l-r: Chris Paicely, Shawn Roundtree Jr., Miles August

Chicago-based Swym Good Films’ latest production, the horror short The Girl in the Street, has earned official selection at several of North America’s leading genre festivals. Directed by the acclaimed Black filmmaking duo Chris & Miles (Chris Paicely and Miles August) and written by Paicely, the film has been programmed at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Vancouver Horror Show, and most recently, Atlantic Canada’s Fogfest.

The SAG-AFTRA production stars Shawn Roundtree Jr. (Emperor of Ocean Park), Whitney Blair Masters, D'Andra Laneé, and Chris Anthony; and features special cameo appearance by horror icon Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street).

“We’re incredibly honored that The Girl in the Street has been selected to screen at such prestigious horror festivals across North America, comments Paicely. “Bringing a piece of Chicago’s creative energy to these stages is a proud moment for Swym Good Films and a testament to the power of diverse voices in horror.”

“Having the film showcased alongside some of the genre’s best is a milestone for our team. We’re grateful to the amazing cast, including horror legend Heather Langenkamp, whose presence, without questions, elevates the film’s spirit,” adds August.

The Girl in the Street is set to premiere at:

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 

Nightmare Fuel Shorts Block (Tickets here)

Saturday, Oct 25th, 11:15 AM
Dark Sky Films Theater (Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg Screen #1)
136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Vancouver Horror Show

Shorts Program IV
Sunday, October 19th, 12:45 PM
Cineplex Cinemas International Village
88 W Pender St 3rd floor, Vancouver, BC

FogFest

St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

November 7-10, 2025 (schedule tbd)

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Official Trailer: The Girl in the Street (Short Film) - Trailer on Vimeo

In the film, after receiving a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity, Malachi (Roundtree Jr.) leaves his dying younger sister (Laneé) behind to move to a remote small town. Upon arrival, he has a strange encounter with the moving truck driver (Anthony) that causes him to question his morality. As Malachi unpacks inside his new house, a bloody and scarred woman in a strange mask appears on the dirt road outside the house, screeching. Malachi faces a moral quandary, whether to help the woman or stay safely inside his home. The film dares to ask whether being “good” is enough when survival is on the line. The film also tears into the dark underbelly of suburban "goodness" — exposing the cult-like loyalty and moral decay simmering under small-town smiles.

Touting a phenomenal cast and cinematographer Lana Mattice, an experienced narrative and commercial filmmaker, the film is polished by top-tier teams from Fotokem (Disney, Strange Darling) and Esho Sound (Anora), and scored by Pablo Fuu (When Evil Lurks).

In 2022, Chris & Miles wrote and directed the award-winning sci-fi short ALUS, about a broken relationship and the power of artificial intelligence in our day-to day lives, and in 2023, they directed the psychological horror short BOUND, about a former dancer being pursued deeper and deeper into her home.

Additionally, the duo has launched SILK, a surreal, razor-sharp short film, on the festival circuit. The short is an official selection of the upcoming Chicago Horror Film Festival (September 26-28, 2025). Blending late-night infomercial aesthetics with nightmarish satire, the film follows a young woman’s unsettling transformation after a mysterious product promises to change her life. With its hypnotic visuals, uncanny humor, and creeping horror, SILK pulls audiences into a world where desire and dread blur beyond recognition. Shot with bold style and an experimental edge, the film cements Chris and Miles as boundary-pushing directors unafraid to thread beauty through the grotesque.  Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St01A2Ca3wU

Featured Photos/Videos: Courtesy of Swym Good Films.