Private Project

Calls from the Unknown

A young woman communicates with her family in unusual ways as she copes with the death of her father and seeks a proper way to say goodbye.

  • Edward Valibus
    Director
    On the Sufferings of the World, Songs in the Key of Death, The Conversion, Grim Sweeper, CottonBallLand, Confessions of a Pedalphile
  • Edward Valibus
    Writer
    On the Sufferings of the World, Songs in the Key of Death, The Conversion, Grim Sweeper, CottonBallLand, Confessions of a Pedalphile
  • Sarah Fleming
    Producer
    CarBike, Other Side of the Pillow,
  • G.B. Shannon
    Producer
    Fresh Squeezed, Pretty Monsters, Broke Dick Dog
  • Benjamin Rednour
    Producer
    The Conversion, Grim Sweeper, Broke Dick Dog
  • Lara Johnson
    Key Cast
  • Mark Pergolizzi
    Key Cast
    Grim Sweeper, Genesis on Demand, The Conversion, Bohater Pies, Bright Sunny South, Away (A)wake, Blue Citrus Hearts
  • Michael Jasud
    Key Cast
  • Caroline Sposto
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Dark Comedy
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 3 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 28, 2016
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Magnolia Independent Film Festival
    Starkville, MS
    United States
    March 4, 2017
    Mississippi Premiere
    Best Short Film
  • Memphis Film Prize
    Memphis, TN
    United States
    August 12, 2016
    World Premiere
    Top Ten Finalist
  • Indie Memphis Film Festival
    Memphis, TN
    United States
    November 5, 2016
Director Biography - Edward Valibus

I am a film director, screenwriter, and editor based in Memphis, TN. Over the past decade, I have created two feature films, nine short films, and multiple music videos. I often work in comedic genres including surrealism, dark comedy, and satire but have ventured recently into drama and experimental filmmaking also.

I currently enjoy a wonderful career making films showing local pride in Memphis including editing NBA's Memphis Grizzlies hype-films for Marc Gasol & Mike Coley, directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan, Empire). I also wrote and directed the short film, THE NEW MEMPHIS, a visual love poem for Memphis, produced by New Memphis Institute.

Beyond filmmaking, I like cats...and that's about it.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Calls from the Unknown is a deeply personal film. It's inspired by experiences in grieving the death of my own father. Instead of the usual stages of grief, I found my family to share happier moments oddly with gallow humor, spark tension over every detail, and individually find our own way to convey our sense of loss. I find it odd that he's still in a small box sitting on a shelf as we never carried out any ritual in spreading the ashes yet.

The film also hints at a family experiencing divorce, something I recently went through as well. Making this film, and filmmaking in general, is a fulfilling way for me to convey my feelings in these experiences and brings me joy to tell a story even if the source comes for less joyful times.