What is The Valley at Dusk?

The Valley at Dusk is an intense psychological thriller that unfolds almost entirely through a late-night radio call-in show, where host Margaret finds herself trapped in an increasingly disturbing conversation with Thomas, a listener whose admiration slowly reveals itself as something far more sinister. The film operates on multiple narrative levels simultaneously—the claustrophobic studio exchanges, Thomas's isolated existence in his sparse, darkness-filled apartment, and surreal, meandering nightmare sequences with grotesque, dancelike evolutions. As dusk turns into dawn, we experience a labyrinthine journey through the minds of both characters as they fight with each other–ideologically, psychologically, and emotionally.

The film raises crucial questions about urgent contemporary dilemmas–self and social alienation, radicalization, psychological violence, loneliness, technology-dependence, lust for power, and a lack of agency in global conflicts. It’s a personal cry for help amidst continuously blurring lines of morality in modern society, where good and evil merge deceitfully, suspended in a purgatory between heaven and hell.

Religion and philosophy are the driving forces of the film’s symbolism, showcasing an endless battle between obedience and empowerment, mercy and justice, hope and self-reliance.

It is not a manifesto, nor a forceful battle cry, but an open-ended exploration of the darkness of the human mind and its condition upon widespread social degradation–or at least such perception of it.

Visual Style & Tone

A gritty, high-contrast black-and-white film inspired by 16mm aesthetics, this project blends raw emotion with striking visual texture. Shot with vintage lenses like the Helios 44-2 and Jupiter-9, it achieves a soft, vulnerable indie look that contrasts its harsh, noir-inspired lighting and heavy shadows. The camera work alternates between tense, static compositions and chaotic handheld sequences, mirroring psychological turmoil. Editing and sound design follow suit: quiet, restrained during dialogue, then frantic and surreal in nightmare moments, culminating in a haunting atmosphere filled with smoke, jazz, and palpable tension.

Who are we?

We are an Amsterdam-based team of passionate and ambitious filmmakers and multidisciplinary artists alike, on a mission to bring our thrilling vision to daylight!

The team is led by an enthusiastic director, Witold Gręda (PL), a brilliant and ingenious creative director, Jessica Alexander (FR), and a deeply dedicated, meticulous producer, Silvia Arredondo Daza (PE). The philosophy of our creative process puts strong collaboration, collective imagination, daring inventiveness, but also mutual respect and well-being of the entire crew as its absolute fundamentals.

We embrace independent filmmaking by combining diverse fields of art–film, dance, and theater (Academie voor Theater en Dans)–and exercising the freedom of unfiltered and audaciously raw storytelling.

Our approach is bold, experimental, and full of fiery devotion. We are committed to delivering the film to the best of our ability!

How your contribution will help us

As young, independent filmmakers, we are working with a limited budget. Your support would allow us to:

With deep respect and heartfelt gratitude for the time, dedication, and creative energy that every cast and crew member has poured into this film, we’re committed to acknowledging their incredible effort. Your contributions will help us offer each person a symbolic fee — a small but meaningful token of appreciation for the passion and artistry they’ve brought to this project.

Every bit of support goes directly toward honoring their work and ensuring that this shared dream comes to life on screen.

With your contribution, we can fully dedicate ourselves to the project creatively and let our vision come to life.

Thank you for your help. The production team will keep you updated on the making of the film and its distribution.

If you wish to stay informed about the making of the film, we invite you to follow our Instagram account @dusk_radio and keep an eye out for our newsletter in your inbox!

The Valley at Dusk Team <3

Disclaimer: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.