World Premiere – Fantastic Fest
SILVER SCREAMERS
Written, Directed and Mentored by Sean Cisterna
A Heartwarming, Hair-Raising Documentary That Proves
You’re Never Too Old to Make a Killer Movie
Fantastic Fest
Alamo Drafthouse – Austin, TX – September 19, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
The cameras have rolled, the fake blood has flowed, and the retirement community is about to slay the big screen with Silver Screamers, a heartwarming and spine-tingling documentary following a spirited crew of retirees as they swap knitting needles for camera lenses to make their very own horror short – The Rug.
Silver Screamers will have its world premiere in Austin, Texas at Fantastic Fest on September 19.
Guided by Canadian award-winning filmmaker Sean Cisterna, the seniors take on every film-set challenge, building DIY special effects on a shoestring budget, navigating on-set drama, and defying every stereotype about what seniors can do.
“Sean Cisterna took an unconventional path and found gold—Silver Screamers is a charming, life-affirming film that proves passion and creativity don’t age”, says Fantastic Fest’s director of programming Annick Mahnert. “By handing the camera to seniors, he’s crafted a film that’s as inspiring as it is heartwarming.”
“It’s a thrill to have Silver Screamers make its debut at the biggest genre festival in the U.S.”, adds Cisterna. “There’s no better launchpad for a film that’s equal parts heart and horror.”
Brimming with “senior citizen sass”, Silver Screamers is more than just a behind-the-scenes chronicle, it’s turning “senior moments” into scene-stealing ones.