After grieving over the murder of his wife and son, a prison guard dines with the killer for his last meal.
“A LITTLE GLASS OF RUM” - An Award-Winning Thriller Short Film by Lauren Keller and Marc Cardillo
“A LITTLE GLASS OF RUM” - Official Trailers HD
76 FILM FESTIVALS AND SCREENINGS
28 WINS / 23 NOMINATIONS / 1 TELEVISION BROADCAST / 11 FINALISTS / 3 SEMI-FINALISTS / 1 QUARTER FINALIST / 3 CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENTS / 4 HONORABLE MENTIONS / 34 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Critic Reviews
“There’s enough talent in front of and behind the camera to make it not just work but stand out.”
— Jim Morazzini, Voices from the Balcony
“lt is how it slyly questions the psyche of Stan that actually makes the script intelligent…”
— Joe Beck, UK Film Review
“A gripping dissection of wrongdoing and the philosophy surrounding it…It has confidence. It has poise. It has intelligence.”
- Calan Panchoo, Film Threat
“A Little Glass of Rum is really beautifully made.”
- Cinema Talkies
About.
After leaving for the night shift at a local prison, security guard Stan Ailor comes home to discover the gruesome murder of his wife Holly and son Peter in 1968. Three years later, Stan gets ready for the execution of his family’s murderer while listening to Holly’s music box. Arriving at the prison, Stan observes the murderer’s cell and is escorted by the prison warden, Dawson to the interrogation room where the convict is being held. Stan enters the room and locks eyes with Kenneth, the cold blooded killer. Dawson enters his office and watches the scene through security footage. Stan and Kenneth awkwardly speak to one another, followed by the prison chef arriving with Kenneth’s last meal. The two begin to dine and talk about the murders. Tension rises and Kenneth reveals a scar on his wrist, similar to one on Stan’s wrist. The two gradually strip down their egos, revealing that they are brothers. Kenneth starts humming a familiar tune, Holly’s music box, followed by how he murdered both Holly and Peter. Stan starts to lose control, screaming and punching his demented sibling. As Kenneth says his final smart remark, Stan finally gets the revenge that he's been longing.
Awards & Screenings
Horror Realm - Official Selection - 2025
Global Youth Film Festival Bangladesh - Finalist - 2024
WideScreen Film & Music Video Festival - Semi-Finalist, Quarter Finalist - 2024
Haunted House FearFest - Winner Best Horror Short, Best Director, Best Actor/Drama, Best Editing - 2024
Indie Lens International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Incheon International Short Film Festival - Finalist - 2024
Rising Tide Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Bifocal Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Prestige Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Cine-Maniacs Filmfest - Honorable Mention - 2024
That Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Kalaburagi International Film Festival - Semi-Finalist - 2024
Italy International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Green Beacon Short Film Festival - Official Selection - 2024
Las Cruces International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Wick Monet Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Edo State International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Creative Connections Film Festival - Winner Best Feature & Audience Choice - 2023
Global Bengaluru International Film Festival - Finalist - 2023
Magic Silver Screen Film Festival - Winner Best Short - 2023
Medusa Film Festival - Winner Best Short - 2023
Ravenwood Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
AIU Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Egyptian American Film Festival - Nominee - 2023
The International Film Festival of Srinagar (TIFFS) - Official Selection - 2023
Aasha International Film Festival - Winner Best Short Film - 2023
Women’s Lens International Short Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
The Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival: Thriller Picture Show - Winner Best Student Thriller, Best Score, Best Cinematography & Best Performance - 2023
Corto Creativo Short Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Pittsburgh Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Busan New Wave Short Film Festival - Finalist in Sound Design - 2023
Student LA Film Awards - Finalist - 2023
Youngstown Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Kobani International Film Festival - Finalist - 2023
Student Film Awards - Shortlisted in Editing & Storytelling - 2023
Symbiotic FIlm Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Mottola Short Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Melbourne Cineverse FIlm Festival - Winner Best Thriller - 2023
Reading Film Fest - Official Selection - 2023
Realtime International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
LA Student Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Katonah Classic Stage Film Festival - Winner - 2023
Lytham International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
WILDsound Daily Festival - Official Selection - 2023
NAFCo Rock N’ Reel Summer Film Festival Series - Official Selection - 2023
Fort Smith International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
International Police Award Arts Festival - Winner Best Short Film, Nominated Best Actor - 2023
Shoot Your Shot Film Festival - Finalist - 2023
Orlando International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Student World Impact Film Festival - Finalist Best Drama - 2023
MisCon International Short Film Festival - Semi-Finalist - 2023
CinemaKing International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Filmerding! FIlm Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Unspooled Film Festival - Finalist - 2023
Festival del Cinema di Cefalù - Nominee - 2023
New York Cinematography Awards - Winner Best Student Cinematographer - 2023
Bloody Hats - Official Selection - 2023
Eastern Europe International Movie Awards - Official Selection - 2023
Athens International Monthly Awards Film Festival - Honorable Mention - 2023
The Monthly Film Festival - Nominee Best Trailer - 2023
5th Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival - Finalist - 2023
Kalakari Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Media Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Jumpcut Theater Presents: Film Kitchen - Official Selection - 2023
Prison City Film Festival - Winner Best Makeup, Best Student Director, Nominated Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Drama, Best Editing, Best Music, Best Sound, Best Overall Student Submission, Best Student Performance, Best Student Film, Best Supporting Actor, Best US Narrative Short, Best Writing, Most Intense, Most Original - 2023
Wisdom Tree International Film Festival - Official Selection - 2023
Rooster International Film Festival - Winner Best Student Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Editing - 2022
Slow Drift Film Festival - Certificate of Achievement - 2022
Lift-Off Sessions - Official Selection - 2022
Sin City Festival - Winner Best Student Film - 2022
Taiga International Film Festival - Nominated Best Thriller - 2022
Indie Short Fest - Semi-Finalist - 2022
LA Independent Women Film Awards - Winner Best Student Film - 2022
Bestlov Film Festival - Official Selection - November 2022
Thrills & Chills Film Awards - Winner Best Producer & Nominated Best Cinematography, Best Student Film - 2022
WQED’s Filmmakers Corner - Official Selection - 2022
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Runtime: 19 min 53 seconds
Budget: $4,500
Camera: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K
Release Date: 10 May 2024
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Apollo, Pennsylvania
Moundsville, West Virginia
Meet the Crew
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Lauren Keller - Writer, Producer, Director of Photography, Director of Post-Production
Lauren Keller is an independent filmmaker based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her films have been screened in over 50 festivals and she also carries wins for her photography and artwork. She is a recent graduate of Point Park University, achieving a B.F.A. in Cinema Production with a focus in Cinematography and a minor in Photography. She also has touched into feature and commercial work as well, providing services for companies such as Netflix and Covalent.
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Marc Cardillo - Producer
Marc Cardillo is a graduate of Point Park University’s Cinema Production program with a focus in producing. He has produced many films, with some appearing in film festivals across the country. Alongside his film work, he has also worked with multiple production companies on commercials, including UPMC in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
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Kolten Exton - Editor, Sound Designer
Kolten Exton is a recent graduate from Point Park University, majoring in Cinema Production. He currently works as a freelance editor and videographer.
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Jim Hails - Production Designer, Composer
Jim Hails is a recent graduate from Point Park University, concentrating in Directing. He has scored over 10 short films and was the production designer for the feature film, Closing Time. Hails has also worked on the Sweet Girl, Justification and Mayor of Kingstown.
Hempfield native’s short film to be featured on WQED’s 'Filmmakers Corner’
Check out the TribLive article featuring Lauren Keller and “A Little Glass of Rum” for the broadcast premiere on WQED!
Behind the Scenes: A LITTLE GLASS OF RUM
We Film in a State Penitentiary! A Little Glass of Rum BTS
Set Photographer and 2nd Assistant Camera , Emily Pulcastro (creator of Second Star Stories) filmed & edited a behind the scenes look at A Little Glass of Rum while shooting in November 2021.
Production Stills
Behind the Scenes: A LITTLE GLASS OF RUM
