Photosynthesis Films, Microfilm (2020)
Directed by Ryan Cauchi
SYNOPSIS
Nazi-occupied Prague, 1939. A group of German soldiers search for a fugitive Rabbi in the basement of an abandoned synagogue - unaware of the horror awaiting them.
REVIEWS
“Golem by Australian filmmaker Ryan Cauchi is great fun. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing Nazis ripped apart by a Yiddish clay monster? There’s a lot of talented folk working on this one and I love the use of stock footage integrated with the stop-motion creature. ‘Der Golem’ is definitely a character I’d like to see taken on in a feature film. Hell, even I tried that once, but until that happens we have this delightful film to enjoy.” - Alex Proyas, FILMMAKER (THE CROW, DARK CITY)
“I really enjoyed Golem. I loved the little nod to the old Golem film. I love the design, I love the simple glowing lights coming through the clay - that was rather nice. And the ending was rather disturbing - it was the most horrific bit in some ways.” - Dave Kendall, HORROR/FANTASY ARTIST
“Golem doesn’t waste an inch of footage. It starts with claustrophobic horror but then branches out - widens out - into something much bigger and remarkably startling and the switch in tone is particularly imaginative.” - Ramsey Campbell, HORROR WRITER
“My favorite for emotional reasons, for the photography, for the animation, for the historical value was Golem. I thought the acting was quite good, as was the intercutting with the stock footage of World War II.” - Joe Alves, PRODUCTION DESIGNER (JAWS)
SELECT SCREENINGS & AWARDS
St Kilda Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
Revelation Perth International Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
Peninsula Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
Capricorn Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
North Bend Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
Chattanooga Film Festival 2021
Official Selection
New Zealand’s Vision Feast Film Festival 2021
Winner - Best Horror/Thriller
Made in the West 2020
Winner - Best Editor
Nominations - Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematographer, Best Original Score, Best Sound Design
Hellbound Horror Festival 2020
Winner - Judges Pick 2020 - Chosen by Joe Alves
Nomination - Best Film
San Francisco Another Hole in the Head Film Festival 2020
Official Selection
Monsterfest 2020
Official Selection
Knoxville Horror Film Fest 2020
Official Selection
Photosynthesis Films, Microfilm (2018)
Directed by Ryan Cauchi
SYNOPSIS
A young woman's morning is thrown into turmoil, when she awakes to find a vital appendage, missing from her body.
REVIEWS
“Clocking in at exactly 60 seconds, Cut Off is essentially a very well told joke—with an excellent punchline.” - CINEMATARY
“Cut Off, from the directorial skill of Ryan Cauchi, (is) a very short but quite poignant story… As someone who has so far avoided some of the worst perils of the 21st century, I found this little gem quite amusing. I think for millennials, this might be more terrifying.” - Erik Blair, NIGHTMARISH CONJURINGS
“Cut Off is a severely fascinating, well made horror film.” - Mike Messier, AVALONIA FILM FEST
SELECT SCREENINGS/AWARDS
A Night of Horror International Film Festival 2020
Official Selection
New York City Horror Film Festival 2019
Official Selection
Monster Fest 2018
Official Selection
CinefestOz 2018
Official Selection
Fear Fete Horror Film Festival 2018
Nominations - Best Actress in a Micro-Short; Best Micro-Short Cinematography
FilmQuest 2018
Official Selection
Horrible Imaginings Film Festival 2018
Official Selection
Hollywood Horrorfest 2018
Winner - Best Horror Gag
Capricorn Film Festival 2018
Official Selection
Made in the West Film Festival 2018
Nominations - Best Actress, Best Sound Design
Changing Face International Film Festival 2018
Winner - Best Horror
Freshflix 2018
Nominations - The Next Big Thing, Best Sound Design
Photosynthesis Films, TikTok Pilot (2021)
Directed by Ryan Cauchi
SYNOPSIS
MIDNIGHT STORIES is a 1-minute anthology series for TikTok, which adapts ghost stories, creepy folklore and urban legends for a young adult audience. The pilot episode 'Morgan' is a modern retelling of the "Vanishing Hitchhiker" urban legend.
ACCOLADES
The pilot received an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the "Got a Minute" initiative from Screen Australia, SPA and TikTok, and screened at the 2021 Screen Forever conference.
"15 Second Horror Film Challenge" 2020 Entry
Directed by Ryan Cauchi
SCREENINGS/AWARDS
15 Second Horror Film Challenge 2020
Official Selection
”Nikki” was placed 7th out of 75 international finalists in the 2020 edition of the 15 Second Horror Film Challenge.
Voted by genre actors Kansas Bowling (Sandra “Blue” Good in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood…”); Simon Bamford (Butterball in the “Hellraiser” series); Geretta Geretta (Lamberto Bavi’s “Demons”); Barbie Wilde (the “Hellraiser” series); Hannah Fierman (“V/H/S”); Jenna Kanell (“Terrifer”); and Jennilee Murray (“Smash Cut”).
"15 Second Horror Film Challenge" 2019 Entry
Directed by Ryan Cauchi
SCREENINGS/AWARDS
The 300 Seconds Short Film Festival 2020
Winner - Best 15-Second Story
15 Second Horror Film Challenge 2019
Official Selection
”AgeMe™” was placed 23rd out of 370+ international finalists in the 2019 edition of the 15 Second Horror Film Challenge.
Voted by Maura Stephens, Mark Torgl (Melvin Fred in “The Toxic Avenger”), Spooky Astronauts (horror content creator), Daniel Simmonds (blogger at The Rotting Zombie), Bill Oberst Jr. (“3 From Hell”, “Circus of the Dead”) and Indie Horror review site, Lestat Horror.
“15 Second Horror Film Challenge” 2018 Entry
Directed by Ryan Cauchi
“Fingers” appeared on the following Top 10 lists: “Top Artistic Film” (by Maura Stephens), “Best Body Horror” (by Horrifyou) and “Scariest Monster” (by Heidi Moore).
"15 Second Horror Film Challenge" 2017 Entry
Directed by Ryan Cauchi
REVIEWS
“A few of the films stood out due to the stylish way they were made, in particular If You’re Happy and You Know It… that excelled with its nifty editing and fake vintage grain.” - Daniel Simmonds, THE ROTTING ZOMBIE
“If You’re Happy and You Know It… is reminiscent of some old horrors like I Don’t Want To Be Born, hinting at metamorphosis and - yep - demonic young ‘uns.” - Keri O’Shea, WARPED PERSPECTIVE
SCREENINGS/AWARDS
The 300 Seconds Short Film Festival 2018
Official Selection
15 Second Horror Film Challenge 2017
Official Selection - Top 20
"If You're Happy And You Know It..." was placed 9th out of 300 entries in the 2017 edition of the 15 Second Horror Film Challenge.
Voted by Barbie Wilde (the Female Cenobite in "Hellraiser II"), Jill "Sixx" Gevargizian, Crypticon Seattle, Adam Marcus ("Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday"), Laurence R. Harvey (Martin in "The Human Centipede 2"), William Butler ("Friday the 13th Part VII", "Night of the Living Dead", "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III"), Mark Torgl (Melvin in "The Toxic Avenger), Bonnie Aarons (the demon nun in "The Conjuring 2" and "The Nun") and Maureen Stephens.
Photosynthesis Films, Short Film (2014)
Directed by Ryan Cauchi and Nick Stathopoulos
"I grew up obsessed with Universal’s Classic Monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man), the original KING KONG, the Hammer Horror films and Ray Harryhausen’s entire body of work. IT GROWS! is my love-letter to all of these. It combines my enthusiasm for practical effects with an unashamed love for tacky horror and B-grade schlock."
SYNOPSIS
Zac (Nick Stathopoulos) has a problem. He suffers from 'cyberchondria' - he contracts every disease he ever reads about online. His long-suffering girlfriend Jan (Catriona Sparks) has had enough. But that's not his only problem. Something is growing in his garden... and it's growing fast! Is it just a cute little plant, or could it be the harbinger of something more sinister? Can Zac and his trusty canine companion Rip, nip it in the bud before it's too late, or will they be pushing up daisies before it's through?
REVIEWS
“It Grows! is a fun old-school B-movie monster mash that proves that when it comes to putting a grin on my face, you can’t beat the Aussies. Filled with monsters and plant poop and a shout out to Mad Max 2 (1981), this makes me a happy Steve.” - Steve Ronquillo, WENG’S CHOP
“Their love and understanding of the genre couldn’t be more evident. More references and sly winks than you can possibly get on one viewing, and extremely well made to boot.” - CJ Johnson, MOVIELAND
"A light-hearted, fun, goofy movie." - Forest & Cory, SLAUGHTERFILM
SELECT SCREENINGS/AWARDS
G-FEST XXII 2015
Official Selection
Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival 2015
Official Selection
Fantastic Planet: Sydney Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival 2015
Official Selection
Aurealis Awards 2015
Nominated - The Convenors’ Award for Excellence
Salty Horror International Film Festival 2014
Winner - Best Editing
Knoxville Horror Film Festival 2014
Official Selection
Buried Alive! Horror Film Festival 2014
Official Selection
Halloweenapalooza 2014
Official Selection
Fargo Fantastic Film Festival 2014
Official Selection
Macabre Faire Film Festival 2014
Official Selection
Eerie Horror Film Festival 2014
Official Selection
