by FilmDrops
Mockbuster (2026)
A struggling Australian filmmaker’s chance at redemption collides with chaos and compromise as he navigates the eccentric world of notorious Sharknado production house, The Asylum.
Where to watch: Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2026. US Premiere.
Thursday, February 5 - 6PM - SBIFF Film Center Aud 4
Friday, February 6 - 11AM - SBIFF Film Center Aud 1
Once-promising Australian filmmaker Anthony Frith lands a final shot at glory with Hollywood’s kings of B-movie schlock, the Asylum, the studio behind Sharknado. Tasked with directing a lost-world dinosaur film in suburban Adelaide on a six-day shoot and a shoestring budget, he also turns the camera on himself, filming a behind-the-scenes documentary as the chaos unfolds.
Between demanding LA execs, a bewildered cast, and his own creeping self-doubt, both productions push their first-time director to the brink.
Mockbuster is a hilarious and unexpectedly tender documentary about chasing the dream through the absurd hustle of genre filmmaking, but finding a different kind of success behind the scenes.
Official Selection 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
