We are proud to announce that Where The Shadows Wait has won Best Thriller Short and Best Cinematography at the Cal Film Festival in Los Angeles.
This marks another major moment in our journey — not only because L.A. is one of the most competitive and diverse filmmaking hubs in the world, but because this festival specifically champions bold visual storytelling and emerging creative voices. Winning in both thriller storytelling and cinematography highlights the core strengths of our film: tension, atmosphere, and a visual language that pulls audiences into a world they can’t look away from.
This recognition is a testament to the incredible work of our team.
Director Riley Robbins delivered a relentless and emotionally layered vision.
Cinematographer Cory Burmester crafted a visual style that is now being celebrated on a national stage.
And the entire crew brought a level of precision and intensity that shaped every frame.
Awards like these validate what we already felt during production — that Where The Shadows Wait is more than a short thriller. It’s a statement. It’s a blueprint for the kind of stories Dark Monarch Films aims to tell: atmospheric, character-driven, and unapologetically cinematic.
Thank you to the Cal Film Festival for recognizing our work. With every selection and every award, the film continues to build momentum — and we’re just getting started.