Thor Moreno, an award-winning director known for his dark and edgy narratives, is making waves in the independent film industry with his latest psychological thriller, “SCHISM.” Set to premiere at the American Film Market (AFM) on November 8th, 2024, the film has already garnered significant acclaim on the international festival circuit.
Moreno’s career spans over two decades, during which his films have screened at more than 38 international festivals, resulting in 24 nominations and 11 wins. Among his accolades is the prestigious Best Director award from the Cannes World Film Festival, cementing his reputation as a visionary in independent cinema.
In a recent interview, Thor Moreno shared insights into his filmmaking process and the creation of “SCHISM”:
Your career spans over two decades with numerous accolades. How does SCHISM represent your growth as a filmmaker?
I would say that I did my best to let the film breathe. If I had done this 10 years ago, I would have tried to force as many jump scares and sounds and music as possible. I realize now that the story deserved patience. I wanted it to unfold rather than flying at the viewer.
You’ve won Best Director at Cannes World Film Festival. How have such recognitions influenced your approach to directing SCHISM?
Honestly, I don’t think it did. It was wonderful and I was proud but I make movies because I love it so much. If I never won anything again, I would still need to tell stories.
Your films have screened at over 38 international festivals. How does this global exposure shape your storytelling in SCHISM?
I believe that good stories translate. For example, none of us live in space, but Star Wars is a massive franchise. If you tell a great story, it will find a place anywhere.
SCHISM is premiering at the American Film Market. What does this platform mean for you and the film?
Exposure to the industry. There are so many films being made every year and this is one of the few ways that you can get a indie film like SCHISM to the eyeballs of Hollywood.
You’re known for dark, edgy narratives. How does SCHISM embody or perhaps evolve this signature style?
I love films that stick with you for a while. Those are rare experiences and what I try to create for people that see my films. SCHISM is most certainly that. The last 5 minutes of this film is shocking and I only hope that people don’t ruin it for others.
With 24 nominations and 11 wins in your career, what unique challenges or pressures did you face while creating SCHISM?
There were lots of challenges but none had to do with the pressures from festivals. When making a film, the pressure you feel is time. You always have to move so fast. Every second costs so much money. 12 hours goes by in a flash so you just have to hope that you’re doing something that really matters at the end of the day.
How do you feel your experience as a writer, director, DP, and editor collectively contributed to the making of SCHISM?
David Gordon was the cinematographer on this film and I’ve worked with him three times now. As far as the other things, I love it. It’s all part of the process for me.
Thor Moreno’s ‘SCHISM’
“SCHISM” explores the blurred lines between reality and illusion, following a gifted clairvoyant who must confront her deepest fears while navigating haunting visions. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Northern California’s Lost Coast, the film promises to keep viewers on edge until its stunning climax.
The global response to “SCHISM” has been overwhelmingly positive. Since its completion, the film has been accepted into 21 out of 28 international film festivals to which it was submitted. Critics from Germany, the UK, Asia, and North America have praised the film’s chilling narrative and psychological depth.
Reflecting on the film’s reception, Moreno stated, “The fact that the film is resonating with audiences worldwide is incredibly rewarding. I wanted to create a story that would keep viewers guessing until the very end, and I’m thrilled to see that it’s connecting with people.”
As anticipation builds for the AFM premiere, industry insiders and film enthusiasts alike are eager to experience Moreno’s latest work. The film’s trailer, available on YouTube, offers a glimpse into the unsettling world Moreno has created.
With “SCHISM,” Thor Moreno continues to push the boundaries of independent filmmaking, blending psychological horror with thought-provoking narratives. As his reputation grows, Moreno’s unique voice in cinema promises to challenge and captivate audiences for years to come.
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There’s something refreshing about an artist who doesn’t chase volume. “I don’t make music to sound loud. I make music to sound deep,” says iurisEkero, and after diving into his catalog, you get exactly what he means.
Born in Mendoza, Argentina, iurisEkero (stylized in lowercase, like his approach to fame) grew up in a house where music wasn’t just background noise—it was the main conversation. His grandfather recorded albums as a vocalist, his father played trumpet, and young Iuris absorbed it all. But here’s what’s interesting: instead of just carrying the torch, he’s completely reimagined it.
Now splitting time between the USA and Argentina, iurisEkero creates what he calls “sonic exploration”—pop mixed with electronic textures, ethereal vocals, and these atmospheric moments that genuinely make you want to hit pause on everything else. He pulls inspiration from unexpected places: cities at night, red wine, those comfortable silences between people who know each other well, and what he describes as “the glitch of memories.”
His latest single, “This Summer Night,” dropped on August 19th and perfectly captures that specific magic. At 3:17, it’s packed with synths that stick in your head and a melody that somehow feels both nostalgic and brand new. Other tracks like “The Sun, The Wine and You” and “Midnight Drive” show his range—each one catching different emotional frequencies while keeping that distinctive warmth that comes from his bicultural perspective.
The numbers tell their own story. Nearly 3 million Spotify streams. Over a million YouTube views. But when you mention this to iurisEkero, he seems genuinely surprised. “I don’t even understand those numbers,” he admits. “I just enjoy and am grateful.”
What he hopes listeners take away is simple: that urge to play a song again, whether you’re remembering someone, dancing alone in your kitchen, or waiting for something you can’t quite name yet. Even his breakup songs somehow feel optimistic—there’s always this undercurrent of possibility in his work.
Currently working on a new album featuring various guest artists, iurisEkero seems ready for whatever comes next. The sound explorer from Mendoza has found his frequency, and people are definitely tuning in.
What happens when you achieve everything you dreamed of before turning 23, but there’s no one around to celebrate with? That’s the question Alain Mékani wrestles with in “Quiet,” his introspective new single that dropped August 1st, 2025.
The Dubai-based artist, who grew up in Beirut speaking Arabic with his mom and French with his dad while MTV played in the background, has been carving out his own corner of the Middle Eastern pop scene since his 2023 debut “Fool.” But this latest track hits different. It’s raw, honest, and uncomfortably relatable for anyone who’s ever felt alone in a room full of people.
Written during a period of professional success while living abroad, “Quiet” runs just over three minutes but packs an emotional punch. The track opens with Mékani reflecting on his younger self’s dreams—the car, the new place, all achieved before his 23rd birthday. But here’s where it gets real: “I left it all behind just to find myself / But am I really free?”
The chorus doesn’t pull punches either. When he admits “I’ve been going through some changes and my mind is fucking racing,” you feel that restless energy. It’s not polished pop perfection; it’s someone working through their stuff in real-time. The official music video, which premiered July 31st, visually captures this internal conflict.
“Quiet” by Alain Mékani
Family threads through every verse — and you can feel it. There’s the promise to make his mother proud, the desire to share his victories, and that gut-punch line about missing the people who matter most. The bridge transforms into something between a mantra and a desperate reminder: “Be somebody if you’re nobody.” It’s less motivational poster, more survival mechanism.
Since emerging with tracks like “Awlad El Haram” and his licensed reimagining of the Lebanese classic “Tallou Hbabna” earlier this year, Mékani has built a reputation for blending French, Arabic, and English lyrics with what critics call a “melancholic awakening” sound. Regional outlets including Musivv and Buro 24/7 Middle East have taken notice of his ability to pair cross-cultural production with genuine vulnerability.
The artist, who taught himself guitar after starting on accordion at eight, turned to songwriting as therapy following his father’s death in 2015. While working a marketing day job in Dubai, he spent nights and weekends learning production, eventually creating the demos that would launch his career.
Currently working on collaborations with Rayan Bailouni and Jay Janith, Mékani is pushing further into French territory with his upcoming releases. It’s a natural evolution for someone who grew up switching between languages at home. As he puts it: “I write in three languages because some emotions need more than one passport.”
The first thing that hits you about Siren isn’t just her voice—it’s the sheer audacity of someone who taught themselves everything. No formal training, no music theory classes, just pure instinct driving her to create something that sounds like Rammstein got into a late-night conversation with Lana Del Rey while Massive Attack played in the background.
At 24, this LA-based artist has already written around 70 songs, most still unreleased, sitting in her vault like secrets waiting to surface. Born June 13, 2001, Siren started making music in 2019, and what’s emerged since then defies easy categorization. Her sound pulls from trip-hop pioneers like Portishead, the industrial weight of German metal, and the cinematic drama of Tchaikovsky—yes, the Swan Lake composer.
“Every ache must be turned into art,” she says about her approach to music. It’s this philosophy that drives her self-described “raw confessions where melancholy meets beauty.” Her mezzo-soprano voice shifts between whispered vulnerability and soaring intensity, creating what she calls “cold waves of sound that mesmerize like a siren’s voice in the night sea.”
Siren
The artist’s journey started unexpectedly early. One of her most vivid childhood memories involves her grandmother singing Russian folk songs on a winter swing—an experience she describes as “blue, cold, wintry, dark, nostalgic, deep, soulful, and melancholic.” By twelve, she’d discovered Rammstein, which she credits with awakening “strength, courage, resistance, and the spirit of a fighter.” The band shaped about 60% of her musical taste, while Lana Del Rey, who she calls her “musical mother,” opened up the other side of her artistic personality.
What’s striking about Siren’s work is how she balances opposing forces. She describes her music as reflecting both her anima and animus—the feminine emotional vulnerability paired with masculine instrumental drive. This duality shows up everywhere in her sound: acoustic piano meets electric guitars, string arrangements collide with rock drums, trip-hop grooves support orchestral swells.
Her latest release, “Devil 2019,” dropped on August 3, 2025, running 3:28 and showcasing her hypnotic vocal control. But it’s just a taste of what’s coming. Her debut single “Siren Heroine,” released on June 13, previews her upcoming album “Blue Blood,” which promises an oceanic, siren-themed concept drawn from songs written three to four years ago.
Siren
Beyond music, Siren works as a visual artist, filmmaker, and photographer, creating her own visual concepts exactly as she imagines them. She admits to both loving and fearing the ocean—thalassophobia mixed with an obsession for deep blue imagery. “I reflect what I fear. I am what I fear,” she explains.
When asked about dream collaborations, she mentions Hans Zimmer, Rammstein, and Lana Del Rey—though she notes that most of her musical heroes are dead. Her approach to creation remains uncompromising: “I don’t write for people—I write for myself. Music is how I let you know me.”