Elevate is a Psychological Thriller Student Short Film for which I had the privilege of being Assistant Director. This film was our Senior Capstone project to mark the end of our educational journey at Quinnipiac University in 2020, entirely created, crowdfunded, managed, and edited by me and six other incredibly talented students. The film’s official release ended up being delayed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic interfering with our planned schedule and the inability to collaborate in person for a long while. Regardless, we are incredibly proud and immensely satisfied with how everything came together.

SYNOPSIS
A young father seeks vengeance on the man responsible for hospitalizing his daughter. However, he begins to have second thoughts after encountering his deceased loved ones in an elevator.

STARRING
Anthony Carvello as Ben
Alex Perez as Tom
Edwin Lee Guzman as Jimmy
Lauren Eileen Henke as Jessica
Pacific Blain as Lilly
Bill Gold as Sal (Ben’s Father)
Tokunbo Olumide as Reggie
Nathalie Sepulveda as Jimmy’s Daughter

CREW
Director/Writer – Zachary Cyran
1st Assistant Director – Jake LaFauci
Producer – Efecan Karaefe
Director of Photography – Sarah McKernan
Editor/Script Supervisor – Andrew Hoff
Production Designer – Tessa Knorr
Sound Engineer – Zachary Flanagan

AWARDS & SELECTIONS
Best Student Short Film – Dreamachine Film Festival
Best Action Film – Anatolian Film Festival
Honorable Mention – Big Apple Film Festival
Official Selection – Venice Shorts California Film Festival
Official Selection – Visionaries Film Festival
Official Selection – New York Istanbul Short Film Festival
Official Selection – Golden Bridge Istanbul Short Film Festival
Official Selection – The American Independent Film Festival