Waltz World Premiere
October 17 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center’s spooky October continues with the world premiere of an exciting new horror-thriller that was made right here in Western Pennsylvania.
Waltz is a Halloween-friendly film about a desperate woman whose attempt to make ends meet results in the fight of her life. This next entry in The Lindsay’s ongoing Emerging Filmmakers Showcase series is set for Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free, but we encourage RSVPs in advance—especially for an event like this, that’s already at half capacity!
A Q&A directly following the screening will feature writer-director Joshua Maley, a local filmmaker and founder of Monaca-based Grimm Sleeper Productions; stars Hannah Keeley, Hattie Baier and (Sewickley native) David Dietz; special effects “gore master” Jason Proakis; editor Holly Grayson; and director of photography Kevin Kukler.
Keeley, a United Kingdom native with international stage and film-acting experience, takes center stage in Waltz. She plays Alice, who begins selling erotic photos of herself online after losing her job. She gains a following—including one fan who quickly takes things too far.
“The inspiration for Waltz came from my interest in what really makes a monster,” says Maley. “In a way, we’re all monsters sometimes. We all do good and bad things, and sometimes we do the bad things for a good reason, or we do the good things for a bad reason.”
Maley, a Beaver County native, attended Point Park University and Full Sail University in Florida before he founded Grimm Sleeper Productions in 2015. His first short, the thriller 415, earned four awards—including Audience Choice and Best Writing—at the Haunted Oaks Film Festival; was an official selection at the 2021 Moscow Gold Film Festival and the Bite Size Film Festival; and scored top awards at the Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival’s 2023 Thriller Picture Show.
The trailer for Waltz received the Best Trailer Award at the 2023 Prodigy Film Fest.
Waltz is Maley’s first feature film, and he always intended to premiere it at The Lindsay.
“The experience of a cozy, small-town theater just makes everything more enjoyable and feel less commercial,” he says. “It was also important for me to screen my first feature close to home, but in a central location easily accessible by my colleagues. The Lindsay checks all the boxes. The Emerging Filmmakers program is the frosting on an already tantalizing cake.”
“We appreciate Joshua’s regard for The Lindsay and our Emerging Filmmakers Showcase,” says Theater CEO Carolina Thor. “The Lindsay is committed to supporting the region’s filmmaking industry and providing the opportunities for local audiences to share in the excitement of new films, like Waltz.”
