Cohort’s Film Lab STL Premiere: Five Teams Imagine the World They Wish Existed

On March 9th, 2026, filmmakers, writers, actors, designers, and editors gathered at .ZACK Theatre in St. Louis for the premiere screening of the first Cohort’s Film Lab STL V1. Over the course of two weeks, five filmmaking teams collaborated to create original short films. Each team was given the same creative prompt: Create the world you wish existed. To push experimentation further, every team was also assigned a random genre, forcing them to approach the prompt from different creative directions. The result was a diverse program of films ranging from absurdist comedy and historical revisionism to neo-western, fantasy drama, and psychological thriller. The premiere screening and filmmaker discussion were hosted by Ryan Simpson and Christopher Milano, who guided the audience through the evening’s program and moderated the filmmaker Q&A following the screenings. Watch the filmmaker Q&A from the screening here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfWORZn78H8 The screening celebrated not only the finished films but the spirit of collaboration that defines the Cohort's Film Lab. Lingua Strana Absurdist Comedy The absurdist comedy team explored the idea of a “living language.” Their film imagined a world where technology no longer mediates communication, forcing people to reconnect through artistic expression. To emphasize a return to humanity’s natural roots, the filmmakers intentionally removed modern visual elements from their shots such as cars, signage, and other technological markers. The result was a world that felt both timeless and strangely familiar. Sound design played an important role in shaping the film’s atmosphere. The score incorporated original music and chants inspired by Masai traditions, grounding the concept of language in rhythm, voice, and collective expression. Key Contributors Co Director / Cinematographer
- Jordan Mayberry Co Director / Writer- 
Rico Thomas Visual Styles / Actor- 
David S.K. Johnson Actor / Soundtrack- 
Trials Davis Writer- 
Alexa Johanningmeier Crew
- Caleb Jackson Actor / P.A. - Erica Echinacea Writer, Assistant Director - 
Michael Haffner One Move at a Time Historical Revisionism The historical revisionism team created One Move At A Time, a film set in 1968 that imagines a world where key historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy never died. In this alternate timeline, society evolves beyond racism, sexism, and homophobia. A chess match becomes the film’s central motif, representing the gradual evolution of a relationship between two characters navigating this changed world. Visually, the filmmakers used a powerful stylistic device. The film begins in black and white, reflecting emotional distance and unresolved tensions. When the characters form a meaningful connection, the film transitions into color, signaling a shift in their world and the possibilities within it. Key Contributors Director- 
Zoë Calsyn Writers
- David Wraith, 
Meredith Labadu Cinematographer