Private Project

SEEN

In this psychological horror short, a camera left by a mysterious man haunts a young female taxi driver, fuelling relentless stalking, surveillance and paranoia.

  • Dhwani Shah
    Director
    44, Sapling
  • Dhwani Shah
    Writer
    44, Sapling
  • Lauren Bennett
    Producer
    Younger, Impractical Jokers, Baskets, Louis
  • Myrta Vida
    Producer
    The Infiltrators, Pandemic Players, Premature
  • Kausar Mohammed
    Key Cast
    "Noori"
    Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, The Flash, Appendage,
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Thriller, Psychological
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Alexa 35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Dhwani Shah

Dhwani Shah is a writer-director originally from Mumbai, India and based in New York City. Her foray into horror with the short film ‘44’ has won a few notable accolades, including an Honorable Mention at the New York City Horror Film Festival and a top 10 finalist of Shondaland’s Women Directing Mentorship at SeriesFest. Dhwani’s work has been featured in and reviewed by Variety, No Film School and other publications.

Starting out as an editor, Dhwani brings a sharp sense of pacing and tension to her work, often channeling the gripping storytelling of the classic horror films she grew up watching.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Seen is a psychological horror story about a South Asian immigrant named Noori, whose life begins to unravel when she realizes she’s being watched. The film draws from real fears that many women, especially women of color, live with every day—fears of being followed, surveilled, or violated, both physically and psychologically.

As a woman and an immigrant, I’ve often felt the unease of being watched, misread, or reduced to a stereotype. What makes that gaze dangerous is not just that it exists, but that it can so easily cross the line into obsession. This film was born out of that discomfort—of wanting to reclaim the narrative and give shape to an experience that’s too often silenced or brushed aside.

With Seen, I want to create a conversation around the experience of being looked at in a way that strips away agency. It explores the fear, paranoia, and vulnerability that come with being constantly visible in a world that still fails to see women as whole, complex beings.