CHICAGO, IL — June 2026 — Dark Monarch Films is proud to announce that Where the Shadows Wait received two major honors at the 2026 Crown Point International Film Festival Best of Fest Awards, taking home Best Director for Riley Robbins and Best Supporting Actor for Jonathan Stephens. The awards were presented during the festival’s […]
Dark Monarch Films has officially released the teaser for PARTY, a new psychological horror project that explores tension, paranoia, and the unseen forces that shape human behavior. The teaser marks the first public look at the film’s tone and world — offering a glimpse into a story driven by unease, emotional intensity, and a creeping
Dark Monarch Films’ short thriller Where The Shadows Wait has advanced to the 2026 IndieX Film Fest Annual Awards Long List, selected from 2,195 films across 53 countries. The 16-minute short, produced by David Alexander and directed by Riley Robbins, continues to build momentum through festival recognition for its disciplined direction, atmospheric tension, and grounded
Some projects announce themselves quietly. PARTY didn’t. This teaser was about energy, trust, and pressure—what happens when a room fills up, when the music gets loud, and when control starts to slip. We wanted the behind‑the‑scenes process to reflect that same tension: fast decisions, lean resources, and a crew locked in on one goal—make something
One of the biggest myths in film and media is that independent creators and big studios are playing entirely different games. They’re not. The difference isn’t what we’re doing — it’s scale. That’s the part people rarely say out loud. @darkmonarchfilms Once you have an audience and a way to reach them, you’re not
Let’s clear something up. Film festivals are tools, not finish lines. Somewhere along the way, filmmakers were taught that festivals are about premieres, packed theaters, and industry discovery. That can happen — but for most independent filmmakers, that expectation becomes a trap. You end up measuring your worth by selections instead of leverage. Here’s how
Momentum doesn’t always come with a screening. We’re honored to share that Where The Shadows Wait has received an Honorable Mention at the Macoproject Film Festival 2025. While the film was not selected for screening, the recognition itself matters. It’s an acknowledgment of the work’s strength, originality, and creative promise—and a reminder that progress in
Dark Monarch Films is proud to announce that Where The Shadows Wait has won Best Thriller and Best Cinematography at the Slash Eyes International Film Festival (2025). The festival recognizes bold and visually distinctive work in independent and genre filmmaking, and we’re honored to have the film acknowledged in both storytelling and craft. About the
Dark Monarch Films is honored to receive an Award of Excellence – Special Jury Mention at Indie Short Fest, held in Los Angeles, for our short film Where The Shadows Wait. Indie Short Fest is known for highlighting bold independent voices and story-driven filmmaking, and we’re grateful to have the work recognized by the jury
Today marks a shift — not just for me, but for the entire Dark Monarch Films ecosystem. For the past year, everything I’ve been building has been about momentum: creating it, sustaining it, and showing filmmakers what’s possible when you stop waiting for permission and start shaping your own path. The short film success, the
