When Phoenix filmmaker Shanna Fujii set out to make a short film inspired by the Japanese folklore of the futakuchi-onna she enlisted Foxtrot X-Ray to help her execute the visual effects for the film. This entailed a close collaboration between VFX Supervisor Paul DeNigris and Make-Up Artist Amber Revae to bring the futakuchi-onna to life. Revae created a latex mask for the creature, which was then manipulated in post by DeNigris to bring it further to life, adding a wagging tongue, dripping saliva, and jaw articulation.

The film has been winning awards on the festival circuit, including the Golden Award for Best Thriller at the Tokyo Film Awards and an Award of Merit for Asian and Women Filmmakers categories at the Indie Film Fest. And the festival run continues at both Phoenix Film Festival and the concurrently-run International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival, meaning the film screens 6 times in the next two weeks!

Phoenix Film Festival

Asian American Pacific Islander Directed Shorts A

Saturday, March 25 at 7:30pm

Sunday, March 26 at 9:00am

Monday, March 27 at 4:35pm

International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival

Horror Shorts A

Friday, March 24 at 9:35pm

Friday, March 31 at 1:25pm

Sunday, April 2 at 11:05am

Tickets (or festival passes) may be purchased at the Phoenix Film Festival website.