Move over, BRAD! Between Two Waves hit the big screen at the Chinese Theatre & we’re still riding the high…
Best people to photo op & surf the red carpet with. Hard to believe it’s been over a month since our world premiere 🤟🏽
#worldpremiere #redcarpet #chinesetheaterhollywood #filmfam #featurefilm #danceswithfilms #indiefilmmaking
Tonight’s the night! Come see BETWEEN TWO WAVES at the CHINESE THEATER in Hollywood!
It’s a dream come true to premiere our first feature at such an iconic LA landmark, at such a prestigious and beloved festival. Thank you DANCES WITH FILMS, from this realm to what lies beyond the thin veil of space-time 🫶🏽
🎟️ Tickets in bio. LA friends and those who know LA PEOPLE, it’s not too late to join the creepy fun.
We’ve already met such amazing people here, and made wonderful connections. Our red carpet starts at 6:30pm and we’ll be taking photos again before the screening at 11pm. Come by and say hi, all are welcome 👋🏽
One more time - thank you @danceswithfilms . This is the opportunity of a lifetime and a dream come true.
@courtneysposato
#worldpremiere #danceswithfilms #scififilm #scifihorrormovies #midnightmovie #horrorfilmfan #independentfilm
Great time bringing BETWEEN TWO WAVES to @gardenstatefilmfestival , where we won BEST SCI-FI FEATURE 🏆
The support and recognition means everything, and it was amazing connecting with friends old and new 🫶🏽
Huge congrats to @theinstagraham52@annabelohagan and the entire cast and crew of The Door, who won Best Sci-Fi Short. Honored to share a block with you 💪🏽
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. Your work was selected out of thousands, and we’re proud to be part of this group of inspiring and talented artists ✨
On to the next adventure!
#GardenStateFilmFestival #AwardWinningFilm #IndieFilm
#SciFiFilm #filmfestival
Official poster post! Still riding the magical Slamdance vibes + so grateful to be part of the fam 🌈
STARING CONTEST is a 99 second animated short about the loss of innocence. It’s a plea for hope and kindness in the current dystopian darkness. And it’s a celebration of the innocence and purity of childhood.
Written, directed, and animated by @courtneysposato
Poster design by @marksposato@slamdancegroup #movieposter #posterdesign #filmmaking #slamdance #slamdancefilmfestival
Slamdance recap: what a whirlwind! Thank you @slamdancegroup for everything. And thanks to our friends who came out to support our film, it means the world ❤️ We learned so much, met so many great people, & saw such incredible work. Very grateful. See you next year!!!
Tonight’s the night! So excited to premiere STARING CONTEST at SLAMDANCE!! 💥
This is a huge milestone for us, and we can’t think of a better champion of our voice and ethos. Thank you @slamdancegroup , to the moon and back. 🫶🏽
To celebrate our acceptance to the 99 Special category, here are 99 reasons why we love…
JKJK we won’t put you through that. Catch us at 2220 Arts + Archives at 6pm. Can’t wait to see all the other incredible films 🌈
— The Sposatos
@2220arts #slamdance #slamdancefilmfestival #trailerdrop #filmpremiere #99special
MOVIE REVIEW
Staring Contest
NR - 5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Animation, Short
Year Released: 2026
Runtime: 1m 39s
Director(s): Courtney Sposato
Writer(s): Courtney Sposato
Where to Watch: shown at the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival
RAVING REVIEW: What happens to innocence when those in control no longer recognize it? STARRING CONTEST doesn’t frame that question through dialogue or exhibition; it lets it unfold in silence, trusting the viewer to feel the shift rather than having it explained. In just 99 seconds, the film constructs a space that feels harmless, then quietly dismantles it to an absolutely devastating effect.
The opening is simple, showing two children locked in a staring contest inside a classroom. The animation is a light-hearted, claymation-style, inviting, and playful. The cadence is gentle, and the stakes seem genuinely small. But there’s a subtle imbalance embedded in the image from the beginning. One child is not like the others. No one comments on it. No one reacts. The film doesn’t underline the difference because it doesn’t need to. The difference simply exists. That restraint is crucial. The classroom feels neutral, even safe. It reflects a version of society that insists it treats everyone equally, that rules apply evenly, and that childhood is protected. The staring contest becomes a metaphor for belonging, for endurance, for the quiet competition of assimilation. Hold steady. Don’t blink. Prove you deserve to stay.
When unshown figures enter the room, the entire emotional wave shifts. The game becomes irrelevant. The rules evaporate. Nothing about our focus changes, but the system surrounding everything does. The surrounding children remain seated. There’s no accusation, no disruption, no wrongdoing presented. The change isn’t framed as a consequence; it’s framed as inevitable.
That distinction matters. The film isn’t exploring misconduct. It’s examining how power operates when it doesn’t need justification. By avoiding dialogue, it avoids debate. There’s no rhetorical cover, no policy, no comforting euphemisms...
My full review on my Letterboxd and www.OHMR.us
#OverlyHonestReviews #staringcontest #slamdance
Coming soon 🎞️
A new animated film from Houndstooth Studios 🐰 🦊
Written, animated, and directed by @courtneysposato
#thesposatos #houndstoothstudios #slamdancefilmfestival
So incredibly honored BETWEEN TWO WAVES took home BEST FEATURE 🏆 and DIRECTING DUO OF THE YEAR 🏆 at Austin Revolution Film Festival!
Our incredible cast @koko.marshall + @davecolemanokay + @marabeier were nominated for BEST ACTRESS/ACTOR ❤️🔥
The film was also nominated for BEST PRODUCED SCREENPLAY and the TOBE HOPPER AWARD.
Thank you so much for the support and recognition @jimchristopherwriter and the entire @austinrevolution team.
We’re full of gratitude, appreciation, and love.
— The Sposatos
@courtneysposato #arff #austinrevolutionfilmfestival #bestfeaturefilm
HOUNDSTOOTH x PURE MAGIC ✨🫶🏽 at the premiere of SKYE HOSHI 2 💥
This one is a doozy, folks! Forget the Syndicate, when the Hubbards strike, the studios better watch out ⚡️
#redcarpet #filmpremiere #filmfriends
