SPECIAL REPORT - Christina Critiques - 2026 GenreBlast Film Festival: Part 10
Title: THE PROTOCOL
Directed by: John Rizzo
Country: US Run Time: 8 mins
Synopsis: … when a plan doesn’t go the way one thought.
Favorite line: “You saved me, now I’m going to save you.”
Thoughts: For eight minutes, Rizzo decides to just make the viewer feel every emotion possible. Confusion? Yes. Hope? Yes. Anger? Oh, yeah. Fear? Sure. But he also forces the viewer to ask questions - Would I do the same thing the female main character did? Was the release worth the finality? I watched this over a week ago and I can’t answer either without hesitation still.
Title: BREAKTHROUGH
Directed by: Tom White
Country: US Run Time: 26 mins
Synopsis: Alex has a lot of guilt and is hopeful that her therapist and a new procedure can relieve it but it won’t be easy.
Favorite line: “I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
“Can we skip to the part to where I’m fixed?”
“Sometimes when you’re battling yourself… just stay in the fight.”
Thoughts: One (of many) things Tom does exceptionally well is make his shorts relatable to a broad group while at the same time making it seem he made this film just for you. Directing for Tom has to be like falling in love - effortless and exact. From the actors to the set design, camera work to the actual story, every frame is perfection.
Actor to watch for: Alex - Ashley Tru Ward
Title: DO NOT REWIND
Directed by: Vivian Owen
Country: US Run Time: 13 mins
Synopsis: Why can’t someone just listen to directions?
Favorite line: “You didn’t drink the water, did you?”
Thoughts: Holy Toledo. Between the suspense and want to scream at the scream at the screen, Owen weaves this unnerving web of confusion and it’s phenomenal! Eden (played by Nicole Swiflet) makes the viewer feel like they are right in the room with her. Stellar.
Actor to watch for: Eden - Nicole Swiflet
Title: MUG
Directed by: Will Sidaros
Country: US Run Time: 16 mins
Synopsis: Tyler and Julia are having a great date night until the voice of a past relationship makes things a bit … complicated.
Favorite line: “I usually scare women away with talk that’s not normal for dating.”
“Down here, little wiener.”
“Throw a round house kick and knock her out!”
Thoughts: Hands down the funniest short of the festival. I laughed the whole sixteen minutes so much that my face hurt. The voice… screw having Morgan Freeman narrate my life, I need that guy. The twists and turns are so strong that you should probably wear a neck brace for the whiplash of insanity. Every second is amazing.
Actor to watch for: Tyler - Axle Burtness and Julia - Irene Kuykendall
Title: VALET GIRLS
Directed by: Kaylin Allhouse
Country: US Run Time: 10 mins
Synopsis: When two friends try to make one of their fortunes come true from a cootie catcher, they learn to get creative.
Favorite line: “What? You don’t want to give your keys to a woman?”
Thoughts: So. Damn. Adorable. A cootie catcher? Yes, please. It’s so nostalgia warmed my heart, the comedic timing of the two female characters, and the cinematography were perfect. Love Lisa Frank? Or the 90s? This is up your alley.
Actor to watch for: Paloma - Grace Bennett and Tess - Marguerite Berry
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