PARANOIA

Short, thriller

Czechia

2025

Runtime, min

Filip is a paranoid man without a higher purpose, whose life is plagued by the onset of schizophrenia and a mysterious Stalker who appears in his dreams. As Filip struggles to overcome his anxiety and finally leave his home, he soon notices a strange figure outside. Panic sets in, and he breaks into a run - what begins as a quiet walk turns into a relentless chase, one from which there is no escape.

Director:

Jan Zbořil

Selections and Awards:

Bratislava International Film Awards Bratislava February 20, 2026 Best Short Film Slovakia

REVIEWS:

the answer who the Stalker actually becomes obvious almost from the very start.

Emily Turner

very dark, moody, and well-shot

Srisuk Pimchanok

Interesting loop - I would like to see it developed further.

Live Screenings Attendee

Nice twist.

Live Screenings Attendee

Mind-blowing.

Live Screenings Attendee

Those creeping, fragmented thoughts at the beginning about the van and the Stalker really put you inside Filip's head. It is a terrifying, claustrophobic portrayal of schizophrenia.

Oliver Jensen

The paranoid atmosphere is captured perfectly, and the chase sequence is genuinely tense. However, as a huge fan of psychological thrillers, I found the final outcome to be quite predictable.

Maia Chkonia

Beautiful work, with a deafening silence. I loved the shot at the entrance, viewed from above the protagonist. Unfortunately, it really traps us in the illness

Adrien Pereira

boring and predictably

Andrei Smirnov