Steps

  • Short Film Competition

Year: 2023

Length: 19 mins

Country: Canada / United States

Language: English

Directed by: Dan Bricker, Eytan Millstone

Produced by: Eytan Millstone, Dan Bricker

Starring: Evan Williams (Tanner Slade)

Content Warnings: Implied Violence‎

SEE THE FILM

Friday Feb 21, 5:25 PM-7:30 PM – Friday Evening Shorts Program 1 + QA

Thursday Feb 20, 1:00 PM-3:05 PM – Thursday Matinee Made in NYC Shorts

Tanner Slade, an extremely unlikable bro, is obsessed with counting his steps. On his way to a tropical, solo drug-filled getaway, he is kidnapped, and wakes up in a room with a shock collar on. A voice over a loudspeaker explains that he can only take 50 steps every 24 hours or he will be punished. He embarks on a journey where he must adapt his lifestyle, and conserve every step in order to adhere to his captor’s demands. As this dark comedy unfolds, Tanner is forced to confront his own demons and ultimately decide what matters more… attaining a bunch of trivial steps that no one in the world cares about, or not being a pile of human garbage.

About the Directors

Eytan Millstone is an award winning writer, director, and comedian. In 2004 he was a runner up in the Toronto Star Short Story Contest, and published in a Star that summer. In 2014 he gave a TED Talk at The Crescent School on the African word “Sankofa”.
Dan Bricker is a Canadian-born director whose award winning films have been shown across the globe. He focuses his energy on shooting narrative fiction and comedy specials.

Reviews & Interviews

Awards

2024 Soho International Film Festival – Best Acting Performance In A Leading Role – US Short – Evan Williams (nominee)
2024 Houston Comedy Film Festival – Best Dark Comedy (nominee)
2024 Sioux City International Film Festival – Audience Choice Award For Best Comedy
2024 Atlanta Comedy Film Festival – Best Dark Comedy
2025 Oregon Short Film Festival – Best Dark Comedy (nominee)