2025 (Runtime 3:38)

Austin Micro Film Festival 2026W Award Finalist White.png

Trailer

About the Film

Logline: When Crowds push in a Claustrophobic elevator rider must get out before they are trapped.

Synopsis: Stuck in the back of an elevator as the crowds push in, a Claustrophobic rider tries to fight the fear. Feeling like they can't escape they attempt to call out and control the small space where they are trapped. All they want is a little space to breathe.

Director's Statement: I received Jordan's script and knew I wanted Ben to be our lead. For a short it held such weight and captured the feeling of claustrophobia perfectly. I enjoyed the challenge of trying to visualize the feeling of being trapped, afraid, stuck and knew Ben would be able to pull it off. It is a simple premise that was a challenge to make sure we embodied the feeling of having no way out.

Extras: After visiting our elevator set, first time screen writer Jordan Thomas left with an idea for a story. Jordan asked if we would film it and we were eager to make his tense script the last short of 2025. And it would be the last short filmed in the elevator. Fortunate to have the enormously talented Ben Locke in the Lead, Claustrophobia was a great end to 2025.

Currently in 2026 Claustrophobia is going through the festival circuit. Claustrophobia has already won Best Drama Short at the Austin Micro Film Festival and Ben was nominated for Best Actor at the Couch Film Festival in Toronto. Not bad for a short made in about four hours. We are so honored to have our cast and crew get recognized and rewarded for their hard work.