Imagine Zumaya\u2019s delight when he learned his debut short film, Transference, would make its world premiere at Fantastic Fest this year. It will screen as part of the Short Fuse<\/a> program of horror shorts Friday at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is an audience of freaks out there that this is for,\u201d he says of the film.<\/p>\n Transference depicts a hypnotherapy session mutating into something surreal. The memories of a therapist (Valentina Ellis) and her patient (Alexandria Payne) blur together in a toxic storm of ominous sound and chilling camcorder footage. Festival programmers succinctly describe the short as \u201ca ghost transmission from the outer limits of Hell.\u201d<\/p>\n The production might be a perfect time capsule of indie filmmaking in Austin, where DIY grit and an increasingly glossy festival scene collide. To reach this high-profile (and blood-soaked) launchpad, Zumaya relied on a local cast and crew eager to make each other\u2019s dreams come true \u2014 even if that dream is a nightmare.<\/p>\n The San Diego native started his film career in Southern California. When COVID unmoored the industry, he moved to Austin for work. He\u2019s built a wide portfolio of commercial and music video work, including collaborations with Deftones and Danny Elfman, but directing a narrative film was always the goal.<\/p>\n Then, a childhood friend, writer Matt Knutson, reached out to ask about collaborating. Along with co-writer Ross Nervig, they developed the concept for Transference. Zumaya drew from deeply personal storytelling wells: a longtime interest in psychology (he wanted to be a therapist at one point), a love of strong visuals (thanks, Catholic upbringing), one of his favorite songs (\u201cAre You Shivering?\u201d by Coil ends the film) and his foundational film frights.<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up an incredibly paranoid kid. Static on a TV\u2014scary, like straight up,\u201d Zumaya says. \u201cI remember [watching] Poltergeist when I was 6. It freaked me the f- – – out.\u201d<\/p>\n To make the short, Zumaya set a $11,000 crowdfunding goal<\/a>. He raised it in a day, eventually hitting a total just under $14,000. The project also received a $5,000 Nexus Grant from the City of Austin.<\/p>\n “Transference,” Zumaya’s psychological horror short film, will premiere Friday at Fantastic Fest.<\/p>\n \u201cYour community will show up for you,\u201d he says. \u201cYour people will show up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789644491_324_.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n