Hollyshorts 2025: Matt Campanella on Crafting his Lovecraftian Queer Allegory, ‘Sunday Sauce’

In “Sunday Sauce,” the table is set at a not-so-quiet family dinner. The closeted middle-aged Gino (Matthew Risch) finds himself sandwiched between two overly loud and traditional Italian-American match-making matriarchs, one knocked-up and hormonal young lady, and in an unexpected turn of events, his Grindr match.

As expected, things soon grow awkward as well as heated/explosive in the literal sense. However, it also culminates with the panicky and morally conflicted Gino, whose inner voice is often louder than his over-dramatic family members, undergoing a strange metamorphosis (also meant in the literal sense).

Soaked in religious paraphernalia (even the walls of the family bathroom are decorated with a crucifix or two…talk about an omnipresent god!) this short film—which premieres at Hollyshorts 2025—defies stereotypes. It is salty, spicy, savoury, and sweet in all the right measures, and also features surrealism galore.

In this interview, Writer and Director Matt Campanella (he also plays the saucy secret love interest nicknamed Twunk, who leaves our protagonist flustered) delves more into the various universal themes as well as his motivations behind crafting this allegorical short.

*This interview has been edited for clarity.

Vidal D’Costa for The Movie Buff: Congratulations on making the cut at Hollyshorts. Your previous short ‘Daddy Issues’ also made the rounds at festivals like Tribeca and Outfest, receiving rave reviews. Could you briefly speak on your filmmaking journey? 

Matt Campanella: I’ve been performing for as long as I can remember—prank-calling Taco Bell with different accents, making little films on snow days, roping in any friends who would say yes. I also grew up in a big family where rooms were full of strong personalities, opinions, and perspectives. That environment definitely shaped me as a storyteller. Growing up, independent film really opened my eyes to the artistry behind cinema and sparked my interest to pursue filmmaking.

VD: ‘Sunday Sauce’ is a distinct narrative that explores repression, Catholic guilt, and family. What prompted you to explore these themes in the movie? Any personal experiences that shaped the characters or its narrative?

MC: One of the things I love most about film is how it teaches us more about people. And, in turn, [it]allows us to connect more deeply with the world around us. Through each of my films, and especially Sunday Sauce, I’m interested in exploring the moral gray areas of humanity: good people who inevitably make choices, sometimes mistakes, but ultimately grow. I also wanted to explore an older male queer narrative, one we don’t see often enough on-screen, reflecting on repression and identity through a specific lens. Growing up in a volatile, high-pressure Italian-American household, I wanted to capture that energy on screen as well.

VD: I won’t spoil the plot, but ‘Sunday Sauce’ also features a bit of surrealism and felt Kafka-esque or Lovecraftian. It also reminded me of Yorgos Lanthimos and Robert Eggers’ at times. Who are some filmmakers you look up to or who influenced Sunday Sauce or your other work?

MC: Thank you for saying that, it’s exactly what I was going for. With “Sunday Sauce,” my intent was to create an allegory within a very specific world, grounded and heightened, where surrealism pushes the themes to the surface. Guillermo del Toro and Yorgos Lanthimos were major inspirations, particularly in how they craft worlds that feel strange and comedic but still manage to infuse heart. I’m drawn to that space where the audience isn’t sure if they should be laughing, cringing, or leaning in closer. I’ve also always been inspired by the late Jean-Marc Vallée and how he drives the narratives from a character’s POV.

VD: How was the experience working with Oscar nominee Cathy Moriarty? Did you receive any creative input from the rest of the cast that you incorporated into the final work?

MC: Working with Cathy Moriarty was incredible—she brought a commanding presence and razor-sharp comedic instincts that anchored the film. The whole cast contributed great improvisation, especially Nicole Ehinger, whose subtle reactions at the dinner table became a key source of tension and comedy.

VD: Lastly, could you share details about your upcoming works that our readers can look forward to?

MC: I’m currently developing “Sunday Sauce” into a feature. It expands the chaos and surrealism while digging deeper into the family’s secrets. I also have two features, a coming-of-age comedy as well as a comedy-drama, and a TV project in the works.

The HollyShorts Film Festival takes place August 8–17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California