On the red carpet at the Toronto Shenanigans showcase at The Royal, we caught up with Lowen Morrow and Gwenlyn Cumyn for a quick conversation about their short film Mothballs. In this brief interview, they touch on the inspiration behind the film, its unique tone, and the creative process of bringing such an unconventional story to life—all within the fast-paced energy of the festival atmosphere.

Lowen Morrow is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist whose work leans into the surreal, blending offbeat humor with emotionally grounded storytelling. Their films often explore identity, memory, and the uncanny through a distinctly personal lens. With a focus on bold visual language and unconventional narratives, Morrow continues to carve out a unique voice in the indie short film scene.

Gwenlyn Cumyn is a writer, performer, and filmmaker known for her sharp, character-driven storytelling and dark comedic sensibility. Her work frequently examines human behavior through absurd or heightened situations, balancing humor with introspection. Cumyn brings a strong narrative voice to her projects, often collaborating on films that challenge tone and genre expectations.

Mothballs – Short Film Description

Mothballs is an offbeat, atmospheric short that blends dark humor with surreal storytelling. The film explores themes of decay, memory, and transformation, following characters caught in a strange, liminal space where the familiar begins to unravel. With its distinctive tone and hauntingly quirky aesthetic, Mothballs invites audiences into a world that is as unsettling as it is oddly relatable.