Screening 7: Dark Matter
Wednesday June 24, 2026
Doors at 5:30pm | Show at 6:30pm
As the lights go down on the Rio screenings, Dark Matter draws you into the festival’s darkest and most unsettling work. Slow-building tension, strange turns, and films that stay with you long after the screen goes dark.
BONES by The Demon Drifters
A grieving woman must confront her deepest fears when terrifying noises begin echoing from the surrounding forest.
Directed by: Jack Grant-Roberts
Written by: Jack Grant-Roberts & Michaela Norris
Produced by: Jack Grant-Roberts & Michaela Norris
Starring: Mackenzie Smart
Director of Photography: Michaela Norris
First Assistant Camera: Spencer Henri
First Assistant Director: Nicole Teo
Production Designer: Orlanda South
Editing & Colouring by: Jack Grant-Roberts
Sound & Music by: Jack Grant-Roberts
Angel Shot by Janky Films
A woman wakes up in her car with no memory of how she got there or what happened the night before.
Cast:
Charlie: Manon Hayes
Aiden: Simon Waldock
Theo: Jarod Kaplan
Crew:
Director/Writer: Jamie Johnstone
Producer: Jarod Kaplan
DOP: Daniel Yuruk
Writer/Script supervisor: Carter Jahnke
Music: Eugene Kim
Editor: Joseph Sulpico
Associate Producer: Sarai Rasmidatta
Cam Op: Brandon Lin
1st AD: Tamara Leiva
Audio: Jamil Moore
Make up: McKenna Moss
Stills/Grip: Amani Ntabaza
Party Goers:
Shane Kotzer
Jenna Charest
Zoe Rumsby
Andy Wu
Daniel Del Barrio
Preston Steeves
Megan Vroom
Talia Corado
Angelina Sansome
Joseph Sulpico
Passerby 1: Sarai Rasmidatta
Passerby 2: McKenna Moss
Special Thanks:
Trevor Cave
David Griffiths
Ken Kaneko
Andy Sheier
Draining Partners by Femme In Film
After one of them turns into a vampire, two exes learn to live together while one of them tries to find another place after breaking up.
CAST
SKYE - Rachele Rutherford
SEAMUS - Rankin Stewart
THE INTERVIEWER - Quinn Funk
CREW
Writer / Director / Editor - Anica Zialcita
Producer / Production Designer / 1st AD - Xelena Ilon
Director of Photography - Riley Berger-Tse
Gaffer - Rebecca Jaimes
Key Grip / AC - Quinn Funk
Location Sound - Eridanus Redenbach
Script Supervisor - Dorothy Droste
Compost by Woodenball Studios
As his life begins to fade, a young man faces the unyielding presence of nature.
Director: Kostya Tyoschin
Writer: Kostya Tyoschin
Cinematographer: Henry Huangfu
Production Designer: Daphnee Guerin
Editor: Kostya Tyoschin, Joshua Solman
Staring:
Kostya Tyoschin
Joshua Solman
Lauren Smith-Anderson
Henry Huangfu
Early Retirement by Sunday Movies
A couple of snowbirds return from vacation to find they may have missed more than just the Canadian winter.
Written & Directed by
Jennesia Pedri
Story by
Jennesia Pedri
Dale Shippam
Sage Brocklebank
Produced by
Dale Shippam
Sage Brocklebank
Cast
Michael Meneer
Gail Simpson
Sage Brocklebank
Iris Paluly
Joshua Hinkson
Cinematographer
Dale Shippam
Editor
Maz Swierczak
Camera Operators
Alex Torres
Dale Shippam
Camera Assistant
Caitlyn Plett
Gaffer
Niki Kasper
Key Grip
Caitlyn Plett
Sound
Ricardo Germain
Production Assistant
Elizabeth Marshall
Special Thanks
Seen Signs
The Crump Family
HOME by WOSS
A man brings his girlfriend to a housewarming party for a mysterious and solitary individual.
WRITTEN BY: BEN COCKELL
DIRECTED BY: SPENCER FLEMMING
STARRING:
BEN COCKELL
JESSICA O'GORMAN
ZANDER EKE
CREW:
MIA OBERHOLZER
EVAN STOVER
CONOR MCNAIR
DOP: EVAN STOVER
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: MIA OBERHOLZER
EDITORS:
EVAN STOVER
CONOR MCNAIR
SCORE: ROWAN HORST LOTT
PRODUCERS:
ZANDER EKE
JESSICA O'GORMAN
Midnight Massacre by Powerross Productions
When a children's game turns into a nightmare.
Producer Randi Power
Director Rosco Ross
Henry Gabriel Mackintosh
Stacy Vivienne Ooms
Arwen Randi Power
Joel Rosco Ross
Trent Colin Wilson
Editor Rosco Ross & Randi Power
Writer Rosco Ross & Randi Power
Sound Technician Aubrie Riehl
Camera Eleni Wilson
Site Security Carter Hofer
PALIMPSEST by Cascade Digital Studios
A grieving man enters a secluded cabin to confront the woman he blames for his son's death, only to discover a deadly truth that has already taken hold.
--- CREW ---
Director: Luca Paniccia
Writer: Mikale Chiasson & Vanessa Mae Tran
Director of Photography: Thomas Chisham
1st Assistant Director: Mischa Colorado
Script Supervisor: Andrey Attar
Editor: Luca Paniccia
Sound Operator: Vanessa Mae Tran
Grip: Andrey Attar & Jash Vashi
1st Assistant Camera: Mischa Colorado
Production Assistant: Chantelle Croteau
Makeup Artist: Ashley Paniccia
Original Score: Neemz
--- CAST ---
Jack - Harry Tamacas Perla
Danielle - Aneurin Sheasby
Child - Santiago Perla
--- SPECIAL THANKS ---
Double J's Getaway
Pan-Asia Market
Pretty Girls Don't Yell by Dark Whimsy
Two young women discover the healing power of rage.
Writer / Director Amanda Acquaah
Co-Writer Carlos Macias
Producer Martin Michael
Associate Producer Jacquille Kambo
Project Manager Shabnum Bismel
1st AD Ezra King
2nd AD Tali Misci
DOP Alexander Tabet
Gaffer Marcel Daley
Key Grip Haile Derickson
Best Boy Cypheren Gerrard
Grip/LX Swing Conrad George
Steadycam Op Leo Leiner
1st AC Yusaku Shinogi
2nd AC Abby Di Giovanni
DIT Annie Song
Camera PA Wakita Akari
On set Sound Sara Bahaduri
Boom OP Kavan Hayres
Production designer Amanda Acquaah
Art Director Luiza Alves
Set Decorator/On set costumes Alliyah Delena
Set Dresser Merisha Abrahim
Set dresser Marianne Pereyra
Set builder Marcel Daley
Set builder Jacquille Kambo
Props Master Naomi Giorgis
Costumes buyer Sarin Kendall
Script Supervisor Rae Gadd
MUA/SFX/Hair Marianne Pereyra
MUA Assist Erika Konta
Editor Carlos Macias
Colourist Alexander Tabet
Sound Mixing/Design Jeremy Therrien
Music Composer Moira Christy
Music Composer Jonathan Shim
BTS Photo/Videos Raj Singh
First Aid Zarlyn Taray
VFX Emir Khan Bautista
Kyla Ward Venus (Vi)
Donna Clacer Phoenix (Nix)
Michael Wattel Dr. Trevor
Archie Lush Bernard
Joanna Redfern Karen
Richard Ellis Hospital President
Michella Groenewald Hospital President wife
Zonia Sandoval Irritating patient
Aurora Rockey Server
Brenden Leonard (King) Rich Patron
Daisha Menzie Rich condescending patron
RePast by Scatter Crew
A man arrives at a strange birthday party where the truth behind the celebration slowly unfolds.
Written & Directed by Stan Petruk
CAST
Rhea - Lou Halsey
Roy - Kevin Ferracuti
El - Trevor Walker
Emily - Emma Richardson
Megan - Jade Keyowski
CREW
PA - Jules Siege
PA - Daniel Kailly
Producer - Claudia Mak
DP - Pranav Mohan
1st AC - Dana Zelikova
Composer - Josh Santos
Boom OP - Nicolas Comte
VFX & Editor - Stan Petruk
Roots by Ninth Wave
In search of new opportunities, a plant-girl must cut the roots that connect her past to survive in a new society.
DIRECTED BY:
Samantha Mendez
WRITTEN BY:
Samantha Mendez
Jimena Ponce de Leon
Max Lugo
Jana Stach
PRODUCED BY:
Natalia Ruskus
CINEMATOGRAPHY BY:
Jesus Lopez Huiza
PRODUCTION DESIGN BY:
Victoria Loyo
EDITED BY:
Allison Wall
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY:
Sagar Prado
1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:
Owen Clarke
Lizbeth Ponce Rincon
LINE PRODUCER:
Lizbeth Ponce Rincon
CAST:
Jimena Ponce de Leon (DAHLIA)
Jana Stach (Crystal)
Natalia Ruskus (Luna)
V.O:
Samantha Mendez
Maria Edilia Alvarez Salazar
BACKGROUND ACTORS:
Laura Nino
Ashley Zuleta
Emma McKay
Lucas Damer
SCRIPT SUP:
Victoria Loyo
GAFFER:
Chandra Shekhar Vyas
CAM OP:
Eddy Rubi Munoz
1st AC:
Eddy Rubi Munoz
2nd AC:
Sergio Ornelas Garcia
BTS PHOTOGRAPHER:
Sergio Ornelas Garcia
PRODUCTION SOUND:
Alejandro Roa
BOOM OPERATOR:
Jimena Rojas
MAKE UP ARTIST:
Samantha Mendez
Natalia Ruskus
POST PRODUCTION SOUND:
Alejandro Roa Flores
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Samantha Mendez
SPECIAL THANKS:
Rhoda Olmedo
Secret Agent Man by Team Noir
A secret agent is captured during a mission, he must resist all methods of torture until a rescue team can come to save him.
CREDITS
Produced By: Andrew Nadanyi, Jimmy Clarke, Heidi Ben
Cast: Agent X - Andrew Nadanyi
General - Jimmy Clarke
Brute - Heidi Ben
Beggar - James Mowat
Recon 2 - James Mowat
Recon 1 - Jason Begley
DOP/CAM: Stu Cooke
MSPF/SFX: Mike Smith, Chris Walker
Make-Up: Julia Ho
Directed By: Andrew Nadanyi / Jimmy Clarke
Written & Edited by: Andrew Nadanyi
Special Thanks Too: Phil Barbaro, Lindsay Ben, Matt & Corinne Fung (Owners of Ambush Paintball)
SMILE FOR YOUR LIFE! by YUNG PARMS
A reluctant trip to a quirky "Happiness Class" spirals into chaos when Niko finds herself entangled in a suspicious crime scene.
Directed by
Parmis Rouhina
Written by
Parmis Rouhina
Sarvin Seif
Executive Producer
Parmis Rouhina
Leila Seyed Haddadi
Producer
Soph Mazzocchio
Co-Producer
Matthew Boulter, Sarvin Seif
Director of Photography
Adeliya Filipchyk
Production / Costume Designer
Spencer Charlie Webb
Editor / Colourist
Matthew Boulter
Music
Moby
1st Assistant Director
Spencer Charlie Webb
'A' 1st Assistant Camera
Caris Simmons
'A' 2nd Assistant Camera
Weston Bui
Ekin Tepe
'B' Camera Operator
Justine Robert
'B' 1st Assistant Camera
Lucy Cai
Gaffer
Reese Yue
Swing
Raphael Q. Jazin
Key Grip
Bobo Nguyen
Location Sound Recordist
Daniel Garcia
Production Assistants
Mathilde Salapete
David Zetina
Crafty
Leila Seyed Haddadi
Cast
Niko - Parmis Rouhina
Betty - Margaret Waldron
Sara - Sarvin Seif
Emily - Nikta Ghazi
Mojan - Ghazal Jenab
STRAY by Slingstone Films
Lost in the woods, a boy whispers a psalm in fear as a mirror leads him to his mom. The wrong one.
Starring_
Dohyun Noel Hwang
Yujin Kim
Written & Directed by_
Dae Youn Hwang
Produced by_
Yujin Kim
Director of Photography / Camera_
Dae Youn Hwang
Edited by_
Dae Youn Hwang
Sound Design / Scoring_
Dae Youn Hwang
Hair / Makeup / Props / PA_
Yujin Kim
Behind the Scenes_
Samuel Hwang
Special Thanks_
Yeong Sook Kim
Hojun Hwang
Sooyeon Lee
Sangsoo Kim
Gavin Macdonald
SLINGSTONE FILMS
Tea Party by Backstreet Studios
3 urban explorers explore into private property then meet with an unexpected series of events.
Ivy Atkinson - Christina
Tarek Mueller - Ray
Lyle Bannister - Davie
Jayden Cameron - Hunter
Declan Foufoulas - Director
Asher Allen - Cinematographer
Idara Wright - Writing
Kaylie Haid - Sound, Makeup
Aaron Elderkin - Editing
The Gateway by Team ShenanAGAIN'S
An aspiring guitarist auditions for a punk rock band, and to play better, relies on the help of an otherworldly entity that offers him greatness.
Credits
Producers
- Zachariah Ohori
- Giovanni S. G. Zarate
Director
- Landon Rubin
1st AD
- Zachariah Ohori
Written by
- Landon Rubin
- Giovanni S. G. Zarate
DOP
- Giovanni S. G. Zarate
Camera Operator
- Giovanni S. G. Zarate
Sound
- Javier Alfredo Garcia Leyva (Sound Mixer)
- Sally Safarzadeh (Boom Operator)
Lighting
- Matias Villalobos
Hair/Make-up
- Sally Fakhr
- Setia Salimi
- Sally Safarzadeh
PA
- Sidney McLeod
- Sally Safarzadeh
Actors
- Zachariah Ohori
- Iza Lopez
- Edan McLeod
- Stephane Duvernois
- Hans Oosterkamp Suarez
Sound Design
- Eduardo Ramos Gutierrez
Editor
- Marlee Spicer
Photographer
- Sidney McLeod
The Root of Evil by The Longest Road
A garden witch goes to extreme lengths to keep her college friends from leaving her behind.
Written & Directed by Evann Yoon & Brody Williams
Music Composer: Danica Norcott
Dir. Production: Carter Newson
1st AD: Zoe Lemaire
Camera Op.: Carter Newson
1st AC: Taisia Tarbeeva
Editor: Danica Norcott
Locations Manager: Mia Kim
Sound Designer: Danica Norcott
Lighting/Grip: Helen Semiona
Hair/Makeup: Mia Kim & Danica Norcott
Costumes: Erin Mcleod & Danica Norcott
Starring:
Brody Williams as Mason
Danica Norcott as Constance
Taisia Tarbeeva as Charlie
Zoe Lemaire as Garrett
Mia Kim as Bertrude
Carter Newson as Nathaniel
Helen Semiona as Oli
Erin Mcleod as Iris
There's Nothing Out There by Galadriel
A group of influencers survived the apocalypse in a bunker. But can they survive each other?
Cast
Liam Tritaik as Erick
Val Vestfjord as The Entity
Jenya Malezh as Daisy
Joban Brar as Robert
Jillian Tolzman as Abby
Maksim Georgievski as Chase
Nurtai Moldoshev as Austin
Directed by Linnea Geppert
DoP, VFX Artist Rakesh Malik
1st AD Gabriela Mattos
2nd AD Natan Enruiquez Velasco
Gaffer Richard Chen
1st AC Derek Mora
Sound Recordist Alexey Kononenko
Key Grip Damon Lovell
Writers Liam, Val, Natan
BTS Editor Alixzander Morles
Executive Purrducer Galadriel
Special Thanks Alona Rublenko
Wither by The Rat Pack
In the midst of a breakup, two queer people find themselves at the whim of an ominous spirit that has no intention of letting them be apart.
Written & Directed by Raven Vyse & Shanthanu Venugopal
Exec. Producer - Sara B. Cooper
Producer - Shanthanu Venugopal
Producer - Raven Vyse
Cast
Erin - Kingston Palmer
Sasha - Kate Huxham
Ghost - Sophie Beck
Crew
Director of Photography - Marcel Faucheret
Camera Operator - Andressa Carraro
1st Assistant Camera - Ivan Pokrovskiy
2nd Assistant Camera - Jonathan Melo
Script Supervisor - Brenna Kwon
Production Sound Mixer - Behrost Basij
Gaffer - Bhuvan Vegiteela
Production Design - Zoie Wickens
Art Assist - Ben Puerto
Hair & Makeup - Sophia Maxwell
Editor - Vidal Hernandez
Music
Composer - Leandro Coppola
Baby, Won't You Please Come Home - Bessie Smith (1923)
Special Thanks
Gearbase Camera Rentals
Lorne Lapham Sales & Rentals
Ryan Kwan
Apurv Swami