It was announced today that Viral Nation has boarded the short film HEADCASE ahead of its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 26, 2025. The film, directed by Spencer Zimmerman, is being developed into a feature film with producer Kevin Healey (Scare Tactics) and Viral Nation’s Head of Programming, Paul Telner attached.

The short film is directed by Zimmerman, whose credits include recent genre hits Longlegs, The Monkey and the upcoming Keeper, and stars Siobhan Connors (Neighbours), Pat Moonie (Resident Alien), and genre director and actress Gigi Saul Guerrero (The Purge).

HEADCASE follows Karen, a wannabe influencer, who finds herself having to lurk in the shadows after a hit-and-run threatens to derail her coveted brand partnership. Karen finds herself driven down a grotesque and surreal path of murder and dismemberment in order to maintain her brand image. With its biting satire and absurdist setting, HEADCASE makes a piercing critique of the “war for attention” and our cultural affinity towards image and fame.

Kevin Healey is an Emmy, Gold Lion, Critic’s Choice and NAACP Award-winning producer, writer and media executive whose credits include the Kevin Hart Die Hart Trilogy, Olympic Highlights with Kevin Hart and Keenan Thompson, Fameless, Scare Tactics and Betty White’s Off Their Rockers. Viral Nation’s Paul Telner is one of the original YouTube stars known for his viral comedy videos which garnered millions of views and caught the attention of ABC’s The View, MTV, GQ Magazine, National Post, and landed him his own national comedy series on MuchMusic. As Head of Programming for Viral Nation, the largest creator agency in the world, he is responsible for finding talent, developing, creating and programming original content for the company. 

“It is a real thrill to serve as a mentor to the brilliant team behind Headcase. I knew Headcase was meant for greatness. I called my friend/producer Kevin Healey right away and said we need to back this project and take it to the next level. This is a mash-up of genres and pushes the boundaries of storytelling in a way I have not seen before,” says Paul Telner. “It’s rare when a short film evokes such a visceral and powerful response. The moment I finished watching Headcase, I knew I wanted to help this immensely talented team take the next step into a feature length motion picture,” continues Healy. 

The film is the perfect showcase for director-to-watch Zimmerman who works at Vancouver-based production company Oddfellows as a junior producer. Through his work at Oddfellows; he has worked in varying roles on some of the largest independent feature films of the past year with Longlegs and The Monkey and on the highly anticipated upcoming Osgood Perkins film Keeper.

“Ultimately, HEADCASE aims to be funny, provocative, and deeply discomforting — a film that not only entertains but holds a mirror to the audience. It challenges viewers to confront their own biases,” says Zimmerman. “There are so many places we can go with this film and we are thrilled to be able to expand this into a feature film with the amazing partners we have on board.”

HEADCASE is produced by Pedestrian Picture Co., Toaster Productions and Key Conspirators. The feature film version of HEADCASE, which is currently in development, will be directed by Spencer Zimmerman, written by Pat Moonie and Spencer Zimmerman and produced by Siobhan Connors and Jessica To (Final Destination: Bloodlines) with Paul Telner and Kevin Healey as production executives and executive producers on the feature. The short film version of HEADCASE was made possible with the support of the Crazy8s filmmaking program.