MISSION STATEMENT

Melchizedek explores grief, love, and obsession through an African spiritual lens. Our mission is to tell bold, emotionally rich stories that merge science fiction with cultural heritage, amplifying diverse voices in genre filmmaking.

THE STORY

What if you could go back in time and stop someone you love from dying; how far back would you go?

In Melchizedek, a psychological thriller with supernatural roots, Mayaki unlocks a ritual called the Tajna, a dangerous form of time travel that lets her bring her brother Melchizedek (Meliky) back from the dead by rewinding the clock to the moment before his death. But there’s a catch: the Tajna only lasts 24 hours, and no matter what she tries, he keeps dying again.

Now, desperate and out of time, Mayaki takes a darker path, kidnapping the daughter of a oracle priestess to force her help, risking a deadly spiritual backlash. As the past loops and the hours dwindle, Mayaki’s need to “fix it” becomes a quiet obsession. The world around her fractures, her brother’s body begins to fade, and the shadows close in.

At its core, Melchizedek is about grief, guilt, and the lengths we go to rewrite the past. It’s a film for anyone who’s ever tried to hold on too tightly, and had to learn the cost of not letting go. If you love the haunting layers of Get Out, the spiritual charge of Sinners, or the emotional gut-punch of To Kill a Monkey, this is a story built to stay with you long after the credits roll. This isn’t just a thriller. This is a reckoning, with fate, family, and the fear of moving on.

THE VISION

Melchizedek blends science fiction and African spirituality, exploring time travel through memory, ritual, and grief, not machines. Told from the perspective of a woman filmmaker rooted in African storytelling traditions, this film reimagines time travel as something deeply emotional, ancestral, and spiritual. Visually, Melchizedek is atmospheric and haunting, grounded in raw performances, shadows, and symbolism. The world exists in that fragile space between life and death, where the past refuses to stay buried and ritual becomes a weapon of love, loss, and desperation.

This is the most personal story I’ve ever told.

It was born out of grief, the kind that loops, lingers, and alters everything. Like Mayaki, I’ve replayed moments, wishing I could go back and rewrite them. This film is my way of confronting that impulse, of asking: what would it cost to undo the past? And what happens if we succeed?

Mayaki’s journey is deeply flawed and human. Her brother is all she has left, and she’s willing to twist time, truth, and morality to save him. But Melchizedek isn’t about saving the dead, it’s about what we lose when we can’t let go. It’s about control, guilt, and the hope that maybe, even if we can’t change the past, we can still heal from it.

I want Melchizedek to provoke, to unsettle, and above all, to make people feel. This is a story rooted in the fear of loss and the dangerous beauty of second chances.

WHY IT MATTERS

Melchizedek is about grief, guilt, and the fight to rewrite the past , but at its core, it’s about control, and the heartbreak of realizing we never truly have it. It’s about that impossible moment when you’d do anything, give anything, to change what’s already happened. When the only thing heavier than the loss is the belief that you could’ve stopped it.

Like Mayaki, I’m chasing something that feels impossible, and refusing to let go. Even with two degrees in Computer Science, I felt something was missing. So I returned to my first love: storytelling. I’m now pursuing my MFA in Film at the University of New Orleans, and Melchizedek is my thesis film, but more than that, it’s my heart on screen. My culture, my questions, and my need to make sense of it all. This story matters because it’s not just mine. It’s for anyone who’s ever wished for one more day, one more chance, one more miracle.

With your help, I’ll bring this vision to life.

PRODUCTION PLAN

We plan to film Melchizedek over 6-8 tightly scheduled days in New Orleans. The film is set primarily in one house, a smaller shrine with a few key scenes in nearby locations; a church, a convenience store, and the quiet streets of the city at night. By keeping our world contained, we’re able to pour more attention into each detail: the performances, the visuals, the sound.

I’ve assembled a small but mighty crew of collaborators, producers, cinematographers, ADs, and designers, many of whom I’ve worked with before and deeply trust. Their commitment, creativity, and work ethic give me full confidence in our ability to deliver something powerful on a limited budget.

We're currently finalizing pre-production: scouting for a house that can serve as both Mayaki’s home and Esme’s shrine, locking down casting, and refining the schedule for maximum efficiency. Once funding is complete, we’ll move into rehearsals, production, and post, all with a clear timeline and careful attention to quality and safety. Every scene, every shot, every sound has been designed with intention - to tell a story that lingers.

With your support, we’ll make Melchizedek not just a thesis film, but a statement!

WHAT WE NEED

We're raising $10,000 to complete this project.

This film is ambitious in scope, emotion, and craft, and every dollar we raise will go toward paying our cast and crew, securing key locations, covering production design, and ensuring strong post-production (editing, sound design, color, music). No one’s getting rich off this project, but we believe in compensating people for their time, talent, and labor.

Here’s how the funds will be used:

• Cast & Crew – $4,000

• Locations, permits & insurance – $1,000

• Production Design & Costumes – $1,200

• Special Equipment Rentals – $600

• Production management (meals, transportation accomodation) – $1200

• Sound & Music – $1,000

• Post-Production (editing, color, sound design) – $1,500

• Campaign Fees & Contingency – $500

We know that asking for money is asking for trust, and we don’t take that lightly. Every contribution, no matter how small, is a seed toward something meaningful. And if you can’t give, sharing our campaign is a huge help too.

Together, we’ll make something unforgettable.

MEET THE TEAM

Writer & Director – Prilla Akiny

Hi! I'm Prilla Akiny, a filmmaker, storyteller, and MFA candidate at the University of New Orleans. After earning degrees in Computer Science, I returned to my childhood dream, film. Melchizedek is my thesis film and my most personal story yet. I’m here to make bold, emotionally layered, and culturally resonant films, and this one is just the beginning. Credits: Game of Charades, Vision Board, Loot or Lose.

Producers – DeSantos Manning & Tumie Mokuena

DeSantos Manning, a UNO Film MFA alumnus, and Tumie Mokuena, a current student in the program, are passionate, proven producers who understand what it takes to bring a story from page to screen. With incredible work ethic and deep creative instincts, they’re the driving force behind the scenes, keeping the production grounded and moving forward.

Associate Producer – Rebecca Garba

Rebecca Garba is a talented filmmaker with over a decade of experience in the industry. She produced my previous short film Loot or Lose and recently graduated from the MFA Film Production program at UNO. Her creativity, leadership, and steady presence are a major asset to this project.

Casting – Tumie Mokuena & Lance E. Nichols

Casting is led by Tumie alongside the incredible Lance E. Nichols, a veteran actor known for his powerful performances in both TV and film. Lance brings not only a wealth of experience but also an open heart and generous spirit, helping us bring together a cast that’s raw, real, and unforgettable.

Director of Photography – Christopher Grand

Christopher is a talented cinematographer whose eye for tone and visual storytelling is unmatched. Having worked together before, I trust him deeply to capture the emotion, tension, and spiritual atmosphere that Melchizedek demands.

Production Design – Hayden Legg

Hayden is a fellow MFA film student with a brilliant eye for detail and design. His work brings the world of Melchizedek to life, from sacred shrines to tense supernatural spaces, with texture, intention, and emotion in every corner.

WHERE WE'RE GOING

Once completed, Melchizedek will be submitted to national and international film festivals. Our goal is to spotlight bold, Afrofuturistic storytelling rooted in the diaspora, and prove that genre films can carry deep cultural and emotional weight.

This film is a calling card , for a voice, for a vision, and for stories that dare to blend myth, memory, and meaning.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donate — No amount is too small

Share — Send to 3 friends who love film

Follow — Help us build momentum here on Gofundme!

We’re building more than a film, we’re building a movement for diverse, emotional, genre-bending storytelling. Join us.

Thank you for believing in this story. Thank you for believing in me.

Prilla Akiny

Writer | Director | Dreamer of the Impossible