COWARD
Director: Merlin Camozzi
Cast:Cameron Gellman, Michael Sean Tighe
Crew:Writer: Merlin Camozzi.
Email:merlin.camozzi@gmail.com
Synopsis
Matty drives cross country to track down his estranged father, bringing the only thing his dad left him: a treasured collection of Kenny Rogers cassette tapes. Things do not go as planned, and Matty must choose between remaining stuck in the past—and the anger that resides there—or struggling forward into something new.
About the director
Merlin Camozzi is a writer and director whose work blends genre storytelling with gritty, grounded realism. Raised in rural areas and small towns across America, his perspective is shaped by a deep connection to place and to people on the margins. Merlin's films have been featured in Vice and Out Magazine, and screened at festivals around the world including Cinequest, the Brooklyn Film Festival, Telluride Horror Show, Grimmfest, Screamfest, and HollyShorts. As a commercial director, Merlin has created campaigns for brands such as Sprite, Coca-Cola, Uber, Morgan Stanley, and ARRI. He is an alumnus of the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab and was selected for the SHOOT New Directors Showcase for his work with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Recently, Merlin wrote and directed COWARD, a short film produced in collaboration with Cartel Films (Val – A24; If I Go Will They Miss Me – Sundance winner). His debut feature, THE SNARE, won the Audience Award for Best Genre Film at Cinequest 2025.