All Texas producer, director, cast, crew and locations make up Mantis– a joint film production from Director Justice Hardy of Justice Creative and Brazen Films in association with 941 Productions and Executive Producer Lindsey Barnes.
Producer/Director Justice Hardy, Executive Producer Lindsey Barnes, Actress Danielle Wheeler and Cast to Attend Official Screening of Film
The new psychological thriller film Mantis, from Native Texan Producer and Director Justice Hardy and Executive Producer Lindsey Barnes of 941 Productions and starring Ali Stolar and Matthew Pettigrew, Dallas Veteran Actor and Producer Danielle Wheeler and 2020 International Horror Film Awards Best Actor Daniel Van Thomas will screen at the 20th Annual DIFF | Dallas International Film Festival, the Southwest’s largest global Oscar® Qualifying Festival. Writer/producer/director Justice Hardy, executive producer Lindsey Barnes and Dallas actress Danielle Wheeler, who plays Marilyn in the film, as well as additional cast members will attend the screening. The film is scheduled for its world premiere Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 PM at the Texas Theater 2 and additional showing Wednesday, April 29 at 9:30 PM at Cinéopolis 7.
Written and directed by Hardy, who has created a new model for high-speed producing, in conjunction and the music of Lillianna Fischer, the thriller marks the feature film acting debut of Ali Stolar as well as the first full-length feature for actor and indie filmmaker Matthew Pettigrew (It Calls to Me, Degradation) and award-winning actor Daniel Van Thomas. In Mantis, a workaholic Rana (Ali Stolar) in denial of her husband’s sudden passing is forced to use a controversial technology at her latest job that stimulates the waning electrical activity in the human brain after death.
Writer/director Hardy said, “MANTIS explores the tension between control and identity in a way that feels both intimate and unsettling. We wanted to create something that stays with you—something that challenges what you think you’re watching even after it ends. On behalf of the filmmaking team, I want to thank the programmers at DIFF for including Mantis in this year’s 20th Anniversary edition. We are proud to be a part of the Film in Texas movement and DIFF could not be a better place for our world premiere.”
Executive producer Lindsey Barnes of 941 Productions (Fault Lines-Winner 48 Hour Film Festival Dallas and screened at Cannes Film Festival, It Calls to Me-Short) added, “I’m really looking forward to being with the fans for this screening. There is no audience more enthusiastic or supportive than fans of the horror genre in all its facets. Horror, especially, is where filmmakers get to be bold. For me, I’m most drawn to psychological horror, horror grounded in character, and genre-blending work—whether that leans into thriller, mystery, or even dark comedy. I am delighted to be making great stories with great people from Texas in Texas. We were delighted to film in Fort Worth and have such overwhelming support from Film Fort Worth and the Dallas Film Commission. Many thanks to DIFF.”
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: Texas born-and-raised, Justice Hardy is an award-winning filmmaker and producer who has been telling stories in the Lone Star State since before the iPhone was invented. Justice has a proven track record in independent film, pioneering a new producing model that enabled him to direct his first feature film in less than 24 hours, and has spent the last several years championing filmmakers, crew, and talent in Texas. In addition to his Texan-run company Justice Creative and Texas production company Brazen Pictures, Justice also produced notable indie films like Cinequest-premiere and indie dramedy WHO NEEDS YOU with writer/director Tyler Hunt, and Executive Produced THE SWEETEST KILL with Atomic Features (IMPERIUM starring Daniel Radcliffe, FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN starring Ryan Reynolds and Julia Roberts).
Justice Hardy
About 941 PRODUCTIONS:
Lindsey Barnes is a former educator and the Founder and Executive Producer of 941 Productions, a Texas-based production company focused on story-driven narrative and documentary films. Her latest feature documentary, Matched, is currently in post-production and was independently financed and produced through 941. She has also executive produced narrative shorts including It Calls to Me and Fault Lines, which screened at Cannes. Lindsey is currently developing a narrative slate with a strategic Texas-forward launch plan.
