A helluva year and a half…
Our short film WHITCH has had a wonderful ride over the last eighteen months.
We premiered at SXSW where we won the Midnight Short Special Jury Award. From there we went on to screen at 81 more film festivals, and win 21 more awards (including a posthumous Best Actress prize for our star, Rosemary Hochschild).
WHITCH was also ranked by Letterboxd Official Lists as the 10th most well reviewed live-action short film of 2025 🤯
Aside from what’s easily listed, the film’s journey has brought so many intangibly special things: I have met numerous talented, and inspiring filmmakers, and have deepened bonds with my team and friends who were along side me throughout the year. The films I’ve seen have often been spectacular. And the audience reactions are more than I could’ve asked for.
Today, WHITCH is released online on Vimeo (as a Staff Pick). So I figure it’s a good time to look back, and post some pictures from a magical last year and a half.
Mark Spencer, Kelly King, myself, Alicia Blasingame and Caroline Allander just before the premiere. Photo by Becky Stinehour
My wife, Anna Mkhikian, and I waiting for the premiere to start at SXSW.
Alicia Blasingame, Kelly King and myself in front of the Paramount Theater at SXSW.
Me being a dope. Photo by Natalie Metzger
Ken Wales, myself, Kelly King, Courtenay Sherwood, Erin King, and Anna at Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films
Kelly King speaking at our screening at Fantasia International Film Festival.
Kelly King, and Queens of the Dead director Tina Romero! We had the honor of screening before her awesome film.
Me at Monsterpalooza, where Gorgazma screened the film.
At the Nuart theater in Los Angeles after screening WHITCH before Evil Dead II! This was for an event put on by Gorgazma: Creature Features 2: The Sequel.
WHITCH trading cards! Designed by the legendary Nathan "Nacho" Cabrera.
The Gorgazma team: Mark Villalobos, Heather Mages, and Nathan “Nacho” Cabrera posing with Anna and me after screening at the Nuart theater.
Getting groovy with Kris Hamilton at the Nuart theater.
With Alicia Blasingame at Salute Your Shorts Film Festival. Photo by Emily Sandifer.
With three of the four awards we won at Skiptown Film Festival.