About Us
Mantel was formed when three transcontinental nerds decided to push their metaphorical glasses up and create a production house that develops and co-finances films for genre lovers everywhere.
Our vision is to push the boundaries of what it means to be a horror, sci-fi, and fantasy film, while still creating that sense of escapism genre fans crave and enjoy. Unique and powerful storytelling will always stand the test of time and our goal is make narratives that will keep people talking and listening around the fireplace. Or at least watching their TV above the Mantel.
The Team
The People of MANTEL
Michael Marchand
Producer
Michael teamed up with Z. W. Amundson to produce two short films, “First Date” & “Don’t Vanish”, which were selected to numerous festivals, including the Manhattan Film Festival, Nightmares Film Festival, as well as the Portugal International Film Festival.
He is actively expanding Mantel Pictures through strategic partnerships with other production companies, investors, and creative talent.
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David van der Meijde
Director/DP
David’s cinematography work on the film “Koers” was a standout finalist at the Netherlands Film Festival, finishing runner up to the 2025 Oscar winner “I’m not a Robot.” His other narrative work includes “The Cabinet”, “Wrinkles of Her Smile”, “The Fledgling”, and working alongside Z. W. Amundson in “First Date”.
In between films, David’s has shot for large brands such as BBC Earth, Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s, Deutsche Bank, and Lipton among others.
Zachary Amundson
Writer/Director
Z. W. (Zach) wrote and produced the feature film “Dwarves of Demrel” which saw distribution in more than a dozen territories and domestically through Amazon.
His directorial debut, “First Date”, was nominated for multiple awards, including Best International Short Film + Best Performance at the Paris Art & Movie Awards and his second short film “Don’t Vanish“ was a quarter finalists for best short film at the Golden International Film Festival while also picking up an award for best cinematography at the Florence Film Awards.
