Uxbridge director premieres new ‘found footage’ thriller at Oakville Film Festival next week
Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
“Teddy is a private investigator who has spent most of his life trying to capture and control reality through his camera. When a missing child case stirs up the darkest moment of his past - the abduction of his sister - his obsession with documenting the truth takes on a chilling new urgency.”
This is glimpse into Chimera, the debut feature film by Uxbridge film maker Jacob Phair. Phair co-wrote, directed and co-produced the film, which was shot almost entirely on location at his family cottage in Bobcaygeon.
Chimera is a found footage thriller, says Phair, which gives a realistic feel to the film, something akin to The Blair Witch Project.
“Chimera approaches the format from a more emotional and cinematic perspective, though,” explains Phair. “While it contains horror elements, it is ultimately more of a dramatic mystery-thriller that uses the found footage aesthetic in a grounded and character-driven way.”
Phair’s film will have its world premiere at the Oakville Film Festival on June 22, at 8 p.m., and Phair hopes that many from Uxbridge will make the trip to Oakville to take in this contribution to the festival.
“My intention with the film was to craft a unique horror experience, one that audiences haven't quite encountered in other found footage films, explains Phair, whose enthusiasm for filmmaking is abundant. “Chimera is more than a horror film; it is a deeply human story wrapped in a terrifying mystery. It offers suspense, psychological depth, and an emotional payoff that lingers long after the final frame. With making a story like this, I hope that the audience will leave the film questioning their own pasts, wondering what they might still be holding onto, and what it takes to finally let go.”
After the premier, Phair says the film is actively looking for distribution opportunities, and that he and his production team hope the film will be picked up for distribution.
Phair told the Cosmos that he has been drawn to storytelling since childhood. What started as writing scary stories in school quickly evolved into a deep passion for filmmaking, particularly within the horror genre, where he found an outlet for his imagination and love of the macabre.
After obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in Film & Media Production at the University of Guelph-Humber, Phair went on to work as an assistant director on many projects. Phair has written and directed several other films, including the award-winning short film, Lure. Lure is a tale of “a tormented father who resides in solitude while reckoning with his past. After the emergence of an old acquaintance, he is confronted by a horrifying reality that will change his life forever.” Phair says he is now turning Lure from a short film into a feature length film.
Chimera’s world premiere will take place at the Oakville Film Festival, 171 Speers Rd., Oakville, on Monday, June 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at offa2026.eventive.org , under “Schedule.”