Tag: Boris Schaarschmidt

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.

 

GRAMPS at Los Angeles Comedy Film Festival

It was a pleasure presenting GRAMPS at the Los Angeles Comedy Film Festival. Our short played among an amazing lineup, and we enjoyed a nice Q&A afterward. Thanks so much for having us this year!

GRAMPS returns to LA

GRAMPS was busy during the Halloween season, but now returns to LA to screen at the LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival.

Gramps screens on Saturday, November 15, in the shorts program FINDING OUR WAY. The show starts at 5.00 pm and
Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

The LA Comedy Film Festival 2025 will function as a showcase with live, symposium-style screenings.

With over 15 years of experience producing comedy, the organizers behind LACFF know their craft. They previously ran the Chicago Comedy Film Festival for nine successful years before expanding to Los Angeles, responding to filmmakers’ desire for a strong comedy-focused festival in the city.

As filmmakers themselves, they understand how personal each project is and are committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and memorable experience for participants.

The Los Angeles Comedy Film Festival — a film festival for the comedy filmmaker. Let’s have a laugh and join us at 12355 Moorpark St., Los Angeles, CA 91604 for a fun show.

GRAMPS at Bite Night

 GRAMPS will show some teeth at this year’s Bite Night in Portland.

The film will screen on October 24 at Main Studio Works in Portland.

Bite Night’s mission is to make the festival circuit financially accessible to everyone. They’ve built a curated lineup of top horror shorts without the usual paywalls, using their Movie of the Month system to spotlight new talent. Their dedicated team of judges works year-round to give filmmakers the same exposure and opportunities as major festivals — without the high costs.

GRAMPS in Mutant City

GRAMPS stays busy during the Halloween season and will screen on October 19th in Fillmore, California, as part of the Happy Fright Film Festival by Mutant City Horror.

Happy Fright is more than just a film showcase; it’s a live event where horror fans come together to experience creativity through live entertainment, including stand-up comedy, a live band, a horror marketplace, and vendors with a classic arcade pop-up.

Join us at the Fillmore Town Theatre for some scary fun and entertainment.

GRAMPS back in Atlanta

Another great festival for GRAMPS this week. Our Zomedy will screen at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival on Sunday, Octber 19 at 4:30pm in the program Among the Infected Shorts #17!

The event will take place at the Limelight Theater in the Pencil Factory.

The Atlanta HorrorFest is a three-day celebration of all things horror, from jump scares and slow burns to midnight madness and twisted tales. The festival showcases the creepiest, wildest, and most entertaining horror films from around the world, spanning supernatural stories, psychological thrillers, slashers, horror comedies, and everything deliciously bizarre.

GRAMPS travels to Austrian’s Fright Night

GRAMPS is on the move and will scare the audience in Austria on October 23 during Fright Nights – the ultimate festival of fear. The festival is held at the Hollywood Megaplex PlusCity in Linz, Pasching. Gramps screens at 3 pm in Saal 11 in the “Unleash the Underground Thursday” program. Let me know if you plan to attend.

Fright Nights is consistently one of the most popular horror film festivals in Europe, and since 2006, it has awarded the coveted Silver Hand award in several categories.

So if you are in Austria, come and see our short scare on the big screen.