Three independently made films with local roots will play at The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center in January as part of the Sewickley nonprofit theater’s Emerging Filmmakers Showcase.

Here’s a brief rundown of The Lindsay’s three upcoming Emerging Filmmaker Showcases:

• Jan. 8, 7:15 p.m.: "Water Rites," written and directed by McMurray native Dean Jacobs, follows a young couple, played by Jacobs and Katy Bentz ("Life is Strange"), who uncover unsettling secrets while spending the summer in a secluded lakefront community.

The supporting cast includes horror/sci-fi icons Dee Wallace ("E.T."), Michael Berryman ("The Hills Have Eyes") and Lynn Lowry (George Romero’s "The Crazies"). "While Water Rites" was shot in California, most of the film’s crew are from the Pittsburgh area.

“I’m thrilled to come home and premiere my second feature film,” says Jacobs. “As long as I’m making movies, I’ll always screen them in Pittsburgh first—for family, friends and the city that made me who I am.”

• Jan. 15, 7 p.m.: "Wire" was written and directed by University of Pittsburgh seniors Max Christopher and Nate Drew. Their locally filmed crime thriller follows a troubled loner who becomes obsessed with solving a mysterious woman’s murder.

Christopher is a North Huntingdon native, while Drew hails from Philadelphia. They’re both part of 7to8 Production & Distribution, a locally based outfit that was founded in 2023 to help student filmmakers bring their scripts to life.

“'Wire' drops you right into dark, grimy Pittsburgh—a perfect stage for our first murder mystery,” says Drew. “'Wire' blends the styles of 'Nightcrawler,' 'The Batman' and 'Memento' with Pittsburgh’s skyline, character and streets.”

• Jan. 22, 7 p.m.: 'I: Scream—A Minty Musical' was directed by Aleen Isley and written by Isley with her husband, Steve Rudzinski. Their latest creative collaboration chronicles a scientist’s desperate efforts to stop sentient ice cream from devouring everything in sight.

This wacky horror-comedy from local production company Silver Spotlight Films features six original songs written by Isley and composed by Mike Trebilcock. "I: Scream" was shot during summer 2025 throughout this region with a largely Western Pennsylvania-based cast. 

“Our town may be known for its sports teams, but it also boasts a cultural smelting of the arts,” Isley says. “'I: Scream' is another new work presented by a home-grown Pittsburgh director who could really use your support.”

All three Thursday evening screenings are free and will be followed by filmmaker Q&As. The Lindsay recommends that everyone RSVPs in advance via the sign-up form in each event page due to capacity limits.

The Lindsay’s Emerging Filmmakers Showcase provides indie filmmakers with free access to a big screen, while also offering them the Theater staff’s technical and promotional expertise.

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