Caledon residents can watch local seniors take on the challenge of making a horror film at a May 29 screening in Bolton, hosted by Caledon Meals on Wheels.
The event features Silver Screamers, a documentary by Bolton-born director Sean Cisterna, at the Albion Bolton Community Centre from 6 to 8 p.m. A question-and-answer session with Cisterna will follow the screening, Caledon Citizen reported.
Tickets cost $25 and include snacks. They are available through www.cmow.org or by calling 905-857-7651. Caledon Meals on Wheels executive director Kim Rodrigues is encouraging residents to buy ahead to secure a spot, and says the event welcomes people of all ages.
Silver Screamers follows a group of local older adults as they learn filmmaking and work together to produce a horror short. The documentary explores their creative contributions, along with the challenges they encounter during production.
The project grew out of Cisterna’s difficulties securing financing for a horror movie. He told the Citizen that repeated funding rejections led him to consider a different approach after receiving a flyer about the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program.
That program supports community projects aimed at reducing social isolation, encouraging volunteerism and empowering seniors. Cisterna developed the idea of a filmmaking workshop for older adults that would also lead to the creation of his movie.
As the participants learned how a film set worked, they also brought their own experience to the production. Cisterna described an exchange between generations: he shared filmmaking knowledge, while the seniors used their creativity and life experience to help resolve problems.
He said working toward a shared goal helped bring the group together. The documentary became a way to explore the satisfaction older adults can find through creative work.
Silver Screamers won Best Documentary at the 2025 Toronto After Dark Film Festival and Best Feature at the Celluloid Screams festival in Sheffield. It has also been screened across Canada.
Rodrigues told the Citizen that a board member familiar with Cisterna’s work brought the film to the organization’s attention. She said its portrayal of older adults finding ways to express themselves and participate in community life connects with Caledon Meals on Wheels’ work.
The organization seeks to reduce seniors’ isolation and provide opportunities for continued involvement. Rodrigues said the screening also offers a chance to recognize older adults’ interest in learning, having fun and trying new activities.
For Cisterna, the Bolton event is a return to the community where he grew up and developed his creativity during high school. He told the Citizen that sharing the project locally brings a familiarity different from presenting it to audiences at international festivals.
He also said community screenings can reach people who cannot attend larger venues, including those in Toronto.
