Decentralized Pictures (DCP), alongside its sponsoring partners Arts3 Foundation and filmmakers Jed Shepherd (“Host”) and Eduardo Sánchez (“The Blair Witch Project”), have announced that the films “Dana Never Had a Brother” and “Festered” are the recipients of the Horror Filmmaking Initiative. This initiative provides $25,000 in funding to produce a short film from a selected screenplay.
The DCP community helped select the finalists through the platform’s decentralized voting system, before final selections were made by a panel of judges, including Sánchez, Shepherd, and DCP co-founders Roman Coppola and Leo Matchett.
“Dana Never Had a Brother,” directed by Destinee McCaster, tells the story of a woman visiting her girlfriend’s seemingly perfect suburban hometown, where she unravels disturbing truths about her partner’s childhood.
“Festered,” directed by Marc G. Ros, follows a young woman who inherits her estranged father’s apartment and sets out to clean and sell it, only to awaken a malicious presence that forces her to face buried trauma from her past.
In addition to the two primary recipients, “Breeder,” directed by Sapphire Sandalo, was awarded $15,000 in recognition of its bold vision and psychological depth. Rooted in Filipino folklore, the film follows a successful woman trapped in a nightmarish loop by a monstrous Tikbalang.
“We wanted the movies to be scary—that was one of the big criteria for us,” said Sánchez. “It’s rare when you read something and you’re kind of creeped out by it, so efficiently, so effectively.”
“Destinee and Marc are competent filmmakers who have experience making quality stuff,” said Shepherd. “Now, they have the opportunity to take it to the next level.”
The Horror Filmmaking Initiative was announced on Halloween of 2024 as part of DCP’s support for the next generation of filmmakers across genres via the Decentralized Pictures platform.
As part of the announcement, DCP has created two new episodes of its video podcast, TALNT Cast, to showcase the recipient projects and creators. These episodes can be viewed here: Horror Filmmaking Initiative Part 1 and Horror Filmmaking Initiative Part 2.
“One of our biggest roles at DCP is to create real opportunities for talented filmmakers who haven’t always had a clear way in,” said Coppola. “With awards like the Horror Filmmaking Initiative, we’re backing creators with the resources and guidance to break into the industry. That’s the kind of impact we want to see.”
“With ‘Calladita‘ and ‘Cold Wallet‘ making their mark on the festival circuit, we’ve seen how powerful it is when new voices get a real shot,” said Matchett. “We’re excited to keep this momentum going and continue helping up-and-coming filmmakers find their place in the industry.”
Decentralized Pictures is a groundbreaking platform leveraging blockchain technology to connect filmmakers with financing and distribution opportunities. By embracing decentralized principles, the platform offers a transparent and inclusive environment for artists to showcase their work and secure essential funding, mentorship, and other crucial support for their projects and careers. DCP is preparing for its official move to Base, a fast, secure, and cost-effective Layer 2 blockchain, which will further support its community-driven approach. Following the release of “Cold Wallet” on Web3VOD on February 28, 2025, DCP will continue its commitment to the Web3VOD initiative with the upcoming launch of DCP+.
Filmmakers interested in applying for DCP awards are invited to submit a sample of their unfinished film, alongside other pitch materials. Their samples should showcase the vision, potential, and artistic merit of the project, providing a glimpse into its unique storytelling and creative direction.
