Killer Films Joins Ray Panthaki’s ‘In Starland,’ Setting World Premiere at Tallinn

Ray Panthaki’s directorial debut, In Starland, has secured significant industry backing through Killer Films, with Christine Vachon and Mason Plotts joining the producing team. The project stars Clarence Maclin, known for his breakout role in Sing Sing, and is set to mark a major milestone as the world premiere selection at the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where it will close the first feature competition.

Written by Panthaki and Jason Kavan, the film is categorized as a coming-of-middle-age drama. Maclin portrays Ernie, a 50-year-old recluse whose solitary existence is disrupted by a wave of young influencers who settle in his small town. Their arrival pulls him into a chaotic, hyper-connected social sphere, compelling him to reevaluate his sense of belonging, identity, and the life choices he has made.

The ensemble cast features a mix of emerging and established talent, including Miss Benny, Bella Maclean, Colin Buckingham, Leesie Pinto, Tai’mua, Kang Frvr, Mollee Gray, Gallant, Maxwell Cunningham, Marcus Scribner, and Ben Dickey.

Produced independently in Mississippi over a 20-day shoot, In Starland was crafted outside the traditional studio framework. Panthaki and his producing partners built the film from the ground up, a process that earned it a spot in the BFI and British Council’s GREAT 8 showcase at Cannes earlier this year, which highlights new UK feature films from first-time and early-career filmmakers.

“This film has been independent in the truest sense of the word,” Panthaki said. “We took something already considered independent and stripped even that infrastructure away. There was no safety net, just a group of people who believed the film should exist and kept finding a way to make that happen.” He added that the collective belief in the project carried them through to the Tallinn invitation, calling it “a huge honour.”