Kitana Turnbull and Christiano Dias on the set of Monster in a House. Photo credit by Sam Zhang.
Hurricane Reviews
"Funny, Sharp, and Charmingly Relevant" - Kate Erbland, IndieWire
"Perfectly Engineered Filmmaking" - Kirk Fernwood, OneFilmFan
"Everything About this Film is Excellent" - Amos Lassen, Reviews by Amos
"Something Different and Original" - Graham Blake, Movie-Blogger
"Wholly Relevant and Oozing Brilliance." - James Thompson, Filmoria
"Perfectly Rides the Line of Both Comedy and Drama." - Rebecca Cherry, Film Carnage
"Superlative Performances and Sharp Direction" - Phillip Smolen, RogueCinema
"An Ending That Will Leave You Wincing" - Nick La Salla, ForestCityFilmReview
"Creative, Psychological, and Comedic...Mixed to Surprising Effect" - Tom Little, Mr Rumseys
"Truly Magnificent and Beautifully Acted" - Justin Skattum, EpicPodQuest
More reviews on Film Freeway
Monster in a house reviews
"MONSTER IN A HOUSE IS A MASTERPIECE"
(excerpt)
“… I love Dias as a story teller, and I envy his never-ending creativity! I love the cast in this film, and masterful performances were delivered by Joe/Dad – Joseph Bottoms and Emma/Mom – Lisa Roumain, and of course the incredibly talented Miah – Kitana Turnbull. The practical effects in this monster flick were on point selling the imaginative vision of Dias, and giving some eerie proof that monsters do exist.”
Grant Lahaie - EpicPodQuest
"DIAS IS A FILMMAKER TO WATCH"
(excerpt)
“…in a one shot take, the director has to be REALLY on his game, and thankfully Dias and DP Michael Helenek realizes this and keeps impressive visuals on the screen throughout, finding dreamy wonder in the most ordinary of locations.”
Nicholas La Salla - Forest City Film Review
"A RIVETING, EMOTIONALLY HONEST FILM"
(excerpt)
“…so beautifully constructed, so honestly written, and so marvelously acted that it's almost unimaginable that it is not among this year's Oscar nominees.”
Richard Propes - The Independent Critic
Illustrated by Jennifer Lange.
Illustrated by Ros Kovac.
(these films have been featured in the following publications):
Christiano Dias and Lisa Roumain on the set of the Cold War dark comedy, HURRICANE, 2016.
Landon Pelant and Christiano Dias on the set of King Eternal. Photo credit by Gene Avakyan Photography. Read the Hollyshorts Filmmaker Spotlight article here.
Andrew Messersmith (Director of Photography) and Christiano Dias on the set of HURRICANE, 2016.
Joseph Bottoms, Kitana Turnbull, and Christiano Dias on the set of Monster in a House.
Joseph Bottoms and Christiano Dias on the set of King Eternal.
Christiano Dias and David Jay at the USA Film Festival premiere in Dallas, TX.
Landon Pelant, Lisa Roumain, and Christiano Dias at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles premiere of King Eternal.
Hurricane screening at Deep in the Heart Film Festival - Hippodrome Theater.
Christiano Dias and team accept several awards for Monster in a House at LAIFFA. (From Left: Joseph Bottoms, Lisa Roumain, Kitana Turnbull, Christiano Dias, Bret Newton, Michael Helenek, and Alex Grossfeld).
A video documenting the making of Monster in a House. BTS shot by Sam Zhang.
Some outtakes, behind the scenes, and a few snippets of the film, King Eternal.
Bonus/outtake scene from Hurricane.
AWARDS, ETC.
2023 WINNER | Marcom Gold Award | Hackers Anonymous
2020 WINNER | Muse Platinum Award | Self Aware Narrator
2020 WINNER | Muse Gold Award | This is Home
2020 WINNER | Worldfest Silver Remi | Pants Rental
2020 WINNER | Worldfest Silver Remi | On the Fence
2020 WINNER | Worldfest Bronze Remi | Partners
2020 WINNER | Worldfest Bronze Remi | Debunkopotamus
2020 WINNER | Worldfest Gold Remi | Builders Animation (Writer)
2020 WINNER | Worldfest Platinum Remi | WYSK Podcast
2017 WINNER | Best Drama Film, Lionshead Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best War Film, Lionshead Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Director, Lionshead Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Cinematography, Lionshead Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Supporting Actor, Lionshead Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Platinum Remi Award, Cinematography | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Film, Boom Film Reviews | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Director, Boom Film Reviews | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Writing, Boom Film Reviews | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Actor, Boom Film Reviews | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Actress, Boom Film Reviews | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Supporting Actor, Boom Film Reviews | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Sound, Boom Film Reviews | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Trailer of the Week, Awardeo | Hurricane
2017 WINNER | Best Actor, Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Gold Award, California Film Awards | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Best Director, Los Angeles Film Awards | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Best Actress, Los Angeles Film Awards | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Best Actor, Los Angeles Film Awards | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Audience Award, Hollyshorts Monthly Screenings | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Best Supporting Actor, BATSFF | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Best Comedy/Dramedy, LAIFFA | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Best Director, LAIFFA | Hurricane
2016 WINNER | Best Produced Screenplay, LAIFFA | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Hope Film Awards | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | San Antonio Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Lionshead Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | USA Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Worldfest - Houston | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Hill Country Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | LA Indie Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Austin Film Society Showcase | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Official Selection | Dam Short Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Accepted | Cannes Short Film Corner (Film Market) | Hurricane
2016 Official Selection | Los Angeles Film Awards | Hurricane
2016 Official Selection | Hollyshorts Monthly Screening Series | Hurricane
2016 Official Selection | Culver City Film Festival | Hurricane
2016 Official Selection | Big As Texas Short Film Festival | Hurricane
2016 Official Selection | LAIFFA | Hurricane
2016 Official Selection | El Cid LA | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Short Film, Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Comedy, Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Actor, Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Cinematography, Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Screenplay, Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Director, Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Indie Spirit Award, IIFC | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Mary Austin Award - Producing, IIFC | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Supporting Actor, IIFC | Hurricane
2017 Nomination | Best Actor, IIFC | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Dark Comedy, Los Angeles Film Awards | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Ensemble Cast, BATSFF | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Supporting Actress, BATSFF | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Soundtrack, BATSFF | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Art Direction, BATSFF | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Suspense/Thriller, BATSFF | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Ensemble Cast, LAIFFA | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Cinematography, LAIFFA | Hurricane
2016 Nomination | Best Original Score, LAIFFA | Hurricane
2016 Finalist | Best Short Film, Los Angeles Film Awards | Hurricane
2015-16 | Monster in a House
2017 WINNER | Best Director | Boom Film Reviews | Monster in a House
2017 WINNER | Best Sound | Boom Film Reviews | Monster in a House
2015 WINNER | Best Short Film | LA Shorts Awards | Monster in a House
2015 WINNER | Best Director | LAIFFA | Monster in a House
2015 WINNER | Best Cinematography | LAIFFA | Monster in a House
2015 WINNER | Gold Remi Award | 48th Annual Worldfest | Monster in a House
2015 FINALIST | USA Film Festival | Monster in a House
2018 Official Selection | Deep in the Heart Film Festival | Monster in a House
2016 Official Selection | El Dorado Film Festival | Monster in a House
2016 Official Distribution Offer | Silicon Beach | Monster in a House
2016 Official Distribution Offer | ShortsHD | Monster in a House
2016 Official Selection | Palm Springs ShortFest Market | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Bronx International Film Festival | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | LA Film Awards | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | LA Shorts Awards | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | The Strange Film Awards | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | IFilmmaker Film Festival | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | ITSA Film Festival | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Laguna Film Festival | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Maverick Movie Awards | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Salt Lake International Film Festival | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Lake Erie Arts & Film Festival | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | FilmQuest | Monster in a House (3 nominations)
2015 Official Selection | LAIFFA | Monster in a House (4 nominations)
2015 Official Selection | Chattanooga Film Festival | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Cannes Short Film Corner | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Hollyshorts Monthly Screenings | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Los Angeles CineFest | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | El Cid Short Film Night | Monster in a House
2015 Official Selection | Indie Night at The Chinese Theater | Monster in a House
2018 Nomination | Best Fantasy/SciFi | DHFF | Monster in a House
2018 Nomination | Best Cinematography | DHFF | Monster in a House
2014 | King Eternal
2014 WINNER Gold Remi Award | 47th Annual Worldfest | King Eternal
2014 WINNER | LA Cinema Festival | Best Student Film | King Eternal
2014 WINNER | Hollyshorts Film Festival | Audience Award | King Eternal
2014 | Official Selection | Cannes Short Film Corner | King Eternal
2014 Hollyshorts Film Festival Monthly Screening Series | King Eternal
2014 Official Selection | NewFilmmakers Los Angeles | King Eternal
2013 Winner | CINE Golden Eagle | King Eternal
2006-13 | Others
2013 Hollyshorts Film Festival Monthly Screening Series | Soar Like A Wave
2013 Audience Award | Once A Week Online Film Festival | Soar Like A Wave
2013 Official Selection | Cannes Short Film Corner | Soar Like A Wave
2013 Audience Award | Once A Week Online Film Festival | Heatman
2013 Award of Merit | Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood | Heatman
2010 North Texas Review Published Short Story | The Mystic Observer
2008 Audience Award | 48 Hours of Hell Film Race | Hellfire Collective
2007 Finalist | Apple Insomnia Film Festival | Color
2007 Texas Film Review Official Selection | 20
2006 Apple Student Showcase | 20
2006 Lonestar Emmy Award Nomination | Story