Short Films block 1

Type: 
Film
Location: 
RISD Auditorium
Date and time: 
Friday, August 22, 2025 - 6:00pm

Our Opening Night short films are a powerhouse collection of cosmic horror, Weird tale, and Lovecraft story adaptations.

Each block of short films in the festival features a variety of different short films - Cosmic Horror, the uncanny supernatural, Weird tale, Lovecraftian, and literary adaptation.

 

The Outsider

US Premiere
Directed by
A. Burnett
3 mins
 | 2025
 | Canada
 | English
 

A lonely prisoner longs to escape isolation and experience human connection.

Based on the short story by H. P. Lovecraft.

 

Undertone

Regional Premiere
Directed by
Shaun Munro
starring
Shaun Munro, Toby Norton, Eliza Chadwick
13 mins
 | 2025
 | United Kingdom
 | English
 

A sound recordist captures strange sonic phenomena underneath their house and things... escalate from there.

 

Where the Shadows Feast

Directed by
Aaron M Cabrera
starring
Corey Allen, Alicia Blasingame, Troy Twisty James, Rachel Schumacher
15 mins
 | 2024
 | United States
 | English
 

After decades of men, women and children vanishing into the darkness of their rooms, a detective and mother must follow her child’s voice into the shadows, coming face to face with the shadows themselves.

 

Thrift Store Ouija Board

World Premiere
Directed by
Rebecca Gruss
starring
Miranda Gruss, Molly Anderson, Patrick Eckland
7 mins
 | 2025
 | United States
 | English
 

Three friends awaken something supernatural through a thrifted Ouija board—only to discover it’s far more interested in exposing their secrets than answering their questions. As paranoia and betrayal spiral, a deadly rift erupts between two best friends.

 

Stargazer

Regional Premiere
Directed by
Justin Robert Vinall
starring
Joe Peer, Olivia Finklestein, Hailey Stubblefield
15 mins
 | 2024
 | United States
 | English
 

A fragmented astronomer looks to the stars to find comfort in the darkest of places.

 

The Music of Erich Zann (restored)

Directed by
John Strysik
starring
Robert Rothman, Robert Alexander, Darryl Warren
17 mins
 | 1980
 | United States
 | English
 

This story revolves around a student of metaphysics, Charles Dexter Ward who befriends Erich Zann an aging violinist who lives on the floor above him. Restored from the original 16mm print.

 

The Itch

Regional Premiere
Directed by
Gordon Phillips
starring
Nathan Nagvajara, John Potvin
18 mins
 | 2024
 | Mexico
 | English
 

A young man awakens in an unfamiliar apartment only to find himself under surveillance… and decaying rapidly. He relies on an enigmatic set of vaccines he discovers in the bathroom to slow his decline, but quickly plots revenge on his unseen watcher as his condition continues to deteriorate.

Owner: 
H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival – Providence, RI