n 1986, Lara, 16, is expelled from an English boarding school for injuring a classmate. Her estranged father, Dr. Hill, an art historian, must now take her along on a research expedition into Communist Czechoslovakia.
Their destination is the Castle von Karnstein: Once an opulent 19th century mountain spa, the castle is now nearly a ruin, set for demolition by the town’s despotic General Zpielen.
Lara struggles to co-exist with her distant father, when a car accident thrusts the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla, 17, into their lives. Finding Carmilla’s charms irresistible, Lara
eagerly follows her out at night, where they explore the castle and surrounding forest.
When Dr. Hill suspects the girls’ relationship has turned sexual, he confronts Carmilla, and unbeknownst to Lara, forces her away.
Carmilla’s violent disappearance awakens supernatural forces lying dormant in the castle.
As Dr. Hill obsesses with a hidden mural, whose shadowy images mirror his own dark secrets, Lara succumbs to a mysterious illness. In feverish dreams, Carmilla appears and forces Lara to witness unspeakable horrors.
Other young women in the town of Styria experience similar visitations, leading to madness and a rash of suicides.
With darkness descending and the town in chaos, General Zpielen seeks to exact revenge upon the Castle’s inhabitants. Trying to hide from the General and the feral village girls, Carmilla offers Lara an escape into an enchanting, hidden world.
But before she can enter, Lara must commit a final ghastly act that will unite her and Carmilla forever.
Mauricio Chernovetzky (Writer, Director)
Born in Mexico City, Mauricio moved to San Diego when he was eight. He studied literature and religion at Reed College. Upon graduating, he directed several experimental shorts in San Francisco. He also studied film directing at the Lodz Film School in Poland. He later obtained a Master’s degree in film production from San Diego State University. Cassandra, his 27-minute, 35mm short was nominated for the Student Academy Award. It received numerous other awards, including a Special Jury Prize for Creative Achievement at the Temecula International Film Festival, and a Silver Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival.
Mark Devendorf (Writer, Director)
Mark graduated from U.C.S.C. with his bachelor's in Film and Television. He worked for Roger Corman’s, New Horizon script department and later for the producer of the upcoming film, Piranha. Mark wrote and directed his full-length feature, Negative Creeps. He received his M.A. in Film, Television, and New Media at San Diego State University. His thesis film, Setting Sun, a single-take film noir about a dying man trying to right the wrongs of his life, won the school’s Best Director award. Mark has made dozens of award winning films and documentaries, including: Manumission and Starved.
Carrie LeGrand (Producer)
Carrie LeGrand is an AFI graduate with extensive industry experience. She has produced over 30 short films, including several acclaimed and award-winning projects, and has managed and coordinated several studio features and network television shows. She has comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of filmmaking. She has worked within all aspects of production, ranging from HBO to Fox to AFI, including distribution and sales. She currently owns the rights to several promising scripts as she pursues her career as an independent feature film producer.
Grzegorz Bartoszewicz (Director of Photography)
Grzegorz is an award-winning cinematographer. Upon graduating from the Polish National Film School in Lodz, Grzegorz worked as a camera operator on several features, including Vinici by the famous comedy director, Juliusz Machulski, The Boy on a Galloping Horse by Adam Guzinski, which premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival, and The Spy of Our Times, directed by Marius Balchunias. As a director of photography, Grzegorz’s work has screened in festivals all over the world, including Camerimage International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, The Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, The Sarajevo International Film Festival, and The Morelia International Film Festival.
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