October 2–5, 2026
Chicago Horror Film Festival
Sat, Oct 3 · 1:00 p.m. · Block 2
Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, Chicago
Nicholas Guilak nominated for Best Director
The Last Draft · Festival Campaign
The Last Draft Festival Tour 2026
Four festival wins. Six nominations. A Los Angeles premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
Written, directed, produced by, and starring Nicholas Guilak, The Last Draft is a 12-minute psychological horror thriller and proof of concept for a feature film. An isolated novelist’s struggle with writer’s block becomes a descent into obsession, fractured identity, and the terrifying possibility that his work is writing him back. Built as a deliberate slow burn, its central reversal, emotional escalation, and metafictional payoff arrive in the final four minutes.
4
Festival Wins
6
Nominations
1
Finalist
1
Honorable Mention
Now Screening & Upcoming · Fall 2026
October 3, 2026
New York Science Fiction & Horror Film Festival
Sat, Oct 3 · Festival Program
The Producers Club, New York City
October 7–13, 2026
SOHO International Film Festival
Sat, Oct 10 · 9:10 p.m. · Shorts Program J: Spring Street Series
Regal Union Square, Theater 10, New York City
Official Selection · Eligible for the Audience Award
Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026
GeekFest Film Festival at L.A. Comic Con
Sat, Oct 31 · 12:00 p.m. · Horror Shorts Block 1
Los Angeles Convention Center
Competing in Psychological Thriller
Awards & Recognition
Cotati Shorts Film Festival
Best Horror/Thriller
NoHo CineFest
Best Horror Short
Monza Film Fest
Best Horror-Thriller · Best Visual Effects
Chicago Horror Film Festival
Best Director — Nicholas Guilak
Venice Shorts
Best Short Film · Best Director · Best First-Time Filmmaker
FilmQuest
Best Horror Short
New York CineFest
Best Thriller Short
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
Finalist placement
Hollywood ShortsFest
Honorable Mention
Key Highlights
TCL Chinese Theatre
Presented through the Beverly Hills Film Festival
SOHO International Film Festival
In Exhibition Series · Eligible for the Audience Award
Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market
Listed at the world's leading short film market
Festival Selections, Screenings & Appearances
Across the United States and internationally.
Beverly Hills Film Festival, Los AngelesFilmQuestNew York CineFestPopcorn Frights Film FestivalBlack Cat Picture ShowNoHo CineFestGeekFest Film Fest · Long Beach Comic ConVision Film Festival RomeMediterranean Film Festival Cannes–Milan–AthensVenezia Shorts Italy / Verona International Short Film FestivalCotati Shorts Film FestivalWorldFest-Houston International Film FestivalHollywood ShortsFestMonza Film Fest
The Team
Producer
Ilayda Cetinkaya
Cinematographer
Leo Behrens
Executive Producers
Glenn S. Gainor, Carolina Barcos, Ramin Pourteymour
Composers
Hayley Samm, Mike Forst
Editor
Jimmy Maniglia
Production Designer
Armaan Pujani
VFX Supervisor
Isaac Morhaim
Sound Designer
Matt Tammariello
Post-Production Supervisor
Paige Litfin
Colorist
Walter Volpatto
Every masterpiece demands a sacrifice.
Private screener, proof-of-concept materials, and development materials are available by request for festival programmers, press, representatives, producers, financiers, distributors, and industry collaborators.