MATING SEASON
When three city friends head into the rural South for one last carefree hunting trip before adulthood, their weekend escape devolves into a primal nightmare as the hunters become the hunted, forcing each to face the death of youth, the brutality of survival, and the horrifying truth that growing up might mean becoming the very thing you fear.
SYNOPSIS
Three recent college grads set out for one last hunting trip before adulthood, documenting their weekend with Peter’s camera. What begins as a found-footage chronicle of friendship and nostalgia quickly devolves into a nightmare as the hunters become the hunted.
Midway through, the perspective shifts—the friends’ camera falls into the hands of their pursuers, turning the story into a grotesque home movie from the killers’ point of view. When the camera is finally destroyed, the format itself breaks: the film transitions from found footage to traditional cinematic realism, placing the audience inside the horror in real time.
Mating Season redefines the genre, evolving from a youthful road trip to a brutal allegory about survival, loss of innocence, and the terrifying moment when play ends and reality takes over.
Chris Sivertson | Director
Chris Sivertson is a horror director with a strong track record across both studio and independent filmmaking. His debut feature, The Lost, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and Sitges Film Festival. He went on to direct I Know Who Killed Me, starring Lindsay Lohan, for TriStar Pictures / Sony Pictures, a wide theatrical release that later gained cult status and strong home entertainment performance. His film All Cheerleaders Die premiered in the Midnight Madness section at the Toronto International Film Festival and has since become a well-regarded title within the horror community. His work consistently blends commercial sensibility with genre credibility, delivering films that resonate with audiences and perform across international markets. Sivertson's theatrical track record has been directly incorporated into Mating Season's revenue projections, providing an experienced, director-specific baseline that de-risks the project beyond genre comparables alone.
Writers
Leila Victoria
Leila is a Cuban-American actress and award-winning screenwriter. She is managed by Liam Scholey and Julia Watkinson at Vision Entertainment. A graduate of Tulane University with a major in Film Production, Leila brings a fresh and distinct perspective to her work. She has written three feature film scripts currently in various stages of pre-production, as well as a comedy pilot, and has received high scores on The Black List, including industry referrals.
Samuel Wilson
Samuel is a screenwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. He began his writing career by winning the Young Screenwriters Award at the Nashville Film Festival and was later recognized as a finalist in Roadmap Writers’ Top Tier Competition. Sam earned his BFA in Screenwriting from Chapman University, where he honed his craft in storytelling. Recently, his screenplay Nostalgia became The Black List Recommended (top 1% of projects on the website).
Producers
HI Media
HI MEDIA PARTNERS, founded by trailblazing media executive, writer, and producer Cynthia Hudson, is a next-generation content company dedicated to telling powerful, globally resonant stories across film, series, and documentary. With a mission to inspire audiences to see themselves and the world through imaginative, human-centered storytelling, the company develops projects driven by original IP, acclaimed authors, and culturally relevant narratives.
Building on Hudson’s legacy—spanning more than three decades shaping Spanish-language and cross-cultural media at Univision, Telemundo, Hearst, Spanish Broadcasting Systems, and CNN en Español, and earning eight Emmy Awards and a Peabody—HI MEDIA is now expanding into premium scripted filmmaking.
With Mating Season, the company leads this new chapter, combining authentic production with a modern, globally minded distribution strategy to deliver content that resonates, connects, and endures.
Executive Producer
VIP 2000 TV
VIP 2000 TV is a leading independent production and distribution company with decades of experience connecting Latin American, U.S., and international markets through globally driven storytelling. The company has played a key role in the worldwide distribution of major telenovela and television properties, while also expanding into original productions and international co-productions. Known for building strategic cross-border partnerships and commercially viable content, VIP 2000 TV brings extensive industry relationships across production, financing, and distribution. For Mating Season, the company is contributing production services in Florida, supporting investment efforts, and helping position the project for international distribution opportunities.
Executive Producer
Executive ProducerFILMIKA AUDIOVISUAL/ IMPULSE STUDIOS
Filmika Audiovisual is a specialized financial, fiscal, and legal advisory firm dedicated to supporting the viability of audiovisual productions from development through execution. Offering a fully integrated approach, Filmika provides expert guidance in tax structuring, financing strategy, and regulatory compliance, helping producers maximize available resources across jurisdictions. The company facilitates access to a wide range of financing sources—including public funding, tax incentives, and optimized production structures—ensuring each project is strategically positioned for success. By combining financial engineering with industry expertise, Filmika serves as a key partner in bringing complex international productions to life.
Executive ProducerETERNO PICTURES
Eterno Pictures is a Spain-based film and television production company, focused on internationally positioned audiovisual projects, co-productions, and post-production services. Through its expanding network of strategic partnerships across Europe and Latin America, the company has become increasingly active in the development and production of feature films, series, and internationally driven content. Eterno Pictures brings valuable expertise in international collaboration, post-production, and global market positioning. For Mating Season, the company is attached as a strategic post-production partner in Spain, contributing post-production services while supporting the film’s international positioning and long-term distribution strategy.