RIVER
Director-screenwriter: Joshua Giuliano
Logline: Three siblings set out to scatter their father’s ashes on a remote river, but the trip turns into a waking nightmare when their boat breaks down and they realize they are being hunted by a faceless killer.
US Distributors: Independent Film Company/Shudder
Panelists: Joshua Giuliano, Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, Max Mattern, Dane DiLiegro
First Screening: Thursday, Sept. 10 at Royal Alexandra Theatre
Key Quote: “For me, it initially came from trying to unpack how complicated family relationships can be. Specifically, it came from multiple anxieties I had whenever I would travel home to visit my family, where you go home, you’re so excited to see your family, but there’s some complicated dynamics. But then I would kind of have these anxiety visions of them dying in horrible ways. And I think that taught me a couple things; that I have anxiety, and also, that I love my family so much, that I just can’t help but imagine what it would be like if they die. Because I know if that would happen, my life would be completely obliterated. And so, this film, in a way, is me infusing that anxiety into a cinematic format.” — Giuliano
Watch the panel video above.
The Deadline Studio at TIFF is hosted at Bisha Hotel and presented by Volvo, Columbia, Patrón and Schwarzkopf.
