It’s Thanksgiving weekend and pouring rain. You enter the great pumpkin that is the Orange Hub, formerly a campus of MacEwan University in the city’s west end. These days it offers spaces for the non-profit sector, including a couple of different film organizations.
Today the Orange Hub appears deserted due to the holiday. Only as you descend the stairs to the basement level do you hear the rumblings of something living, breathing — the sounds of a horror story coming to life. Too late to turn back now.
Welcome to the world of Nemesis, an independent short slasher, filmed in just two days, plus a prep day, in and around the public spaces of the Orange Hub, using equipment from the Film and Video Arts Society studios.
Written by Andrew Foley, the short film follows teenage girls who experiment with the occult to punish their abuser, only to unleash an ancient power of retribution.
You’ve arrived on “kill day.” Director and producer Sylvia Douglas, an Edmonton-based filmmaker whose credits span more than a decade, is watching the camera monitor with intense focus. The rest of the cast and crew, usually buzzing with hive-like energy between takes, falls silent as they observe the gruesome murder scene unfold.
Ahead of its festival debut, Douglas spoke about making a slasher on a budget and why Edmonton is an underrated location to do it.
Edify: How did the story of Nemesis come to life?
Douglas: Andrew Foley and I have been friends for a long time. We both have a passion for storytelling. When I mentioned I was working on a horror screenplay, he shared with me a slasher he wrote in 2018, in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
I offered to produce and direct Nemesis if he rewrote it as a short film, using it as a proof of concept for our feature-length films. It was a long process of sending drafts back and forth to refine the script. Once we got the funding, then it was like, “OK, time to make a movie!”
Edify: For independent filmmakers like you, what are the best avenues for funding?
Douglas: For individual artists, applying for arts funding through municipal, provincial and federal arts councils is a great starting point. But a challenge with securing grants for films, especially horror, is that they’re often seen as marketable and are therefore not considered art in some funding circles, which is an outdated perspective.
I’m grateful that Nemesis received the Telus Storyhive Scripted Edition grant. It’s a program for first-time creators and smaller-budget projects. Their model is supportive and offers creative freedom and creators retain ownership of their work.
Edify: Why was Edmonton the ideal filming location for Nemesis?
Douglas: The community is the number one reason. The level of creative and artistic integrity in Edmonton is unmatched.
We have an outstanding theatre scene, which means a wealth of actors and other skilled craftspeople in the city. The fine arts programs at MacEwan University and the University of Alberta are great resources for performers. Edmonton has one of the best Fringe festivals in the world, and we’re a destination for storytelling that is creative and pushes boundaries.
We’re diverse in terms of weather, and we are in proximity to a variety of landscapes. There’s flexibility and willingness from local businesses to support projects made here, and less red tape compared to larger hubs like Toronto or Vancouver.
Edify: How did you bring together the local cast and crew for this film?
Douglas: Most of my connections have come from working on other projects. I’ve worked with our talented director of photography, Tamarra Canu, a number of times. I collaborate with a lot of the same people because we’ve built trust.
I’ve spent a lot of time at FAVA, which was a great place to meet people who were actively creating. The best thing you can do as a filmmaker is surround yourself with creative people. Support them and they’ll support you.
Edify: Skinamarink, a 2022 film by Edmonton’s Kyle Edward Ball, was a box office success. Have you noticed a growing culture of horror moviemaking here since?
Douglas: The genre is growing everywhere. Filmmakers like Jordan Peele, Ari Aster and Robert Eggers have expanded perceptions of what horror can be and have attracted a new audience who might not have called themselves horror fans before.
The thing about horror films is that they can also be done on a shoestring. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was made on a small budget with a small crew, yet it went on to become one of the most influential horror films ever made. Edmonton has that same scrappy resourcefulness that lends itself well to horror.
Edify: What can local businesses and governments do to make Edmonton more hospitable for moviemaking, specifically horror?
Douglas: Edmonton has the talent, but we need local governments and businesses to continue to invest in infrastructure and direct funding. Actions like investing in affordable studio spaces and local festivals creates vital learning and networking hubs.
Most importantly, independent creators need grants and subsidies. I’ve been making films for over 10 years, and I’ve only just realized that I am an entrepreneur! I think because we’re pursuing art, we resist the idea of being a business. But independent producers like myself hire local crews, cast and vendors and we inject cash into the economy with every shoot.
Another important piece would be bolstering the broader digital media sector so skilled locals can make a living on commercial work. That financial stability gives us the freedom to take risks and make the low-budget, artistic horror films this city is capable of.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Nemesis is screening at NorthwestFEARFest, which takes place October 14 – 18, 2026. All screenings are held at Metro Cinema.
