SOUND OF THE DOLDRUMS
- A NOISE ROCK MUSICAL -
— CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT / PUBLIC RELEASE: Q4 2026. —
Synopsis:
After causing a fatal accident, a musician loses his hearing - except the sounds he hates the most.
Director statement:
“Sound of the Doldrums is an experimental DIY short film about depression. It was an exercise in limitations; I wanted to tell a story in less than 10 minutes, with no budget, no crew, and absolutely no use of AI.
I’ve edited and animated 862 still photos over a two year period with the goal to create something original in form; blurring the lines between short film and music video, live-action and animation, music and noise.
It’s messy, abrasive and alienating - like the condition it portrays -, but my hope is that it’s also a unique and memorable experience.
My main inspiration was Abel Ferrara, who usually works from a minuscule budget, wearing many hats, shooting guerrilla style without permits, using his own environment as location and his friends for cast and crew. Yet from these limited resources he manages to create powerful, emotionally potent pictures with a style that’s completely his own.“
- Richard Lukacs
Details:
Runtime: 8 minutes
Year: 2025
Country: Canada
Language: English
Budget: $500 for sound mix & master
Genres: Experimental / Dark Drama / Psychological Horror
- TRAILER -
- BEHIND THE SCENES -
- SOUNDTRACK -
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK BY BLUE SUNSHINE
Richard Lukacs: Composition, Saxophones, Waterphone, Drum & Bass Programming
Michelle Young: Vocals
Istvan Kisivan & Attila Kovacs: Guitars
Mix by Daniel Sandor (Merzbow, Keiji Haino etc…) and mastering by Doug Henderson (Swans, The Necks etc...)
- PRESS -
“The experience will empty your soul. This is why art exists at all.”
“An exceptional DIY horror with a soundtrack to fuel nightmares.”
“Experimental to the max, yet ever more impactful because of it.”
“A fascinating blend of drama, horror, and music.
Not your run-of-the-mill horror flick; it’s much more introspective.”
- PROMOTIONAL STILLS -
- DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY -
Richard Lukacs is a Vancouver based avant-garde audio-visual artist. He’s a professional editor and amateur writer, director, photographer, animator and musician.
His 2017 psychedelic short Hell Haunt played over a dozen festivals around the globe, winning multiple “Best Horror Short” awards. He has since directed a number of music videos and commercials, while running Feral Cuts, a volatile DIY record label.
His latest work is an experimental photo-animated solo short film;
Sound of the Doldrums.
- SCREENINGS AND AWARDS -
2026.11.25 Kaminari Japan Film Festival, Tokyo, JAPAN
2026.10.10 NOOGA Underground Film Fest, Dunlap TN, US
2026.09.29 Torino Underground Cinefest, Torino, ITALY
2026.08.25 Philadelphia Unnamed Film Fest, Philadelphia PA, US
2026.07.23 RUSH After Dark, Welland ON, CAN
(Won “Best Sound Design” and “Best Visual Effects”)
2026.07.16 Long Beach Underground, Long Beach CA, US
(Nominated for “Best Short Film”)
2026.05.01 Experimental Brasil, Rio De Janeiro, BRA
2026.05.01 Bleeding Tree, Creston BC, CAN
2026.04.29 Shock Stock Horror & Underground , London ON, CAN
2026.01.31 Screaming Droid, Aberaeron, Wales UK
2026.01.28 The Bay International Film Festival, Morecambe UK
2025.01.08 Hollywood ShortsFest, Hollywood CA, US
2025.12.27 The Magikal Charm Experimental Film Festival, New York US
2025.11.21 Denver Underground Film Festival, Denver US
2025.11.03 Folkestone Film Festival, Kent UK
(Won “Best Art Film”)
2025.10.18 Darkside, New Jersey US
(Nominated for “Best Visuals”)
- PRESS KIT -
- CONTACT -
feralcuts@gmail.com