MANICURE

Hiding from her own 30th birthday party, a perfectionist performs her sacred manicure ritual under the gaze of her harshest critic, her own reflection, until the pursuit of flawlessness draws blood. MANICURE is a psychological thriller short film exploring the burden of body dysmorphia, anxiety, and OCD. Inspired by Martin Scorsese's "The Big Shave," it takes a mundane ritual to its worst-case extreme: a 10-minute spiral through what living with these conditions can feel like, day to day. Tonally in conversation with Pablo Larraín's "Spencer" and Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," MANICURE deviates from handheld horror in favor of sleek, precise cinematography — elegant camera movement and classical framing built on storyboards, animatics, and shot-listed floor plans. 🏆 WINNER — Best Actress, Grove Film Festival 2023 (Stef Dawson) — OFFICIAL SELECTION — · Miami Film Festival 2024 · Woodstock Film Festival 2023 · HollyShorts 2024 · Rhode Island International Film Festival · Oxford Shorts · The Soho London Independent Film Festival 2024 · Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2024 · Nevermore Film Festival 2024 · New York CineFest 2024 · Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2023 · Tees Valley International Film Festival 2023 · Subculture Film Festival 2023 · Reel East Texas Film Festival 2023 · Waco Independent Film Festival 2024 · Ignite Film Festival 2023 · Northeast Film Festival Horror Fest 2023 · Hastings Rocks 2024 · Horror Haus Film Festival 2023 · Short. Sweet. Film Fest. 2024 · Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2023 · Romford Horror Festival 2024 · HorrorFest · South African HorrorFest · Vortex Film Festival 2023 · Apocalypse Later International Fantastic Film Festival 2023 — CAST — Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games series, Painted Woman) as Eleanor Gianina Cavallaro as Alice — CREW — DIRECTED & EDITED BY Carluccio (Carlos Tejera) WRITTEN & PRODUCED BY Jordan Sarf PRODUCTION Carluccio Jacob Karim Jordan Sarf David Michael Alexander Frank Romero SCRIPT SUPERVISOR Maria Castillo STORYBOARD Eugenio Rodriguez CASTING Daryl Eisenberg Hilary Greer PRODUCTION DESIGN Production Designer — Violet Morrison Art Director — Alec Stadler Wardrobe — Ileana Livingston Hair & Makeup — Antanisha Stokes Hair & Makeup — Lacreasha Key CAMERA Cinematographer — Nona Catusanu 1st AC — Ian Havens 2nd AC — John Ricardel GRIP & LIGHTING Gaffer — Jonathan Alvarado Key Grip — Riede Dervay Dolly Grip — Connor Murdock Swing Grip — Dexter Dugar VFX & FINISHING Makeup FX — Paul J. Mason CGI — Perry Kroll Colorist — Marcy Robinson (Nice Shoes) Color — Phil Harrelson · Paul DeKams · Andrew Pandolfino · Jason Farber (Nice Shoes) Prosthetics Assistant — Shinya Hamano SOUND & MUSIC Composer — Alex Wakim Sound Design & Mix — Bob Pepek Sound Recordist — Matthew Bunker Viola — Rita Andrade PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS & TRANSPORTATION Sam Brody · Nora Bode · Ee Miller · Danielle Privat · Travis Sproul · Zachary Ward · Jonathan Fine HEALTH & SAFETY Christine Castillo SET PHOTOGRAPHER Damaris Parry A Sfumato / Ineffable Pictures production. — CONNECT — 🌐 Website: https://www.carluccio.co 🎬 More from me: https://www.youtube.com/@carlucciomov 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carluccio.mov/ Read the cast & crew interview with InSession Film: https://insessionfilm.com/interview-carlos-tejera-and-jordan-sarf-of-manicure/ #shortfilm #psychologicalthriller #indiefilm #horror --- If you or someone you know is struggling with body image, anxiety, or related mental health challenges, support is available. In the US, call or text 988 (Crisis Lifeline). For eating-disorder support, contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline at 1-866-662-1235.