Mani Shanks in Shed.

Cinema Australia readers have been treated to an exclusive first look at the new trailer for Steven J. Mihaljevich’s Shed ahead of the film’s world premiere at Screamfest in LA.

“I am very excited and humbled to have our world premiere at such a prestigious film festival in Screamfest. Screamfest is probably the largest genre festival in the U.S and the Chinese Mann Theatre in Hollywood is personally one of my favourite cinemas in the world,” Mihaljevich tells Cinema Australia.

Shed opens on Christmas Eve, when a crazed, strange man with nothing to live for, embarks on a murderous rage, killing a family in cold blood.

As he starts to take over the families property, unbeknownst to him is one more family member – a curious, courageous 10 year old girl Mia, who has found herself locked in the farms’ work shed accidentally through a game of hide and seek.

Mia must survive in the shed for days, without food or water, until someone comes for her – but soon that person will eventually be the insidious dying man and the two characters must come face to face. What unravels is a thrilling game of cat and mouse through desperation, revenge and incredible endurance.

Shed stars Mani Shanks, Jason Robert Lester and John Jarratt, and is written and directed by Mihaljevich and co-produced by Mihaljevich and Nic McRobbie.

“I think this little Aussie film could surprise some people. It has one of the most impressive performances by a 10 year old in a survival horror film that you could ask for, (in Mani Shanks) and although it’s a very confronting film at times – it’s actually a fun adventurous ride; a bit of a rollercoaster – different to anything I’ve done before,” says Mihaljevich.

“Making this film was actually fun…and I don’t say that lightly. I deliberately opted for the smallest crew I have ever worked with; so we could focus more on craft, and the different ways we could tell this story from moment to moment to keep it hyper engaging and unpredictable. I think the enjoyable approach in which we filmed it shows in the movie.”

Shed will screen at Screamfest in LA on October 12. Keep and eye on Cinema Australia for upcoming local screening dates. 

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