Private Project

NO ESCAPE

When her perfect romantic getaway in the woods is ruined by the appearance of the ominous 'Indian Mother', Nisha must fight the obstacles of her immigrant past, in hopes of ever having an American future.

  • Leena Kurishingal
    Director
    SkeDJes Sketch Comedy, WAVE Grant
  • Leena Kurishingal
    Writer
    SkeDJes Sketch Comedy, WAVE Grant
  • Leena Kurishingal
    Producer
    SkeDJes Sketch Comedy, WAVE Grant
  • Timothy Farrell
    Producer
    The Year Between, Give Me Liberty
  • J. H. Rogers III
    Producer
    Mound Bayou: Jewel Of The Delta *Emmy nominee
  • Marissa Jo Cerar
    Producer
    Hulu's Black Cake, ABC's Women Of The Movement, The Handmaid's Tale *Humanitas winner, Emmy nominee
  • Leena Kurishingal
    Key Cast
    "NISHA"
    Quantum Leap, General Hospital
  • Mike Monreal
    Key Cast
    "JIM"
    ABC's Women Of The Movement
  • Shivani Thakkar
    Key Cast
    "THE INDIAN MOTHER"
    Four Samosas, MKM Bollystars USA
  • Parvesh Cheena
    Key Cast
    "GHOST DAD"
    The Mandalorian, Outsourced
  • Gregory Hollimon
    Key Cast
    "RENTAL OWNER"
    Strangers With Candy, Bob's Burgers
  • Daniel Izui
    Director Of Photography
    Zen Room, The Christmas Pitch
  • Mark Davis
    Gaffer
    The Bear, Candyman, Fargo
  • Hannah D. Kettering
    Locations
    Mutt, UCB Comedy Originals
  • Shannon MacKinnon
    Production Designer
  • John Wong
    Sound Designer
    South Side, Empire, Work In Progress
  • Oscar Jasso
    Composer
    Crossroads, L'Accordatore, The Perfect Letter
  • Jordan Amandes
    Colorist
  • Mel Wilson
    Makeup/ Hair
    Somebody Somewhere, The Bear, Chicago PD
  • Marquecia Jordan
    Wardrobe Consultant
    Jeff Award Nominee, BTAA Award Recipient
  • Nihar Gagneja
    Location Sound
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    horror comedy, horror, comedy, romantic comedy, south asian, indian, parody, slapstick, monster, los angeles, chicago, bipoc, minorities, female filmmaker, female protagonist, first time director, cabin in the woods, overbearing mothers, assimilation, culture clash, interracial couples, deer, romantic getaway, weekend vacation, jokes, immigrants, homage, ghost, mother daughter, gold, ladle, grant winning
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 11, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    9,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    ARRI Alexa Classic
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Chicago Horror Film Festival
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    May 17, 2025
    Best Actress/Chicago Award, Best Actor/Chicago Nomination
  • Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
    Gilroy, CA
    United States
    April 10, 2025
  • Northwest Illinois Film Festival/ Shorts-A-Palooza
    Morrison, IL
    United States
    April 9, 2025
  • Panic Fest
    Kansas City, MO
    United States
    March 28, 2025
  • Portland Comedy Film Festival
    Portland, OR
    United States
    December 8, 2024
    Best Horror Comedy Award Finalist
  • Yellow Springs Film Festival
    Yellow Springs, OH
    United States
    October 6, 2024
  • Dreamscape International Film Festival
    Houston, TX
    United States
    September 26, 2024
  • Nevada Women's Film Festival
    Las Vegas, NV
    United States
    June 22, 2024
  • Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival/ VC Film Fest
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    May 3, 2024
    World Premiere
Director Biography - Leena Kurishingal

Leena Kurishingal is a SAG-AFTRA performer of 18 years appearing on stage, screen, and more, with a film degree from Columbia College Chicago in her back pocket. She crossed into writing thanks to a diversity scholarship from the Upright Citizens Brigade LA, where she studied improv, sketch, and characters. This led to collaboration with the all WOC sketch group, Soul Sista Comedy. She also wrote, directed, and produced a one-hour sketch variety show pondering Indian identity for stage called 'India & You: And Me. And Everybody'. Leena focuses on imperfect female characters, learning to thrive as such, and integrating Indians into the American cultural fabric. She has since received the UCLA Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship for TV Writing, pitched short form content for Bite-Size Horror under FOX Digital, and become a WAVE Grant recipient for first time female directors. When not cultivating art, she lovingly cultivates her plants.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Growing up in the US as a child of immigrants, there is a dual life one constructs that generally involves slinking around like an FBI agent, revealing no more than is absolutely necessary to overly strict parents. It takes its toll, especially since it often CONTINUES into adulthood. Fast forward and you find yourself in a constant battle of lifestyles, when you just want to make everyone happy. Thus, the creation of this horror comedy short. It breaks the genre mold by featuring a woman of South Asian descent and her inner fears around obligation. It poses questions that are important for our specific psyches, yet honors classic horror emblems which broader audiences know and love, including the young couple in the woods, thunder 'n lightning, shadowy unknowns - and of course, a Ghostie dad. (I'm positive that's a mainstay.) It's funny because the main character's juggling act is ridiculous. It IS insane to not stand up to your parents as an adult. But it's also a part of life for this segment of the American populace who often have to fight to feel like they are American, even when born and raised here. NO ESCAPE is a way to integrate us into something as American as apple pie, letting our experiences be part of the societal canon, too.