MEMORY IS A MIRROR
AFTER THE SUDDEN AND VIOLENT DEATH OF HER ESTRANGED SISTER, AN ACTOR LEAVES LOS ANGELES AND RETURNS TO HER HOMETOWN IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS
(Feature, Drama/Experimental/Noir, 2025)
Distributed by Bulldog Film Distribution
Writer, Producer, & Director: Zeshaan Younus
Producers: Trevor Dillon, Chris Heck, Matt Latham
Director of Photography: Justin Moore
Starring: Renee Gagner, Rosie McDonald, John R. Smith Jnr., Nick Samson, Sydney McCarthy
SCREENINGS
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2025 (Grand Jury Prize, Best Feature)
Montana International Film Festival, 2025 (MINT Spirit Award)
Tucson Film Festival, 2025
SOHO International Film Festival, 2025 (Nominee: Best Lead Performance in a US Feature, Best US Feature)
Twin Cities Film Fest, 2025
Lynchburg Film Festival, 2025 (Lynchburg Film Award)
Yellowstone International Film Festival, 2025
Idaho Film Society, 2025
Sherman Oaks Film Festival, 2025 (Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Grand Jury Awards: Best Drama Feature Film, Best Feature Film Director, Best Feature Film Score, Best Feature Film Sound Design)
Anchorage International Film Festival, 2025 (Jury Award for Outstanding Independent Voice, Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Narrative Feature Film - Renee Gagner)
Chandler International Film Festival, 2026 (People’s Choice Award, Nominee: Best US Narrative Feature, Best Director, Best Actress)
Oxford Film Festival, 2026
Glasgow Film Festival, 2026
MidWest WeirdFest, 2026
Manchester Film Festival, 2026
NEWS
Moviejawn: “…a meditation on grieving our self-destructive loved ones.”
Vague Visages: “…a director in command of his craft.”
Film Threat: “…atmospheric meditation on grief, loss, and guilt.”
A FRIENDSHIP IS TESTED AS TWO WOMEN EXPERIENCE SOMETHING STRANGE IN THE DESERT
(Feature, Drama/Sci-Fi/Found Footage, 2023)
Distributed by Ethos Releasing
Writer, Producer, & Director: Zeshaan Younus
Executive Producers: Greg Newkirk, Emily Bennett, Adrian León, April Wisebaker, Barbara Cooper, Chris M. Johnston, Derek Dillon, Irma Ramirez, J.M. Sommerville, Sarah C. Preston
Producers: Trevor Dillon, Sailor Larocque, Nicholas Thurkettle
Director of Photography: Justin Moore
Starring: Hannah Alline, Jenna Kanell, Natasha Halevi, Michael Sung Ho, Danielle Evon Ploeger, Ariel Barber
SCREENINGS
San Pedro International Film Festival, 2023
Borrego Springs Film Festival, 2024
Chandler International Film Festival, 2024 (Nominee: Best Feature Film)
Oceanside International Film Festival, 2024 (Best Narrative Feature, Best Direction in a Feature, Best Cinematography in a Feature, Best Editing in a Feature | Nominee: Best Feature Screenplay, Best Actress in a Lead Role)
MidWest WeirdFest, 2024 (Palmer d'Or)
Panic Fest, 2024
Chattanooga Film Festival, 2024
Marina del Rey Film Festival, 2024 (Best Cinematography, Feature Film)
Black Sunday Film Festival Midsummer Scream, 2024
Popcorn Frights Film Festival, 2024
Soho Horror Film Festival, 2024
NEWS
Fangoria: Exclusive THE BUILDOUT Poster: Jenna Kanell Stars In Paranormal Found Footage Horror
Bloody Disgusting: ‘The Buildout’ Trailer Invites You on a Genre-Bending Odyssey in the Desert
Rue Morgue: Take a strange trip into the desert with “TERRIFIER” star in “THE BUILDOUT”
Bloody Disgusting: A Stunning, Mystical Odyssey into the Unknown
Dread Central: A Touching and Cosmic Look At Friendship
ScreenAnarchy: Beautiful Meditation on Grief and Friendship
The Blogging Banshee: “A sun-scorched examination of grief and the mysteries of the unknown.”
The Hollywood News: “A classic example of slow burn cinema done right.”
Moviejawn: A slow burn into the unknown
Video Librarian: “A must watch for those who love independent cinema.”
PENITENCE IN A LOS ANGELES HOME
(Short, Experimental, 2022)
Writer & Director: Zeshaan Younus
Producer: Trevor Dillon
Director of Photography: Justin Moore
Starring: Siena Bjornerud
AGES - Jewelry inspired by earth's history, flora, and fauna. Handmade in Philadelphia.
Director & Producer: Zeshaan Younus
Executive Producer: Ali Rae Sanderson
Director of Photography: Justin Moore [Bolex 16mm]
Model: Ariel Barber
A WOMAN EXPERIENCING A STRANGE PHENOMENON SEEKS OUT AN ESOTERIC SUPPORT GROUP
(Short, Sci-Fi, 2019)
Writer & Director: Zeshaan Younus
Producer: Lauren C. Brooks
Director of Photography: Justin Moore
Starring: Scarlett Redmond, Ariel Barber, & Nicholas Thurkettle
SCREENINGS
Borrego Springs Film Festival, 2020
Capital City Film Festival, 2020
Crypticon Seattle Horror Film Festival, 2019
El Dorado Film Festival, 2019
FilmQuest, 2019 (Nominee: Best Sci-Fi Short, Best Supporting Actor in a Short - Nicholas Thurkettle)
Gen Con Film Festival, 2019
H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival, 2019
Horrible Imaginings Film Festival, 2019
Idaho Horror Film Festival, 2019
Indie Memphis Film Festival, 2019
MidWest WeirdFest, 2020 (Best Horror Short)
Nightmares Film Festival, 2019 (Nominee: Best Short Film Director - Zeshaan Younus, Best Writing in a Short Film - Zeshaan Younus, Best Short Film Actor - Nicholas Thurkettle)
Oakland Short Film Festival, 2020 (Best Thriller Short)
Other Worlds Film Festival, 2019
Pasadena International Film Festival, 2020
Splat!FilmFest, 2019
Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival, 2019 (Nominee: Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film)
A COUPLE ENCOUNTERS A PRESENCE IN THE WILDERNESS THAT THEY CANNOT COMPREHEND
(Short, Sci-Fi/Cosmic Horror, 2018)
Writer & Director: Zeshaan Younus
Producer: Lauren C. Brooks
Director of Photography: Nick Ramsey
Starring: Megan Sheetz, Michael Fountain, & Nicholas Thurkettle
OFFICIAL SELECTION
FilmQuest, 2018
Horrible Imaginings Film Festival, 2018
Austin Revolution Film Festival, 2018
H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, 2018
Splat! International Fantastic Film Festival, 2018
The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival, 2019
MidWest WeirdFest, 2019
AWARDS
Best Genre Film of the Year, Austin Revolution Film Festival, 2018
Best Horror Short, MidWest WeirdFest, 2019
