Dennis Widmyer, a talented filmmaker, graduated from Long Island University's esteemed film program in 1999, showcasing a remarkable portfolio of four short films and five feature film scripts. Within a year, he began working as a production assistant on small independent films, swiftly advancing to studio films and serving as an art department assistant on the iconic comedy 'Zoolander' starring Ben Stiller.
Widmyer's subsequent projects included working on the Ben Stiller film 'Duplex' alongside Drew Barrymore, as well as the Heather Graham sex comedy 'The Guru' and a selection of commercials directed by renowned filmmakers like Martin Scorsese. This impressive resume laid the groundwork for his future collaborations with long-time partner Kevin Kölsch.
In 2003, Widmyer co-founded Parallactic Pictures with Kölsch, marking the beginning of a fruitful partnership. The company's initial projects were the back-to-back productions of 'Postcards From The Future,' a documentary on bestselling author Chuck Palahniuk, and 'Absence,' a gripping kidnapping mystery told from three perspectives. Notably, 'Absence' was shot on a shoestring budget of under $30,000, with revenue generated from the sales of the Chuck Palahniuk documentary.
Over the next few years, Widmyer focused on creating short films, commercials, music videos, and festival bumpers. His short film 'Curtain' received widespread recognition, placing at prestigious film festivals such as Fantastic Fest, Cinequest, and The Telluride Horror Show.
In 2013, Widmyer and Kölsch released their third feature film, 'Starry Eyes,' for Snowfort Pictures and Dark Sky Films. The film premiered at SXSW and went on to tour the world, showcasing at notable festivals like Sitges, Fright Fest UK, and Fantasia.
The duo followed up 'Starry Eyes' with the opening segment in an horror anthology for XYZ Films, titled 'Holidays,' which also features contributions from Kevin Smith, Scott Stewart, and Gary Shore.
Most recently, Widmyer and Kölsch directed the highly anticipated adaptation of 'Pet Sematary' for Paramount Pictures and producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura. The film is slated for release on April 5, 2019.
