Author: HeavyB

GRAMPS in Chicago

GRAMPS is not dead yet and will screen in Chicago on February 5th at the Big Teeth Small Short Film Festival.

The Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Fest is all about very short filmmaking, micro-shorts and small shorts under five minutes, and championing filmmakers who believe in concise, bold storytelling. Doors open at 7 pm at the Facets Theater in Chicago.

The festival began as a 60-second film fest in 2015 and has since grown into a semi-annual event in Chicago, while staying true to its short-form focus. Every submission is carefully reviewed, and the selected films screen live, judged by a jury of industry professionals seeking strong ideas, creativity, and craft.

FOREVER AFTER IN LOVE screened at Borrego Springs Film festival 2026

I had an amazing time at the Borrego Springs Film Festival. Thank you very much for screening FOREVER AFTER IN LOVE. The film was well received in a full theater, and we were in great company with the incredible films screened over the four days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOREVER AFTER IN LOVE in Borrego Springs

Erik Nothstein, Danielle TitusI am ecstatic that FOREVER AFTER IN LOVE screens in Borrego Springs and returns to sunny California after a short visit to the snowy mountains of Alaska.
Our comedy will screen on Sunday, January 18th at 10 am in the Shorts Block M at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. Take a nice road trip through the California Desert and join us if you can and read my interview here.

The Borrego Springs Film Festival (BSFF) is a community-driven, old-school-style festival with single-venue screenings, strong local turnout, and an inviting atmosphere where filmmakers and residents naturally mingle.

The festival features an opening gala, networking events, a Saturday party, panels, workshops, hangouts, and an award ceremony, including the Laara Award for the most inspirational film. Each year BSFF showcases about 70-80 independent-spirited films, all personally reviewed by local Borregans, giving it a warm grassroots feel.

Set in the beautiful desert town of Borrego Springs, CA, surrounded by mid-century neighborhoods, vintage trailers, and desert charm, the festival offers genuine hospitality for filmmakers at any stage of their career.

And yes, everyone talks about the homemade cookies. I’m curious to try them. Join me if you’re around.

MIDNIGHT SNACK – the ugly truth about fridge blindness

Check out MIDNIGHT SNACK. I shot this tragic story in the summer of 2025 with a class of very talented CINE students to raise awareness about people who suffer from fridge blindness, a condition that is hardly talked about. I hope this short will encourage people to step forward, seek help, and start to heal.

GRAMPS in Mumbai

GRAMPS will have its Asian Premiere at the Dark Scream Film Festival in Mumbai on Saturday, December 21, 2025, in Program 5 from 2:00–3:30 PM at the Veda Black Box.

The Dark Scream Film Festival loves horror and is genuinely excited to watch what filmmakers create. They are an international festival with a global jury of genre experts, multiple award categories, and free submissions to keep it accessible to everyone. They proudly champion bold visions, support the challenges behind them, and bring standout horror films to a highly appreciative audience.

I would love to attend—I really loved Mumbai when I taught for two months at NYFA India back in 2018—but hopefully I’ll return another time. If you’re around, check out the screening.

FOREVER AFTER IN LOVE in Anchorage

I am so happy that the FOREVER AFTER IN LOVE warms up the Anchorage International Film Festival. The screening will be in the comedy shorts block on December 11th at 2.30 pm at the Anchorage Museum.

Celebrating its 25th year, the Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF) is Alaska’s largest and most distinctive film event – a creative adventure built by filmmakers, for filmmakers. Set on Denai’na land, AIFF unfolds across four venues, with the iconic Bear Tooth Theatre as its main stage, where audiences enjoy great films, craft drinks, and food. Beyond the screenings, the festival offers unforgettable Alaskan excursions and a vibrant community experience that fuels creativity and connection.

Erik Nothstein

 

SPENT in Los Angeles

After nearly two decades, SPENT screens in LA again on December 13th & 14th at Regal LA Live as part of the 31st Annual S.E. Manly African American Short Film Festival. It will be shown twice in the BHERC Classics (A) section:

Saturday: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Sunday: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

I am so proud to be part of this project and grateful that I had the opportunity to direct SPENT as my second AFI thesis film — especially a short that still feels as relevant today as ever.

The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) proudly presents the S.E. Manly African American Short Film Showcase, a long-running platform for groundbreaking storytellers since 1994. Featuring documentaries and short films from both emerging and established filmmakers, the showcase highlights diverse voices, innovative storytelling, and a wide range of themes, from humor and drama to real-world issues. Each year, the community is invited to celebrate the artistry and impact of African American filmmakers across film, television, and digital media.

 

GRAMPS in San Francisco

GRAMPS travels up North but stays at the West Coast and will screen at the ‘Another Hole in the Head’ Film Festival in San Francisco.

Join us on Saint Nikols Day, for SHORT BLOCK 2,  Saturday, December 6, 2025 12:30 PM at the
Balboa Theater Auditorium 2.

The Another Hole in the Head Film Festival in San Francisco is a three-week celebration of independent cinema spanning science fiction, fantasy, horror, and experimental genres. Now in its 22nd year, the festival runs December 1–25, 2025, at the historic Balboa Theater and also online via Eventive and Zoom, giving both theatrical and virtual selections equal visibility and awards consideration.

Recognized by outlets such as Variety, Fangoria, and the San Francisco Chronicle, it’s considered one of the top-rated genre festivals globally and a valuable platform for indie filmmakers seeking exposure in the nation’s second-largest film market.

GRAMPS at Los Angeles Fantasy Fest

Our zomedy will screen at the Los Angeles Fantasy Fest on November 20th in the short film block “The Unknown Awaits”, starting at 8 PM at the Skiptown Playhouse — an intimate venue in East Hollywood, right in my own neighborhood.

The Los Angeles Fantasy Fest is an international celebration of bold storytelling in animation, horror, thrillers, and sci-fi. Created by the team behind acclaimed festivals in Barcelona, New York, and Sweden, the event brings visionary filmmakers together to showcase imagination without limits.

Focused on the power of short films, the festival highlights inventive work across genres while also welcoming select horror and sci-fi features. From mind-bending sci-fi to chilling horror and dazzling animation, every screening pushes creative boundaries.

This festival offers a close-up cinematic experience for true genre lovers. Join us for a celebration where the unknown meets the fantastic.

GRAMPS in London

GRAMPS will screen at the virtual festival of the SOHO Horror Film Festival from November 27 – 30, 2025.

The Soho Horror Film Festival has spent seven years bringing a fresh, punk-rock edge to UK genre cinema. Known for its intimate, inclusive, and proudly queer approach, it champions independent voices and boundary-pushing horror from around the world.

Each year it hosts three events: Soho Horror Pride, the main Soho Horror Film Festival in London, and Sohome Horror Fest, its fully accessible virtual edition. A true community for horror lovers.