THE MASK
Director: Mol Smith
FILM SYNOPSIS
Written, directed, and produced by Mol Smith for Onview Films, The Mask is a low-budget psychological short film that explores themes of duality, hidden identity, and deception. The narrative centers on a protagonist who adopts a literal or metaphorical persona to conceal their true motives and inner turmoil from the world, only to find that hiding behind a facade extracts a heavy psychological toll.
Grounded in Smith's signature minimalist aesthetic, tight framing, and dark, character-driven storytelling, the short delivers an eerie examination of how the artificial identities people construct to protect themselves can ultimately threaten to consume their genuine selves.
DIRECTOR’S VISION
Mol Smith is a British author, independent filmmaker, and founder of Onview Films, whose artistic vision centers on exploring the dark, supernatural, and enigmatic sides of human nature through genre-bending storytelling. Driven by a commitment to grassroots, atmospheric filmmaking, his vision frequently fuses elements of fantasy, horror, gothic romance, and psychological suspense—often reinterpreting classic folklore, dark magic, and morality tales with a distinct indie sensibility. His notable accomplishments include writing, directing, and producing a prolific slate of indie feature films and shorts (such as Beauty with a Dark Heart, Blood Chess, Abduction, and Superstition), authoring several fiction novels and cartoon collections, and establishing platforms designed to make art and literature accessible to diverse audiences.