International short-film distributor Cinestrib has acquired the pilot episode of WIZDOM, a neon-soaked science fiction series set in a future where survival, vision, and power are controlled by biotech corporations.
Created by writer, producer, and actor Ashton Swinford and director, creator Layne Marie Williams, the 12-minute film unfolds in a dystopian Chicago in the year 2125, where daylight has vanished and society is divided between those who can afford life-sustaining ocular implants and those forced to live outside the system.
The story follows Eos (Swinford), a bionically enhanced former citizen, and her younger sibling Vayle (Simone Brazzini) as they become entangled in a radical mission to dismantle the corporation that controls reality itself. The film was shot at the Chicago-based studio, CineCity. Watch the trailer below:
The pickup marks a significant step forward for the project, positioning WIZDOM for a coordinated international festival strategy under Cinestrib’s banner. Known for championing bold, visually distinctive short films, the France-based agency specializes in navigating the increasingly crowded festival landscape and giving projects sustained visibility across global markets.
“Acquiring European distribution with Cinestrib is a major step forward for WIZDOM,” Swinford shared with Reel 360 News, adding, “It means the film now has a pathway into a diverse and culturally rich audience landscape that values thoughtful, character-driven storytelling. Europe has a long tradition of embracing films that explore big ideas with emotional depth, and that is exactly where WIZDOM lives. Having a partner who understands how to position the film in that environment gives the project both reach and the right kind of home.”
Williams echoed Swinford’s thoughts, “Cinestrib Distribution championing a film like WIZDOM feels like a sweet spot for us because of their commitment to elevating intersectional, inclusive, and queer filmmakers. We are thrilled to bring this project to international audiences.”
Cinestrib’s distribution team brings deep experience in festival programming, press strategy, and filmmaker support. The agency is led on the festival side by Morane Straumann, General Manager and Head of Festivals, whose background in cultural project management and artist representation informs a hands-on, film-first approach to distribution. She is supported by Madison Degluaire, Distribution Coordinator, Cali, Distribution Assistant, and Armelle Hervé, who oversees catalog development and press relations.
According to Cinestrib, the agency was founded to address a growing problem in the short film ecosystem: most completed films receive little to no meaningful festival exposure due to time constraints, budget limitations, or limited access to international networks. By taking on the submission process, programmer outreach, and press coordination, Cinestrib allows filmmakers to focus on creating while their work travels.
For Swinford, the pick-up is incredibly meaningful. “Independent films are built on belief long before they are built on budgets, and international distribution is a sign that the story resonates beyond borders. It is a reminder that the themes at the heart of WIZDOM are universal, and that the years of creative risk, collaboration, and persistence are connecting with the world in the way we hoped they would.”
With its cyberpunk aesthetic, philosophical themes, and franchise potential, WIZDOM aligns squarely with Cinestrib’s mission to elevate ambitious genre storytelling on the festival circuit. The pilot draws inspiration from properties such as Blade Runner, The Matrix, Akira, and Legion, while grounding its story in contemporary concerns around surveillance, subscription-based access, and the cost of technological dependence.
The Cinestrib pickup positions WIZDOM for festival launches throughout 2026, with the pilot serving as both a standalone narrative and a proof of concept for a longer-form series.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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