Hush (2016 short film)

Hush
Poster
Directed byMichael Lewis Foster
Written byMichael Lewis Foster
Produced by
Starring
  • Rachel Barker
  • Luke Bedsole
  • Eric Casalini
  • Ghadir Mounib
CinematographyDavid Jester
Edited byMichael Lewis Foster
Music byAlex E. McDaniel
Production
company
Slanted View Pictures
Distributed by
Release date
  • March 20, 2016 (2016-03-20)
Running time
26 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10,000

Hush is a 2016 horror drama short film written and directed by Michael Lewis Foster. The film stars Rachel Barker, Luke Bedsole, Eric Casalini and Ghadir Mounib. It screened at San Diego International Film Festival and Catalina Film Festival and won awards at Oceanside International Film Festival and Horrible Imaginings Film Festival. The film was distributed by Seed&Spark and Bloody Disgusting.

Plot

Sadie is trying her best to be Caleb’s mother, but he makes life impossible to raise a child.

Cast

  • Rachel Barker as Sadie
  • Luke Bedsole as Caleb
  • Eric Casalini as J.J. McQuade
  • Ghadir Mounib as J. Braddock[1]

Production

The film was made in San Diego[2][3] and directed by Michael Foster.[4] In an interview at MovieMaker Magazine, Foster claimed to have drawn inspiration for Hush from the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting.[5]

Release

Hush premiered at the San Diego International Film Festival.[6][7][8] It later screened as part of the New York No Limits Film Series,[9] Catalina Film Festival,[10] Chicago Horror Film Festival,[11] NewFilmmakers LA,[1] Hollywood Just 4 Shorts and was distributed by Seed&Spark[12] and Bloody Disgusting.[13] It screened virtually at Oceanside International Film Festival’s Ten Year Reprise in 2021 as part of the festival’s best films of 2017.[14]

Reception

Hush was featured among a panel of filmmakers at the premiere of Our Barrio, an event hosted by the IntelleXual Podcast at the Museum of Photographic Arts.[15][16] Foster later represented the film at a panel for San Diego Comic-Con.[4] The film was recommended by KPBS’ Cinema Junkie at Horrible Imaginings Film Festival.[17]

Critical response

Film critic Scott Marks at San Diego Reader calls the film a "dark, beautifully made, and brutally honest bouncing-baby short."[2] Timothy Rawles at San Diego Gay and Lesbian News said the “structure of the story is put together with many uncomfortable and unexpected solutions.”[1][12]

Accolades

Festival Year Award Recipient(s) Result Ref.
HorrorHaus Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Rachel Barker Won [18]
Best Young Actor Luke Bedsole Won
Nightmares Film Festival 2017 Best Actress Short Rachel Barker Nominated [19][20]
Best Actor Short Luke Bedsole Nominated
Oceanside International Film Festival 2017 Best Picture Michael Foster Won [21][22]
Horrible Imaginings Film Festival 2017 Best San Diego Film Hush Won [3][23]
Best Shorts Competition 2016 Award of Recognition – Film Short Michael Foster Won [24]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Hush" (PDF). NewFilmmakers LA. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  2. ^ a b Marks, Scott (2016-04-05). "A Hush falls over San Diego". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  3. ^ a b Accomando, Beth (2017-09-22). "Horrible Imaginings And 'Uncharted Regions'". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  4. ^ a b "SAM Guests and Program Participants". San Diego Comic-Con. 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  5. ^ De Lillo, Danny (2017-11-17). NewFilmmakers LA: Uriel Brito, Adam Gold, Andy Koeger, Ghadir Mounib & Michael Lewis Foster. MovieMaker Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  6. ^ "San Diego International Film Festival Announces Full Festival Line-Up For September 27-October 2 Incarnation | Save On Passes & Enter To Win Tickets". SanDiegoVille. 2016-09-03. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  7. ^ Accomando, Beth (2016-09-28). "Newly Rebranded San Diego International Film Festival Kicks Off Tonight". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  8. ^ Cavassuto, Maria (2016-08-30). "San Diego Film Festival Announces Full 2016 Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  9. ^ "New York No Limits Film Series". The Wild Project. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  10. ^ "Wes Craven - Catalina Film Institute & Festival". Catalina Film Festival. 2016-10-11. Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  11. ^ "2017 Season 18". Chicago Horror Fest. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  12. ^ a b "Hush | Seed&Spark". Seed&Spark. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  13. ^ Bloody Bites - Bloody Disgusting presents the short horror film "Hush.". Roku. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  14. ^ "The Best of OIFF 2017 | OIFF Reprise - Best Of 2017 | OIFF Ten Year Reprise". Eventive. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  15. ^ ""Our Barrio" Private Screening & Filmmakers Event". Eventbrite. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  16. ^ Our Barrio Premiere Night - San Diego Filmmakers Highlight - IX 0104, retrieved 2022-07-10
  17. ^ Accomando, Beth (2017-09-07). "Horrible Imaginings Film Festival Embraces The Darkness For 8th Year". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  18. ^ "Check out the award-winning films of HorrorHaus Film Festival 2017". The Film Festivals portal. 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  19. ^ "2017 Festival". Nightmares Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  20. ^ "The "Cannes of Horror" Unveils 2017 Award Nominees". iHorror. 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  21. ^ "2017 Highlights". Oceanside International Film Festival. 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  22. ^ "2017 Oceanside International Film Festival Winners". OsideNews. 2017-08-16. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  23. ^ "2017 Awards | Horrible Imaginings". Horrible Imaginings Film Festival. 2017-09-14. Archived from the original on 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  24. ^ "Award of Recognition November 2016". Best Shorts Competition. Retrieved 2022-06-28.