Hyphen is BACK for some SPOOKY SHORT FILMS by local, Dallas-based filmmakers! Co-Curated by Joel Mendez-Zarate & Christina Hahn. RSVP link in bio! (In order to accommodate more folks, we will be screening this block TWICE!)
Screening Schedule:
8 PM -8:45 PM - First Screening
8:45 PM - 9:15 PM - Directors’ Q&A
9:15-10 PM - Second Screening
The Lineup:
“Predator” (7 min) by Jacob Mejia - PhD biology students and ex-lovers, Oliver and Vega, reunite for a field study in a remote Texas forest. Their research of rabbit migration takes a dark turn when they uncover signs of an unseen predator stalking the wildlife. As the threat escalates, they must face the danger outside, and the unresolved tension between them.
“Smoke Cheyyaku Bro (Don’t Smoke Bro)” (13 min) by Prithvi Raj Karreddula - Anirudh, devastated by job loss, finds comfort in the advice of gas station clerk Sai Santosh. But when a seemingly innocent whistled tune triggers a sudden emotional outburst, the night takes an unexpected turn.
“The Fatal Egg” (17:20 min) by Joel Mendez-Zarate - A man tries to make an egg for breakfast, the universe has other plans.
The Filmmakers:
Jacob Mejia is a Latino filmmaker based in Fort Worth, TX. He has written several narrative scripts, filmed numerous unscripted multi-cam short docs, and recently directed his first independent horror short film.
Prithvi Raj Karreddula is a South Asian filmmaker based in Texas whose work spans writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. His films explore layered human emotions, often placing characters in morally complex or emotionally charged situations. His Telugu-language short Smoke Cheyyaku Bro won the Best Texas Short Award at DIFF Shorts 2024 and the Audience Choice Award at Indie Meme Film Festival 2025, gaining recognition for its darkly comedic tone and precise technical craft. His drama Learning Not to Drown screened at major festivals including the Burbank International Film Festival, Soho International Film Festival, and the International South Asian Film Festival (Canada).Through his films, Prithvi continues to push genre boundaries—moving from intimate drama to dark comedy, crime, and mystery—while maintaining a consistent emotional core. His approach combines cinematic realism with elevated visual and sound design, often blending Telugu and English storytelling to reflect his cross-cultural experience as an Indian-born, Texas-based filmmaker. He is drawn to stories that deal with identity, fear, and human connection, and his work aims to represent South Asian voices in a way that feels universal, grounded, and visually distinctive.
Joel Mendez-Zarate is an artist, filmmaker, and game designer based in Dallas, Texas. Born in The Bronx to parents from Mexico City, Joel grew up in Sherman, Texas, where he honed his storytelling by creating commercials for the high school morning announcements. His senior film, MotoMan: Ride or Die, won the 2016 UIL Young Filmmakers Competition. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Film and Latin American Studies, Joel’s thesis film, Hundred Flowers Project (2020), was featured in the UT Texas Longhorn Denius Showcase and screened at multiple film festivals. Since 2022, he has worked as a cinematic designer in the video game industry, designing cutscenes for titles like Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed (2022), Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game (2024), and the upcoming Halloween: The Game (2026). When not crafting stories, Joel enjoys performing and coaching improv, bouldering, and taking long walks on the beach (White Rock Lake).