[Trailer] Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw and TIFF Bring New Horror Shorts to Festival
Toronto International Film Festival audiences are in for a fright as five new horror short films make their world premieres this weekend.
The shorts come from the first group of filmmakers in Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and TIFF’s No Drama initiative, which aims to support emerging voices in horror.
The films — Imago, Morty, Spilled Milk, Thick Skin, and The Pigs Underneath — were created through a one-year program launched by Monkeypaw, TIFF, and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.
The program gave the filmmakers the chance to explore horror in different ways, from cultural themes to societal fears. Each director was asked to consider: “What’s your biggest fear? What monsters lurk in the deepest corners of your inner thoughts?”
The selected directors, Chandler Crump, Charlie Dennis, Helena Hawkes, Jared Leaf, and Ariel Zengotita, each received $50,000 from TIFF to produce their projects. Their work will debut Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Cinema 1 at TIFF Lightbox.
“Over the past year, we’ve had the pleasure of watching our first five ‘No Drama’ filmmakers bring their stories to life. We couldn’t be more excited to unveil these films at TIFF and see where they go next,” Peele said.
He will give opening remarks at the screening alongside Universal Pictures president Peter Cramer and TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. After the showcase, the directors will take part in a Q&A moderated by Rotten Tomatoes’ Jacqueline Coley.
Cramer commented, “Jordan and his team at Monkeypaw have redefined genre filmmaking by challenging conventions and pushing boundaries. Their ‘No Drama’ initiative gives five talented new voices the access, mentorship, and platform to showcase their own groundbreaking work, in partnership with TIFF, which has been the launchpad for so many incredible filmmakers through the years.”
The shorts feature performances from Scott Mescudi, Brandon Perea, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Keyla Monterroso Mejia. A trailer compiling scenes from all five films has also been released, giving fans a first look at the chilling stories.
Monkeypaw partnered with top industry companies to support the films. Panavision provided camera packages, Sony contributed new equipment for Spilled Milk, Cooke Optics supplied lenses for Imago, and MBS Equipment Company handled lighting and grip. Mathematic Film, Company 3, Signature Post, and Format helped with VFX, sound, color, and music.
Tickets for the showcase are currently available.
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