FILM DIRECTOR & SCREENWRITER
BABUSHKA (2025)
Starring:
Hayley McFarland (The Conjuring, Lie To Me)
Quinn Aune (Scarpetta)
Richard Shelton (My Week With Marilyn)
Paul Sinacore (Pam & Tommy)
Through a narrative structured like a BABUSHKA doll, a Detective investigates the gruesome murder of a young child and the missing mother.
As we go inside the story, inside the past, we learn what happened. Annie is a loving but traumatized mother, desperate to protect her young daughter from the horror she experienced as a child herself. Nightmares of her past and terrifying visions cast doubt as to whether Annie is merely haunted by trauma, or something more real.
When they find an old BABUSHKA doll in the attic, the past and evil entities are unleashed as the dolls incarnate. Something at the center is waiting to be unleashed to continue the cycle of trauma.
We are currently seeking partners to develop BABUSHKA into a feature and franchise.
For inquiries please email jonjsmith@live.com or taylorlawrence@thornydevilproductions.com
CAST
Hayley McFarland Quinn Aune Taylor Lawrence Richard Shelton Paul Sinacore Samantha Desman Daniel Joo Lorin McCraley Bourke Floyd Mushond Lee Julie Meghan Brown Zone Sheats William Sibley Rachel Murphy
THORNY DEVIL PRODUCTIONS & FIVE-TOOL PLAYER PRODUCTIONS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Paul Sinacore Jon James Smith Kim Planert Cheryl Wright
PRODUCERS Taylor Lawrence Paul Sinacore
WRITER & DIRECTOR Jon James Smith
COMPOSER Kim Planert
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Robin Webster
CASTING DIRECTOR Paul Sinacore C.S.A
PRODUCTION DESIGNER O.J. Hansen
COSTUME DESIGNER Swinda Reichelt
MAKE-UP ARTIST Kyrsta Morehouse
EDITORS William Long & Jon James Smith
SOUND DESIGNER Stewart Dugdale
AWARDS
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ASSG AWARD NOMINATION FOR BEST SOUND FOR SHORT FORM CONTENT, Australian Screen Sound Guild 2025
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GRAND JURY PRIZE - BEST HORROR FEATURETTE, Film Invasion LA 2025
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GRAND JURY PRIZE - BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, Film Invasion LA 2025
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GRAND JURY PRIZE - BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN, Film Invasion LA 2025
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GRAND JURY AWARD - BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - FEATURETTE, Sherman Oaks Film Festival 2025
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BEST DRAMA, Melbourne Underground Film Festival 2025
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SEMI-FINALIST, Zed Fest Film Festival 2025
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BEST FILM, Vancouver Horror Show 2025 (nominated)
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BEST DIRECTOR, Vancouver Horror Show 2025 (nominated)
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BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE - HAYLEY MCFARLAND, Vancouver Horror Show 2025 (nominated)
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BEST SOUND, Vancouver Horror Show 2025 (nominated)
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BEST VISUAL EFFECTS, Vancouver Horror Show 2025 (nominated)
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BEST PRACTICAL EFFECTS, Vancouver Horror Show 2025 (nominated)
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BEST SCARE, Vancouver Horror Show 2025 (nominated)
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HONORABLE MENTION, MystiCon Independent Film Festival 2025
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HONORABLE MENTION, Buried Alive Film Festival 2025