Wonderful news! As we geared up for Halloween, we shared a first look at a short film from Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween lineup, Snatched. The short stars Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law) in her first on-screen role with husband Brendan Hines (Locke & Key) and Misha Osherovich (Freaky) as their son. The wonderful news is, it’s now been snatched up for the festival circuit! Writer/director Michael Schwartz’s short follows a 15-year-old boy as he fights for his life when he comes out as gay, and his parents react with otherworldly acceptance. “I call Snatched ‘Disco Horror.’ It was made for a packed audience watching the biggest screen possible,” says Writer/Director Michael Schwartz. “I’m thankful to 20th Digital Studio for supporting our festival run, and excited to hit the road with members of our cast and crew to screen the film at festivals around the world.”
Producer Nilou Safinya adds, “Snatched is a rollercoaster of a film. We’ve seen firsthand how it provokes big thrills, outrageous laughter and meaningful conversation, prompting us to question what actions make us the most powerful allies. We can’t wait for audiences around the world to experience this unique and wild story on the big screen.”
The festival run of Snatched kicks off with Cinequest’s virtual festival, Cinejoy, running March 1-12. Tickets can be purchased HERE. Snatched will then screen in competition during Cinequest’s Oscar-qualifying in-person festival, running August 11-20 in Silicon Valley. Snatched will also play The Overlook Film Festival, one of the world’s premiere horror festivals, March 30-April 2, live in New Orleans. For details, visit OverlookFilmFest.com. Check out our interview with Michael Schwartz and Misha Osherovich right here, and read on for more about Snatched and the journey to the screen.
Legendary movie producer and former President of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Sid Ganis, was so enthralled by the script that he and his wife Nancy not only came on board as Consulting Producers, but cameo as alien neighbors in the film as well. “Michael Schwartz is one of the most exciting up-and-coming filmmakers out there,” Sid says. “Snatched is both wild and deeply poignant. We got involved because we want to help rebalance the world. Snatched is so off-balance that it’s right smack on balance! We need more films like this in the world today.” Sid is a trustee of the new Academy Museum in Los Angeles.
The Snatched team includes Producer Nilou Safinya (Gotham Award Winner), Executive Producer Valerie Steinberg (Sundance winner Hair Wolf, Camera d’Or winner War Pony at Cannes), and Executive Producers David Worthen, Jenna Cavelle and Arbi Pedrossian from 20th Digital Studio.
Follow writer/director Michael Schwartz on Instagram and Twitter @BoatAshore for the latest updates, including details on how to get free tickets to Snatched’s Virtual Premiere Party on March 9th, where fans can meet and ask questions of the cast and creative team from the film.
