I Am a Ghost

Screened in our 2012 festival, “I Am A Ghost” by H.P. Mendoza was chosen as a retrospective film for our 20th anniversary. This film, a lasting stand-out, is remembered for its adept use of simple visual tools and an expertly crafted story to invoke true horror, an extraordinary achievement on its limited budget. It is distilled horror for the modern minimalist. In this feature, Mendoza’s second narrative, Emily is a troubled spirit who haunts her own house every day and wonders why she can’t leave. With the help of Sylvia (Jeannie Barroga), a clairvoyant hired to rid the house of spirits, Emily (Anna Ishida) is forced into a patient/therapist relationship and uncovers mysteries about her past that may help her move onto the next place.

Reflections from the filmmaker:

“When I set out to make ‘I Am a Ghost,’ I knew it would have to be a DIY labor of love because of how weird it was. Most of the first act is silent. The majority of the film has just one woman on screen. The crux of the movie depends on unorthodox edits. Every time I got feedback on the movie, I’d always respond with ‘you have to trust me.’ And when it was all done, I remember having the unsettling feeling that I may have made the most inaccessible sophomore film possible and that I may have just killed whatever career I had been building over the last few years. Eight years later, I’m proud to say that the film still gets write-ups and accolades and I’m honored that DC APA would choose ‘I Am a Ghost’ for its 20th Anniversary retrospective.”

For more information: hp-mendoza-vjq9.squarespace.com

Director: H.P. Mendoza

Country of Origin: United States

Year of Production: 2012

Language: English

Runtime: 76:00

Festival Year: 2012