By GRACE DETWILER

Dima Barch’s 2022 short film DEAD END has won the Goule D’Or Best Short 2024 award at the Portland Film Festival. The film delves into the dark side of queer relationships, as a young man is hunted by the spirit of his abusive ex-boyfriend. 

Previously reviewed by Rue Morgue, “DEAD END  is a powerful and unnerving short that clearly displays Barch’s cinematic prowess. Aided by a pulsing synth score and artful cinematography, Barch delves into the depths of toxic masculinity in Russian culture and the anxieties that accompany fleeing for one’s life.” A political refugee from Russia now based in LA, Barch has said that DEAD END is the first and last film he will make in Russian.

Dima Barch at Portland Horror Fest ’24

Said Barch of his win, “I still cannot believe that my small and very personal film I’d made back in Russia before my life changed gets that much appreciation. A lot of people reached me with kind and warm words after our Portland screening. But the biggest surprise and honor was to get the festival’s main award. I hope that Goule D’Or Best Short 2024 at Portland Horror Film Festival can help me to be seen better just to keep moving, making movies that I can’t live without.”

Other cult horror filmmakers have shared their praise for DEAD END as well:

“That was wonderful! Incredible art. Toby and I were blown away” – John Adams & Toby Poser (Hellbender, Where the Devil Roams).

“Really provocative frames… I love the physicality of the actors too – their body language does such a good job selling the big moments. Gorgeous stuff!” – Travis Stevens, director, writer, and producer (Girl on the Third Floor, Jacob’s Wife, Wounded Fawn).