Blue Bassoon Pictures

Alaric S. Rocha is a filmmaker and educator dedicated to revitalizing the handmade style of cinema, embracing miniatures, puppets, and in-camera effects to celebrate the craftsmanship of filmmaking. Rejecting the trend of ultra-realism, his work blends exaggerated melodrama with over-the-top practical effects, creating horror and fantasy films that are as visually inventive as they are emotionally charged. Inspired by directors like Terry Gilliam and the DIY spirit of genre cinema, Rocha believes that filmmaking is as much about the creative journey as the final product. He strives to foster collaboration on set, making each production a meaningful experience for cast and crew. His films transcend cultural boundaries, focusing on universal themes of passion, obsession, and the pursuit of the impossible.

Beyond his work as a filmmaker, Rocha is a dedicated film instructor, having taught at institutions such as the Los Angeles Film School, Tec De Monterrey in Mexico, and the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. His past films as director and Producer include "Demonoid (1971)," filmed in the mountains of Mexico, "Deadly Embrace" a film shot in Chicago that rallied 200 tango dancers, “1000 paths of Death" filmed at the foot of a waterfall at a remote site outside of Portland, OR, and "Winter," shot on 8mm, which was his first film to screen at a major festival, the Chicago International Film Festival in 2011. His work has also been featured at SITGES, Morbido Fest, Dances with Films LA, the HP Lovecraft Film Festival, and Nightmares Film Festival. Whether crafting lost Mexican horror films or reimagining cult cinema through a modern lens, Rocha’s work brings forgotten genres to life with bold, practical effects and an unmistakable love for the art of filmmaking.