Festival Hit Set for Feature Film Adaptation

Akash Sunethkumara’s latest horror short Hooves is making waves on the international festival circuit, captivating audiences with its chilling narrative and eerie direction. The Sri Lankan filmmaker’s unsettling piece has already secured selections at renowned festivals, including Screamfest and the Pune International Film Festival, while also reaching finalist status at the Prague International Film Festival. Beyond festival accolades, Hooves is opening doors to something bigger—its success has set the stage for a full-length feature adaptation, with production set to kick off in Los Angeles in 2025.

A Raindance Academy alumnus, Sunethkumara has been steadily building a name for himself in genre cinema. With over eight years of filmmaking experience under his belt, his work has continued to grow in both complexity and recognition. His previous shorts—Knight Out (2020), Temporal (2022), and Teddy (2023)—have garnered international attention, with each film showcasing his ability to create atmospheric and emotionally gripping stories. These films not only resonated with local audiences in Sri Lanka but also earned him a reputation as a rising voice on the global stage.

The critical praise surrounding Hooves has sparked interest from industry executives eager to see the short film’s eerie and atmospheric premise evolve into a feature-length project. Known for his visually captivating storytelling, Sunethkumara’s transition from short to feature is already generating significant buzz within the horror community.

As development on the feature adaptation of Hooves progresses, fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely. With Sunethkumara’s proven talent and unique voice in the horror genre, Hooves has the potential to be a fresh and spine-tingling addition to the canon of contemporary horror cinema, solidifying his place as an international filmmaker to watch.