can describe it is Lord of the Rings meets Pan’s Labyrinth, Legend (1985), and Silent Hill.

MARA, 18min., USA
Directed by Ben Harl
After years spent recovering from a botched exorcism, Jake prepares to reintegrate into society. However, the mounting pressures of everyday existence trigger a harrowing regression back into madness.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?
I know that stories about exorcisms and possession have been done many times in the past, but I’ve always wondered what happens to people who have survived a possession and exorcism. Often, once the exorcism is complete the story ends. I wanted an opportunity to visit a possession/exorcism survivor years later, to see what it did to their psychosis.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
The whole process took about a year to complete. We spent a lot of time on pre-production making sure that we crafted a very particular look and feel. And we did the same in post-production, being very selective with the look, feel and sound of the film. The actual principal photography was shot over a three day period.

How would you describe your film in two words!?
Psychological Horror!

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Trying to strike a balance between the actual horrors of possession and the psychological aspects of potential dissociative personality disorder. It was a very fine line to walk without diving too deep into either side. We really wanted to leave the audience wondering if the character was actually possessed, or if they were a victim of psychosis.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Very happy! It’s always validating when the audience picks up on the subtlety you’re trying to convey! I feel like they really understood what we were trying to achieve!

When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I’ve been a writer and storyteller my whole life. But it was about 8 years ago that I realized I could move my stories from page to screen. Being able to use visual mediums to tell those stories has really given me another layer of creativity!

What film have you seen the most in your life?
I’m a huge fan of all horror films. I grew up watching horror films with my mother. It’s almost impossible to gauge which one of these I’ve watched the most!

What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I can’t think of anything else you can do to improve! The level of care and communication you offer the filmmakers is top notch!

You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
FilmFreeway is terrific! They do a great job of promoting and assisting in the process!

What is your favorite meal?
There’s nothing better than a nicely cooked ribeye steak!

What is next for you? A new film?
We’re currently working on a feature film that will hopefully begin principal photography early next year! It’s an extremely fast paced horror film that I’m very much looking forward to. In the meantime, I’m working on a book of short stories, as well as a novel!