California!!

Thrilled to announce that VAGABOND, directed by Philippe Woodtli, has been accepted to screen at the 11th Annual HorrorHaus Film Festival, October 24-25, 2026.

HorrorHaus is a three-day Los Angeles-area film festival dedicated to showcasing the creative works of independent horror creators from around the globe.

  • Philippe Woodtli about VAGABOND:

What I wanted to tell with this story comes from my fascination with gambling schemes, cons, and the art of misdirection. I’ve always been drawn to the idea that someone can spend years mastering a skill, not to win fairly, but to outsmart the system and take money from a mark with precision. That world has always captivated me, and it’s the kind of story I love watching. With Vagabond, I wanted to show how I would approach a con like this. Not just how to pull it off, but why the con itself is often the easy part. It’s the getaway that really decides everything.

I’m drawn to the gangster world because in that space, only one thing truly matters: trust. Who is really on your side, and who isn’t. The same is true for a card mechanic’s team at the poker table. You need total preparation. You need to know every angle. And most importantly, you need the right partner. If you don’t, things go bad fast.

That’s what I wanted to explore. The precision, the pressure, and the betrayal behind the illusion.

Stay tuned, as we’ll be announcing further successes for our films very soon.

#mailukifilms #oscar #academyawards #horror #shortfilm