Algonquin College Alum's Horror Film Signed by Eli Roth's New Distribution Company

Dream Eater earns international acclaim and a theatrical release through The Horror Section

This article was written for Algonquin College with the support of AI.

Algonquin College graduate Alex Williams (Class of 2010, School of Media and Design) is making waves in the film industry with Dream Eater, a microbudget horror feature that’s earned international attention and the backing of one of the genre’s biggest names.

Williams co-founded the Ontario-based production company Blind Luck Pictures with partners Jay Drakulic and Mallory Drumm. The trio took a leap of faith, leaving their day jobs to pursue filmmaking full-time. Their bold move paid off: after shooting Dream Eater over just nine nights in rural Quebec, the film went on to win Best Feature at the 2024 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival and quickly gained traction on social media, particularly within TikTok’s thriving horror community.

That buzz caught the attention of legendary filmmaker Eli Roth, who was so impressed that he personally reached out to Blind Luck Pictures. Roth has since signed Dream Eater as one of the first titles under his new distribution company, The Horror Section, with a theatrical release across Canada and the U.S. set for October 24.

Williams and Blind Luck Pictures gain recognition

Williams and his Blind Luck Pictures collaborators were recently profiled in Variety, one of the most influential entertainment publications in the U.S., where Roth praised the film’s originality and intensity.

“I was really, really scared … watching it through the cracks of my fingers,” Roth told Variety. “I think they’re so talented, and to me the test is, how scary can you be with no money?” (See the full article in Variety here.)

A career milestone for Williams

For Williams, being featured in Variety and securing U.S. distribution represents a career milestone and a powerful reminder of the value of collaboration, creativity, and risk-taking. Blind Luck Pictures is already developing future projects, but for now, Dream Eater stands as a remarkable success story, one that began at Algonquin College.

Media and design programs support aspiring filmmakers

Media and Design programs such as Broadcasting – Television and Streaming Video and Film and Media Production help learners like Alex turn their passion for storytelling into careers in the industry. Whether it’s directing, producing, or creating behind the scenes, the program gives aspiring filmmakers the skills and hands-on experience to bring their visions to life.

Check out the trailer for Dream Eater below, and see it in theatres October 24!