College freshmen, Lucy and Myles, drop acid together, anticipating a fun and whimsical night. Things take a turn when Lucy’s reflection takes on a life of its own, tormenting Lucy over her greatest insecurity: her womanhood. Lucy ignores the insults, but its ferocity intensifies as the trip peaks.
College freshmen, Lucy and Myles, drop acid together, anticipating a fun and whimsical night. Things take a turn when Lucy’s reflection takes on a life of its own, tormenting Lucy over her greatest insecurity: her womanhood. Lucy ignores the insults, but its ferocity intensifies as the trip peaks.
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It Stares Back articulates the experience of gender dysphoria, particularly as a person who largely presents as their gender assigned at birth. In a new age of understanding, many quietly wrestle with their identity and find themselves asking how they can be nonbinary without “looking nonbinary.”
Lucy is like most college freshmen: eager, adventurous, and deeply insecure. One night she and her new friend, Myles, decide to take LSD together. Having never experimented with psychedelics, Lucy wasn’t sure what to expect, but she certainly got more than she bargained for. Suddenly every reflective surface in her surroundings contained a fierce adversary: her own reflection. Increasingly bombarded with insults regarding her integrity and impostorhood, Lucy frantically avoids an oncoming identity crisis. She goes so far as to attempt to escape into Myles’ embrace, only to realize there is no escape from herself.
Our Team
Anna Manae
Writer / Director
Anna Manae is a writer and director whose work blends horror, queer narratives, and bold visual storytelling. Through emotionally resonant characters and surreal imagery, Anna explores complex themes of identity, transformation, and internal struggle. Their storytelling focuses on crafting intimate, immersive experiences that challenge traditional genre conventions and resonate with audiences on a personal level.
With It Stares Back, Anna channels their passion for genre filmmaking into a raw and visually arresting exploration of gender identity and self-perception. Dedicated to pushing creative boundaries and amplifying underrepresented voices, Anna brings a fearless and authentic vision to their work, establishing themselves as an emerging voice in independent cinema.
Avi Zephyra
Producer
Avi Zephyra is a filmmaker, executive producer, and founder of Arrival Studios– a production company chartered to portray personal conflict through immersive worlds and genre narrative. Avi is a devoted creative with a diverse, alluring development slate, including films and series, across fantasy and horror to adult animation. While his professional career is only beginning, Avi has worked as an assistant production coordinator and accounting clerk on projects for Netflix, Warner Bros, and AMC Networks. When he isn’t obsessing over industry news, he loves to explore neighborhoods, see live performances, and spend quality time with his friends.
Avi is eager to produce It Stares Back because of the story’s harrowing themes of identity struggle manifested by the haunting by one’s own reflection.
Nicole Dia
Producer
Nicole is a filmmaker based on Long Island, NY, and the co-founder of Vanguard Studios. With over a decade of experience working across multiple departments in production, Nicole now focuses on directing and producing, bringing a hands-on creative and logistical approach to every project. Committed to storytelling that challenges perspectives and explores identity, Nicole thrives on collaboration, ensuring each film is crafted with authenticity and creative integrity. Recent work includes LIMINAL, a sci-fi psychological thriller currently in post-production, where Nicole served as writer, director, producer, and composer.
As a producer on It Stares Back, Nicole is passionate about supporting a surreal exploration of gender identity and internal conflict. They are committed to helping bring the film’s intense emotional journey and striking visual style to life, ensuring the director’s vision is fully realized with clarity and impact.
Gillian Fauntleroy
Casting Director
Aaron Fitzpatrick
Director of Photography
Aaron Fitzpatrick is a New Jersey–based cinematographer focused on emotionally resonant, visually immersive storytelling. His work blends naturalistic imagery with intentional composition, crafting rich visual worlds that serve the heart of each story. From short films to music videos, Aaron brings a textured, mood-driven style rooted in honesty and collaboration.
Emma Pelletier
Production Designer
A graduate of Hofstra University’s Filmmaking program, she has spent the past few years helping design sets for a myriad of short films and TV productions. With a love for the horror genre, Emma finds much of her inspiration coming from any and every horror film made since the 1970’s. She’s excited to be a part of helping bring this production to life!