“The Prowler,” a psychological horror short film written, directed and edited by Puerto Rican filmmaker Christopher Piñero, has been selected for the LA Shorts International Film Festival, an event that qualifies for Academy Award and BAFTA consideration.
The festival will run July 30 through Aug. 12 at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
The film stars Latino actor Aaron Dominguez, known for his roles in “Only Murders in the Building,” “Shaft” and “The Inspection.”
“The Prowler” follows a quiet night that spirals into a fight for survival, exploring themes of fear and paranoia. It is Piñero’s latest work in the psychological horror genre, a longtime interest he traces to his childhood.
“’The Prowler’ began with a simple question: What if fear itself became the villain?” Piñero said. “I wanted to create a psychological horror story that keeps audiences questioning what’s real until the very end. Growing up between Virginia and Puerto Rico, I was surrounded by stories of the supernatural, folklore and urban legends that fueled my imagination from an early age. Those stories shaped the way I think about fear and continue to inspire the films I make. Seeing ‘The Prowler’ connect with audiences has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to share it with even more people through these festivals.”
The short previously screened at Panic Fest and the Chattanooga Film Festival, where it drew coverage from the horror website Bloody Disgusting and a positive review from Horror Buzz.
No additional distribution plans have been announced.
About the film
“The Prowler” is an independent psychological horror short. It premiered on the festival circuit in 2026 with official selections at Panic Fest and the Chattanooga Film Festival.
About the director
Piñero began his filmmaking career as an actor at the New York Film Academy in New York City. He later moved into writing and directing after appearing in several short films and studying other aspects of production.
His work often draws on his upbringing in a Puerto Rican family, exploring themes of perception, identity and unseen forces that shape human behavior. Piñero’s debut feature, “A Dark Place,” was distributed by Gravitas Ventures. His short film “Gone” premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival.
More information on the LA Shorts International Film Festival is available at its website.