Sydne Horton
Directing
Biography
Sydne Horton grew up adopted, curious, and queer in the Midwest, raised on teen movies and survival instincts, which now fuel her love for coming of age stories with bite. She writes and directs genre-blending narratives that explore identity, belonging, and the messy magic of self-discovery, told with horror, heart, and humor. Her short Saturday Ritual screened at the Cannes Film Festival as part of the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. It also won the Best Teen Film Audience Award at NewFest and was a jury contender at Palm Springs ShortFest. Her horror short META was featured in the book I Spit On Your Celluloid: The History of Women Directing Horror Movies, and it was exhibited at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture for three months. Sydne is a 2026 Film Independent Project Involve Directing Fellow, and an alum of Women in Film’s Directing Mentorship and the Emmys Television Academy Internship.
Known For
The story of the Menéndez brothers, who were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
High school soccer players Cammie, Em, and Kara have a tradition of visiting a new psychic after every Saturday match. Cammie soon finds herself in over her head when a highly recommended psychic unveils an unknown secret.
Saturday Ritual
Created by an all female filmmaking team, this 17-segment series focuses on the visceral gut reactions of each filmmaker to expand conversations about women’s reproductive rights and the importance of bodily autonomy and also addresses the issues of a democracy that does not protect the needs of the majority of the population.
Give Me an A
On the eve of Senior Prom, Artie unexpectedly gets his period just moments before making his way to stage for prom court nominations. With this startling event, he erupts into a metamorphosis that mirrors the emotional and physical transformation of the trans masculine experience and explores trans dysphoria.
Meta
High school sisters June and Mel race to escape school as June's overwhelming OCD intrusive thoughts spiral out of control, threatening to unravel everything they know.
OCD & Me
An elder millennial grapples with the decision to become a parent at her best friend's baby shower.
Fence Sitter
Annie agrees to house-sit for her grandma's mysterious companion with hopes to make this the perfect weekend to confess her true feelings to her bestie Tatum. Unfortunately for Annie, things take a sharp left turn.
The House Sitters
A queer couple’s dog adoption spirals into astrological hysteria when an argument over their dog’s birth chart spins wildly out of control.
It's Not Her Fault (She's A Gemini Rising)
A young artist, unsure of her style, falls in love with a charming painter at a gallery. But is their love stronger than his obsession with dark imagery?
A Painterly Hand
In order to maintain her beauty and influence, a social media superstar must complete her annual ritual sacrifice of a pure follower -- or face the consequences of the curse herself.