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AWARDS & PRESS

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Last Orders (2021)

"...an extremely entertaining watch especially if you are an avid horror fan like me. The best horrors play on the audiences’ emotional response to certain scenes and tease you with a non-scary scene when you were expecting a jump scare or blood coming down the walls. Jon James Smith is certainly familiar with this horror technique and tantalises our horror taste buds with these kinds of shots. [...] Last Orders is a great film to curl up on the sofa to and hide yourself behind a blanket with its creepy characters and atmospheric sounds."

UK Film Review

"Throughout Last Orders, Smith plays with the audiences’ expectations to keep us guessing how this story will end. [...] Smith understands the genre and what works well within it and utilises this knowledge to make a well-paced film. [...] Smith is certainly a director to keep your eyes on and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!

London Horror Society

"Last Orders has a constant feeling of dread that permeates the film and a tension that deliciously runs from start to end. It is creepy, suspenseful, anxiety-inducing edge-of-your-seat stuff that leaves you guessing for its entirety [...] Last Orders feels nothing like its indie cousins and more like a masterwork in comparison. It is, for all intents and purposes, a beautifully crafted short film. [...] It is a wonderful short film with a clever narrative and a twist ending, meticulously pieced together through a labour of love"

Nevermore-Horror.com

"Watching Last Orders, the new short film from Jon James Smith, I couldn’t help but wonder what his first full-length feature might be like? I say that because based on what I watched in Last Orders I would anticipate something great, or at the very least, ambitious. Last Orders is first a magnificent horror short... What I got from it was a great story with some ambiguity (for the better), all wrapped in tidy little short that is ominous from start to finish... Last Orders lives in the horror that burns slow and breathes atmosphere as a horror short."

HorrorFacts.com

"...an intriguing premise that establishes a mystery that you can’t wait to get to the bottom of... The story is brought to life by the excellent, realistic performances from the leads and exquisite, professional production values that make the world feel truly lived in...  incredible amount of talent on display..."

SickFlix.net

"Of course, a stage is nothing without the actors who portray the story, and in this regard, Last Orders also delivers... Last Orders is 21 minutes of quiet, ominous British horror. It’s the sort of thing that seems to nestle lovingly into the darkest hours of the evening, when the mundane world is blanketed by night and the people that are still awake are left alone with their thoughts and fears... I’d say it’s well worth checking out."

Casey-Douglass.com

AWARDS
  • GRAND JURY PRIZE - BEST HORROR SHORT, Film Invasion LA 2022
  • OUTSTANDING HORROR DIRECTOR (Filmmakers Award), Film Invasion LA 2022
  • OUTSTANDING HORROR SCREENPLAY (Filmmakers Award), Film Invasion LA 2022
  • OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, CAST - HORROR (Filmmakers Award), Film Invasion LA 2022
  • SKULLY'S CHOICE AWARD (Best of Fest), The London Horror Society Indie Film Showcase, 2022
  • BEST DIRECTOR - SHORT FILM, The International Horror Hotel 2022
  • BEST DIRECTOR (3rd Place), Lit Scares International Horror Festival 2022
  • BEST HORROR SHORT, London International Short Film Festival 2022
  • BEST SHORT SUSPENSE-THRILLER, The International Horror Hotel 2022
  • BEST HORROR SHORT, Hollywood Just4Shorts, January 2022
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, The British Horror Film Festival 2022
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, LA Crime & Horror Film Festival 2022
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, Los Angeles International Horror Film Festival 2022
  • BEST EDITING IN HORROR, Dickens Horror Film Festival 2022
  • BEST SOUND DESIGN, End of Days Film Festival 2022
  • BEST PRODUCER, Lit Scares International Horror Festival 2022
  • HONORABLE MENTION, Spring HorrorHound Film Festival 2022
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, Maverick Movie Awards 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST MUSIC, Maverick Movie Awards 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST FILM MADE ON A RESTRICTED BUDGET, WildINDiE Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival 2022 (Runner Up)
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, WildINDiE Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival 2022 (Honorary Mention)
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, HorrorHaus Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST ORIGINAL SCORE, HorrorHaus Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST DIRECTOR, The British Horror Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • THE BRITISH HORROR AWARD, The British Horror Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST SHORT FILM, The British Horror Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST MUSIC, The British Horror Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST ACTOR - Alastair Parker, The British Horror Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Steven Elder, The British Horror Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST SHORT DIRECTOR, Chicago Horror Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST ACTOR - Alastair Parker & Steven Elder, Lit Scares International Horror Film Festival 2022 (Finalists)
  • BEST DIRECTING, Days of the Dead Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST SHORT, Days of the Dead Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST ACTOR - Alastair Parker, Days of the Dead Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST FILM, End of Days Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST HORROR, End of Days Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST DIRECTOR, End of Days Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, End of Days Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST MALE ACTOR - Alastair Parker, End of Days Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR - Steven Elder, End of Days Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST THRILLER FILM, Yellow Fever International Film Festival 2022 (Nominated)
  • BEST THRILLER, SHORT FILM, Sunday Shorts Film Festival 2023 (Nominated)
  • SEMI-FINALIST, ZedFest Film Festival 2022
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Romford Horror Film Festival 2022 ● ZedFest Film Festival 2022 ● Maverick Movie Awards 2022 ● Videodrunk Film Festival 2022 ● 6ix Screams International Horror Film Festival 2022 ● British Horror Film Festival 2022 ● Los Angeles Horror Film Festival 2022 ● HorrorHaus Film Festival ● International Horror Film Festival and Awards “DROP” 2022 ● Nightmares Film Festival 2022 ● FANtastic Horror Film Festival 2022 ● Shockfest Film Festival 2022 ● Dickens Horror Film Festival 2022 ● Fargo Fantastic Film Festival 2022 ● HorrOrigins Film Festival 2022 ● The Magic of Horror 2022 ● Spook Screen Film Festival 2022 ● Chicago Horror Film Festival 2022 ● Wild Indie Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival 2022 ● Lit Scares International Horror Festival 2022 ● LA International Horror Film Festival 2022 ● Yellow Fever Indie Film Festival 2022 ● Days of the Dead Film Festival 2022 ● Oregon Screams Horror Film Festival 2022 ● London International Short Film Festival 2022 ● Film Invasion Los Angeles 2022 ● Los Angeles Crime and Horror Film Festival 2022 ● The International Horror Hotel 2022 ● End of Days Film Festival 2022 ● Crypticon Seattle Horror Film Festival 2022 ● Spring HorrorHound Rewind 2022 ● The London Horror Society Indie Film Showcase 2022 ● MystiCon Independent Film Festival 2022 ● Sunday Shorts Film Festival 2022 ● 'Judges' Select' London Lift-Off Film Festival 2021

Oregon Screams festival director Mikel Fair interviews Jon James Smith about LAST ORDERS.

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Rangda (2020) - Feature Screenplay

"...it really leans into the emotional honesty of an authentic family enduring a crisis.
...a central dramatic familial issue that is enhanced by the horror element
...the exotic and tropical setting of Bali, juxtaposes what could otherwise be a heavenly paradise with a much darker and more sinister sensibility."

- Screencraft

  • SEMIFINALIST - Screencraft Competition 2020

Shriekfest Commercial Winner 2016 Jon Ja
Shriekfest Commercial (2016)

"Jon James Smith's 2016 Winning Shriekfest Commercial captures exactly what Shriekfest is all about... following your dreams! Jon did an amazing job showing how a dream can turn into a reality with hard work! We are honored to have this awesome commercial!"

- Denise Gossett, Festival Founder & Director

  • ​1st PLACE - WINNER of the Shriekfest Commercial Competition, and screened as part of the 16th Annual Shriekfest Film Festival in Los Angeles.

  • Screened at Scare LA 2017

  • Screened at Midsummer Scream LA 2017

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Do Not Disturb (2015)

"Seemingly every scene is a twist that dramatically shifts your opinions and predictions of the plot. Every line of dialogue, camera movement, or cut could potentially reveal new and astonishing information. Every sudden storyshift also leads to subtle, but clever, change in genre. [...] It is a perfect example of how to reveal the exact amount of information in a scene needed for the scene to work."

- UK Film Review

"...this is tautly plotted; not a word of dialogue, not a shot or edit is wasted in telling us an actually quite complex story... It's Jon James Smith's attention to detail that really impresses... hugely recommended. MJS rating: A"

- MJ Simpson

 

"Really thrilling and suspenseful stuff" - Film Shortage

 

"This looks and feels like it could be taken right out of a big budget Hollywood blockbuster thriller... If you get an opportunity to see this film please take it. You'll be glad you did. Strong recommend."

- ScareTissue

 

"...a beautifully crafted story and film unfold. Shot confidently and with an eye for flair, Director Smith never wastes a moment... Jon James Smith has crafted a clever and gripping film that made me want to see more than the 14 minutes given. His creative team and talent should be proud of this little gem and all the recent accolades are well deserved. I look forward to Mr Smith's future works"

- UK Horror Scene

"a compelling piece, composed of endless twists, turns and red herrings. Expertly shot, with keen focus and attention to detail [...] Smiths’ work is undoubtedly engaging- catching the viewer from the very first moments of screen time. The piece also employs interesting characters, compelling details, passion, and yes, even the occasional chuckle."

- FestivalReviews.org

  • PLATINUM REMI AWARD, WorldFest-Houston 2016 (Winner)

  • BEST NARRATIVE SHORT, Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood 2015 (Winner)

  • BEST MUSIC, British Horror Film Festival 2015 (Winner)

  • TRAILER OF THE WEEK, Awardeo (Winner)

  • BEST ACTRESS - Kathryn Leeman, Chicago Horror Film Festival 2016 (Nominated)

  • BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Richard Shelton, Chicago Horror Film Festival 2016 (Nominated)

  • BEST SHORT FILM, HorrorHound Weekend 2016 (Nominated)

  • BEST SHORT, British Horror Film Festival 2015 (Nominated)

  • BEST DIRECTOR, British Horror Film Festival 2015 (Nominated)

  • BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Richard Shelton, British Horror Film Festival 2015 (Nominated)

  • BEST OF SHORT FILM Official Selection - Horror/Thriller Feedback Film Festival, Toronto 2016

  • OFFICIAL SELECTION - Shockfest Film Festival 2021 ● HorrorHaus Film Festival 2021 ● Chicago Horror Film Festival 2016 ● London Independent Film Festival 2016 ● WorldFest-Houston 2016 ● HorrorHound Weekend - Cincinnati 2016 ● Los Angeles CineFest 2016 ● Thriller/Suspense Festival 2016 ● Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood 2015 ● British Horror Film Festival 2015 ● Russian International Horror Film Festival 2016 ● Horror-on-Sea 2016 ● Factory Film Festival - Bournemouth 2015

  • Member of the Indie Filmmaker Panel at HorrorHound Weekend 2016

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Spira (2012)

''This is the very impressive directorial debut of Jon James Smith. It is a disturbing, unsettling, well shot horror film that was made on a zero budget.''

- LiveForFilms.com

 

''It's a good concept that is very well executed by Smith who has a great eye for framing and mood but Spira is particularly memorable for Hephzibah Roe's excellent performance as Laura and Smith's own sound design which is remarkably effective. This is an impressive debut.''

- QuietEarth.us

 

''a genuinely unsettling thriller that is incredibly impressive given that it was shot without a budget by a first time director.''

- geekartgallery.blogspot.co.uk

 

''a psychological horror thriller that captivates.''

- CinemaCarnival.ca

  • BRITISH HORROR AWARD, British Horror Film Festival 2013 (Nominated)

  • BEST SHORT FILM, British Horror Film Festival 2013 (Nominated)

  • BEST ACTRESS, British Horror Film Festival 2013 (Nominated)

  • OFFICIAL SELECTION - British Horror Film Festival 2013, The Rocky Horror Picture Show Florida 2013, Cornwall Horror Fest 2015

  • Screened at The Seoul International Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival 2014

  • Screened at Empire Cinemas in Leicester Square London

  • Screened at Cinema Carnival: Frightmares in Winnipeg, MB, Canada 2015

  • In-Cahoots Film Screening, Brixton, London

  • Featured on io9.com

  • Featured on the Chilling Tales For Dark Nights website and YouTube channel

  • Featured on the National Youth Film Academy Top5 TV series, and the Top5 greatest hits special episode

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