INFIRMARY Brings Found Footage Terror to Dances With Films NY World Premiere

A lone night shift inside an abandoned asylum spirals into found footage madness in INFIRMARY.

Found Footage Horror INFIRMARY World Premieres at Dances With Films NY

Found footage horror is getting a new shot of adrenaline this January as INFIRMARY prepares to make its world premiere at Dances With Films NY on January 16.

The feature debut from filmmaker Nicholas Pineda, INFIRMARY leans hard into claustrophobia, paranoia, and slow-burn dread, delivering a character-driven descent into madness set inside a decaying mental asylum that refuses to stay buried. Written by Katy Krauland and produced by Pineda and Krauland, the film stars Paul Syre, Mark Anthony Williams, Danielle Kennedy, and Corinna Wagner-Smith.

Set over the course of a single night, INFIRMARY follows Edward, a young security guard starting his first shift at the long-abandoned Wilshire Infirmary. What should be a routine overnight post quickly curdles into something far more unsettling. Paired with Lester, a retiring guard whose odd behavior only deepens the tension, Edward begins to sense that the building’s violent history hasn’t loosened its grip.

When a mysterious intruder appears—and vanishes just as quickly—the night spirals out of control. Lester disappears into the asylum’s shadowy depths, leaving Edward completely alone. As visions mount and unseen forces begin to stalk him, the distinction between reality and psychological collapse starts to fracture. The infirmary becomes a maze of dread, turning Edward into prey within a space designed to unmake him.

What sets INFIRMARY apart is its smart use of modern surveillance aesthetics. Blending bodycam footage with security cameras and traditional found footage techniques, the film honors the genre’s roots while pushing it forward with a sharper, more contemporary edge. The result is a tense, immersive experience that understands restraint is often more terrifying than spectacle.

With its stripped-down premise, oppressive atmosphere, and commitment to character over gimmick, INFIRMARY feels right at home within the growing wave of indie found footage films reclaiming the genre’s potential. Its world premiere at Dances With Films NY positions it as one to watch closely as festival season rolls into 2026.

INFIRMARY screens January 16 as part of Dances With Films NY. Keep it on your radar—this asylum isn’t done with you yet.

For more information on the film's World Premiere at Dances With Films NY, please CLICK HERE.