Halloween at Aunt's Cottage: ITN Films Feature Heads to Warwick, NY for July 2026 Shoot

ITN Films is gearing up for a compact but potentially atmospheric feature film shoot in the Hudson Valley this summer, and crew and talent working in the New York region will want to put this one on their radar now. "Halloween at Aunt's Cottage" is currently in pre-production with cameras scheduled to roll July 1 through July 7, 2026, in Warwick, New York. With casting actively underway and the production still in its early organizational phase, the timing is right for department heads and below-the-line professionals to begin making inquiries.

The project is being directed by Maia Kimadze and written by Tatiana Sokolova, who is also serving as the production's casting director. That dual role is worth noting for agents and actors submitting to the project, as Sokolova is the direct point of contact for talent considerations. Executive producer Mila Sokolova rounds out the core leadership team. The production is being made under the banner of ITN Films, operating here as Itn Skyly Films. Specific prior credits for the individual creative team members are not widely documented in major trade databases at this time, which suggests this may be an emerging or independent creative unit working outside the studio system. That context is important for crew assessing the project's scale and working environment.

ITN Films has operated as an independent production entity with a track record in lower-budget and non-studio feature work. Productions of this nature tend to operate on tight, entrepreneurial sets where crew members often wear multiple hats and direct communication with producers and directors is the norm. For freelancers who thrive in lean, fast-moving environments, that kind of access can be a genuine advantage. The absence of a named distributor or streaming partner in the current data suggests this production is either self-financed or still in the process of securing distribution, which is common for independent features at this stage of development.

The shoot is set in Warwick, New York, a picturesque small town in Orange County, roughly 60 miles northwest of Manhattan in the Hudson Valley. Warwick's historic architecture, tree-lined streets, and surrounding rural landscapes make it a natural draw for productions seeking authentic small-town American atmosphere without the logistical complexity of shooting in New York City proper. For a film with "cottage" in the title, the area's abundance of older residential properties and wooded settings is an obvious creative fit. New York State's film tax incentive program, which offers qualifying productions a credit of up to 30 percent on eligible costs for productions shooting outside of New York City, is a likely factor in the location decision. Orange County falls within the program's upstate eligibility zone, making it financially attractive for independent producers working to maximize every production dollar.

The seven-day principal photography window is strikingly tight, even by independent film standards, and crew should calibrate their expectations accordingly. A shoot of this length suggests a lean script, a small cast, and a skeleton crew model where efficiency is paramount. That said, the condensed schedule also means this is precisely the kind of project where an experienced department head or versatile crew member can make an outsized contribution in a short amount of time. The Hudson Valley has a growing community of local film professionals, and productions in the area frequently draw from both the New York City freelance pool and the increasingly active upstate crew base. Given the shoot's proximity to the city, crew commuting from the five boroughs or staying locally for the week are both viable options. The genre, with its Halloween-themed title and cottage setting, points toward a production that will likely lean on production design, location scouting, and atmospheric lighting to establish tone, making those departments particularly worth watching for staffing activity.

Because the project is currently in casting and pre-production with a July 2026 start date, the hiring window for key crew positions is open right now, even if formal department builds are still weeks or months away. Getting in front of the producers early on an independent production like this is often the difference between landing the job and arriving too late. ProductionList.com carries the full listing for "Halloween at Aunt's Cottage," including production contacts, office details, and any scheduling updates as they are confirmed. If you are a Hudson Valley or New York-based crew member looking for a focused summer shoot, or a talent representative with clients right for a small-scale character-driven horror or genre project, this is a listing worth checking and bookmarking today.

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