‘Stalker’ Wins Global Praise for Stylised Take on Urban Terror

French horror short Stalker, directed by David Cholewa, is gaining attention on the international festival circuit after receiving multiple accolades for its tense depiction of urban paranoia and personal trauma. Set on the streets of Paris, the film follows a young woman who, after a violent assault at a party, finds herself pursued by an unseen figure during her journey home. As the presence becomes increasingly intrusive, she is forced to confront both a very real threat and her internal fears.

The short has been recognised for its technical and directorial strengths, having won Best International Horror Short at A Night of Horror Film Festival and First Glance Philadelphia. It also claimed Best Horror Short, Best Director and Best Actress at the Bruges Horror Short Fest, and was awarded Best Sci-Fi Short at the Fantasy Film Fest in Paris. Additional selections include Panic Fest, HorrorHound, the Big Apple Film Festival and Razor Reel, which is part of the Méliès Federation.

Produced by Laurie Cholewa, Hadrien Meril, Rémy Gente and David Cholewa, the film is positioned as a stylised yet grounded work that engages with the dangers faced by women in public spaces. Cholewa’s approach blends horror, thriller and psychological drama, creating a disorienting atmosphere with deliberately controlled pacing and a restrained visual style. Influences from directors such as John Carpenter are evident in the slow-build tension and carefully framed shots that accentuate a creeping sense of claustrophobia.

The film also reflects Cholewa’s broader artistic interests, combining multiple genres and perspectives while maintaining a character-centred focus. The stalker figure operates less as a singular villain and more as a manifestation of collective social fears. As the film progresses, the line between real threat and imagined terror blurs, raising questions about perception, trust and the consequences of trauma.

Cholewa is known for Dead Shadows, his 2012 debut feature which screened at Sitges and secured global distribution. With Stalker, he returns to filmmaking with a project that examines both personal and collective anxieties, offering a restrained but unsettling take on the stalker trope through a distinctly French lens.

Watch the teaser trailer for Stalker below.

Stalker trailer