"MY MOTHER, THE ZOMBIE": A Short Film About Grief and Love

MY MOTHER, THE ZOMBIE

A Coming-of-Age Horror Short Film

My Mother, The Zombie is a gripping coming-of-age horror short about a lonely teenager who seeks normalcy despite caring for her zombie mother. This story is about grief, family, and the unconditional love between a mother and daughter.

Fourteen-year-old Kiera grieves the loss of her father while fighting to fit in at school. Seeing Kiera as an easy target, a classmate tricks her into intimacy. Narrowly escaping a traumatic experience, she finds an unusual path to self-empowerment—one that rekindles her connection with her mother in a way she never expected.

Cinematography reference for "My Mother, The Zombie"

WHY THIS FILM MATTERS

How has loss shaped your life?

For many, the numbing effects of grief can make them feel isolated and lifeless. Kiera and her zombie mother are portrayed this way on screen. Framed within large, empty spaces, the characters’ quiet suffering is omnipresent throughout the movie. Director Samantha Pineda plans to center a dark, atmospheric mood, creating a unique arthouse sensibility to the horror genre.

In this sense, the film is more like a personal family drama than a horror movie. The film presents zombies as a poignant metaphor for the way that grief shapes our lives. We can continue living together, oftentimes in the same home, but we stop ourselves from truly connecting with each other.

Nevertheless, the film presents connection in an optimistic light. We follow Kiera and her mother's journeys—By going to great lengths, they're able to reunite despite their emotional challenges.

My Mother, The Zombie is a women-led film that centres women’s stories through a unique, horror lens. As someone with firsthand understanding of racialized experience, director Samantha Pineda’s objective is to bring a humanistic voice to underrepresented characters, and to spark meaningful conversations about loss and family dynamics. The film provides social commentary about the way society others racialized individuals. As BIPOC women, Kiera and her mother find ways to weather the social isolation they experience in their community, and to support each other for their survival and connection.

Cinematography reference for "My Mother, The Zombie"

CORE TEAM

Samantha Pineda (Director)

Sam is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. Her work has been screened at over a hundred film festivals worldwide. She's an alumni of the Berlinale Talents FICG, TIFF Filmmakers Lab, and the Oaxaca film lab in collaboration with the Sundance Film Institute. She’s been two times nominated for the ARIEL, the Mexican equivalent of the American Oscars. She works with different arts and cultural organizations promoting visual literacy, gender representation, and diversity in Media. Her work with seniors has gone beyond the screen and has been recognized by the World Health Organization and the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. She is also the co-founder of a multimedia production company, Opia Stories.

Loretta Seto (Writer/Producer)

Loretta is a screenwriter, children's book author, award-winning playwright, and producer. Her feature script KUNG FU ZOMBIES was shortlisted as 1 of 12 finalists in the 2023 Whistler Film Festival Screenwriters Lab, and was also a quarterfinalist in the 2024 GemFest Screenplay Competition and 2024 The Script Lab Screenplay Contest. She has had two short film scripts selected by CityTV to receive broadcast licence funding. As a playwright, she was the winner of The Pick of the Fringe and The Cultchivating the Fringe Awards for her play DIRTY OLD WOMAN, which was also nominated for The Georgia Straight Critics Choice Award. She is a co-founder of Wet Ink Collective, a non-profit organization that supports the creation, development and production of new stage- and screenplays written by women.

Lila Ferradans (Lead Producer)

Lila is a Vancouver-based producer and cinematographer dedicated to the art of storytelling. Her work has earned a Leo Award nomination and achieved recognition at festivals worldwide, including screenings at VAFF, VLAFF, TIWFF and CineFem 12 in 2024. With a marketing background, she champions diversity and representation. Her projects aim to connect and inspire, reflecting a commitment to amplifying voices and stories that deserve to be heard.

Cecilia Vadala (Production Designer)

Born and raised in Italy, Cecilia has a background in Philosophy and Art History. She designs for the stage and the screen, focusing on the scenic design practice. Her aesthetic is suggestive and evocative. In her work the space is another character that evolves and tells a story. As an artist, Cecilia explores the connections between emotions, materials, feelings, and textures, often introducing a sensorial component to her designs.

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JOIN US!

My Mother, The Zombie is a film with deep emotional resonance that will stay with audiences long after they leave the theatre. With your support, we can bring this chilling, heartfelt story to life. Please see below a list of credits for each support level:

$2,500+: Executive Producer ⭐️⭐️

$1,000+: Associate Producer ⭐️

$600-$999: Clicker Level Supporter (Gold)

$350-$599: Walker Level Supporter (Silver)

$100-$349: Undead Level Supporter (Bronze)

$25-$99: Special Thanks

We are pleased offer you sponsorship opportunities or Producer credits for greater levels of support. Please connect with us directly by emailing us to learn about what options are available.

Please support the project by giving today. Thank you for being part of our journey!