Steven Schloss Unveils Hanukkah Horror with 'Gimme'

      When Steven Schloss brought a dreidel to school for show and tell at the age of 10, he anticipated that his classmates would think it was impressive.

      “Instead, I discovered that I was the kid who celebrated a different holiday, and very few understood the game,” reflects Schloss, a filmmaker based in Boston, who credits this experience with inspiring his Hanukkah-themed horror short “Gimme.”

      He wrote the film, which recently received the Best Horror Short award at Filmquest and was selected for the Dances with Films horror program, alongside producer Aidan Payne. The story follows a young girl named Lev (Taylor Pezza) and her grandfather Papa Alan (Paul Kandarian) as they cope with the loss of Lev’s mother during Hanukkah. A mysterious dreidel appears to offer a connection to her, but events take a dark turn.

      Schloss also serves as an executive producer for Hot Brick Entertainment, a production company based in New England. His prior shorts, “Katie’s Skin” and “Writer’s Block,” have established his reputation for creating skillfully made, uncompromising horror films.

      “Gimme” has already been acquired by Screambox for distribution in December 2026, just in time for the next Hanukkah.

      We spoke with Steve Schloss about the audience for Jewish horror, not settling for a simplified version of “Gimme,” and how pursuing your passions makes work feel like a joy.

      Steven Schloss on Creating ‘Gimme’

      Steven Schloss photographed by Johnny Call

      MovieMaker: How did you begin your journey as a filmmaker?

      Steven Schloss: That’s the million-dollar question. Honestly, I think the desire and skills for filmmaking were always within me, just waiting to emerge. As a child, I would beg my dad to take me to Blockbuster multiple times a week, often just to explore the horror aisle and admire the VHS cover art of movies I wasn’t allowed to watch yet. Growing up, I found more joy in video games, action figures, and expanding my VHS/DVD collection than in playing outside with other kids, except for competitive paintball – my first obsession that fulfilled my need for creative problem-solving and teamwork. I struggled in classrooms, with the exception of art class. When I first picked up a mini DV video camera in high school, it felt incredibly natural due to its run-and-gun nature. Finally, I found something worth pursuing in my education, partly because I wasn’t doing well in school. This passion led me to Boston University, where I studied film and TV and eventually interned with Richard N. Gladstein, producer of notable films like Pulp Fiction, Cider House Rules, and The Bourne Identity. I’ve been using film as a storytelling medium since 2010, with a recent focus on horror.

      Paul Kandarian on set of “Gimme.” Photo by Eric Saltzman

      MovieMaker: What was the inspiration behind “Gimme”?

      Steven Schloss: At 10, I brought a dreidel to school for show and tell, expecting my classmates to recognize it and think it was cool. Instead, I realized I was the kid who celebrated a different holiday, and very few knew the game. Growing up, I longed for a Hanukkah horror movie, as the holiday often felt overshadowed by Christmas. I grew up in a non-religious yet culturally Jewish family and have noticed a decline in pride in our identity lately, especially with the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. This is one of the reasons I created “Gimme,” a film steeped in Jewish culture that anyone can relate to. It’s the film I wished I could have watched during Hanukkah at 14.

      MovieMaker: Are you surprised that there isn’t more horror centered around Jewish themes?

      Steven Schloss: Absolutely. When Eli Roth’s 2023 Thanksgiving was announced, it felt like the world overlooked Hanukkah entirely. That’s when I began developing this idea. I found myself wondering why there isn’t a selection of Hanukkah films on platforms like Shudder or Screambox, as there is for Christmas. Do we not deserve it? Are there not enough metrics to convince studios to invest in it?

      I wanted to be the one to change that by crafting something bold, unforgettable, and true to Hanukkah’s themes. A sinister dreidel that brings a family closer through horror felt like the right fit.

      MovieMaker: What was the biggest challenge you encountered while making this film?

      Steven Schloss: The biggest challenge was telling the right story that represented the themes of culture, ritual, and family traditions surrounding Hanukkah. “Gimme” went through two production rounds. In the first round, the ending was ineffective. I faced a choice: either reshoot the third act or let the project go, and I’m thrilled I chose to reshoot, encouraged by my fellow collaborators.

      Taylor Pezza in “Gimme”

      MovieMaker