Experiencing Interruptions?

Stray

A spirit metes out vengeance when a young girl ignores her mother's warning about the Pied Piper myth.

  • Wanjiru Njendu
    Director
    Boxed, Look Again, The Dinner Guest, Smile
  • Peres Owino
    Writer
    Bound: Africans versus African Americans , Glimpse, Boxed
  • Diana Ward
    Producer
    Liberty, The Coin, Roller Dreams
  • Wanjiru Njendu
    Producer
    Boxed, Look Again, The Dinner Guest, Smile
  • Peres Owino
    Producer
    Bound: Africans versus African Americans , Glimpse, Boxed
  • Peres Owino
    Key Cast
    "Mother"
    Bound: Africans versus African Americans , Glimpse, Boxed
  • Trinity Moriah Jones
    Key Cast
    "Aneesa"
    Conrad & Michelle: If Words Could Kill, Latasha Harlins: A Rose That Grew from Concrete, SuperFly
  • Bongani Mlambo
    Director of Photography
    All Creatures Here Below, Boxed, The Coin, Just one night
  • John Cantu
    Editor / Sound Design
    Get out Trailer Editor, Us Trailer Editor
  • Dara Taylor
    Composer
    Shaft, The Boys, Ugly Dolls, Boxed
  • Brittany Ingram
    Production Design
    The Coin, Boxed, Marriage Material, Space Flower
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 6, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Cannes Series

    France
    October 10, 2020
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Dead in Decatur presents: the Art of Fear
    Decatur, Illinois
    United States
    October 16, 2020
    Official Selection
  • HEX After Dark Film Festival
    Calgary, AB
    Canada
    October 15, 2020
    Official Selection
  • SIN Film Festival
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    United States
    October 29, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Indie Memphis Film Festival
    Memphis
    United States
    October 21, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Cucalorus Film Festival
    Wilmington, North Carolina
    United States
    November 14, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Hollyshort Film Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    November 9, 2020
    Los Angeles
  • Barrymore Film Center Short Film Festival 
    Fort Lee, New Jersey
    United States
    January 15, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Dam Short Film Festival
    Boulder City, Nevada
    February 11, 2021
    Official Selection
  • FIXION Fest, Fantastic & Horror Film Festival
    Santiago
    Chile
    February 12, 2021
    South American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Green Mountain International Film Festival
    Burlington, Vermont
    United States
    February 14, 2021
    Winner: Best U.S Short Film
  • L'Hospitalet de Llobregat International Film Festival (L'HIFF)
    Barcelona
    Spain
    November 15, 2021
    Spanish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Papaya Rocks Film Festival Papaya Rocks Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 25, 2021
    U.K Premiere
    Winner Jury Award
  • Catalyst International Film Festival
    Limerick
    Ireland
    March 19, 2021
    Irish Premiere
    Winner-Jury Special Mention
  • Kalakari film fest
    Dewas
    India
    May 15, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Anatolia International Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    May 23, 2021
    Turkish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Volterra Fantasy Film Festival
    Toscana
    Italy
    April 4, 2021
    Italian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Roxbury International Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    June 17, 2021
    Official Selection
  • The Durban International Film Festival
    Durban
    South Africa
    July 22, 2021
    South African Premieres
    Official Selection
  • Trí Rivers Film Festival
    Tyrone
    United Kingdom
    August 20, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Muestra Internacional Itinerante de Cine Alternativo en México Film Festival (Micam 3.0)
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    Mexican Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Thrills, Chills, and Kills Summer Film Fest
    Nashville, Tennessee
    United States
    July 9, 2021
    Tennessee Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Indie Shorts Mag Short Film Festival

    United States
    July 13, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Fortean Film Festival
    Gloucester
    United Kingdom
    August 27, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Fortean Film Festival
    Gloucester
    United Kingdom
    August 27, 2021
    Silver Award – Best Horror film
  • Idlewild International Film Festival
    Detroit, Michigan
    United States
    August 28, 2021
    Winner: Best Micro Short Film
  • Z-Shorts International Film Festival
    Santa Barbara, California
    United States
    September 1, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Horsetooth Intl. Film Festival
    Northern Colorado
    United States
    September 8, 2021
    Official Selection
  • L'HIFF - Barcelona International Film Festival
    Barcelona
    Spain
    September 13, 2021
    Official Selection
  • The Raleigh Film & Art Festival
    Raleigh, North Carolina
    United States
    October 1, 2021
    Offical Selection
  • Poe Film Festival
    Richmond Virginia
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Eastern Europe International Movie Awards

    August 19, 2021
    Winner - SILVER AWARD- Best Horror short and Best Makeup
Distribution Information
  • 20th Digital Studio
    Sales Agent
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Wanjiru Njendu

Wanjiru Njendu is an award-winning filmmaker whose creative imagination earned her the nickname 'Magic' at a young age.

Her award-winning short film Boxed has played almost 200 film festival selections, with numerous wins and nominations. Boxed was selected for the 2021-2022 Nuits en Or - Académie des César. Her other films have played in almost 100 Festivals. Wanjiru was honored by the Roxbury International Film Festival with the 2021 Rox Vision Award.

Wanjiru directed a horror short Stray, which was acquired by 20th Digital Studios with a feature option, and she was the shadowing director on the Netflix series “Daybreak”.

During the pandemic she filmed a climate action docs-series created by her sister Built for Good Africa featuring Green Buildings in Africa. She is currently developing several scripted film and television projects.

Wanjiru is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Stray was inspired by the ongoing issue of missing black girls who are snatched and disappear with no trace or mass media coverage. The Ice-cream truck driver which is a faceless creature with only a grotesque mouth represents the faceless men and women who pull our children off the streets. The sewn mouth is symbolic of their unbreakable vow of silence and secrecy that protects them from capture.