Award-winning director and producer Andrew van den Houten is a native New Yorker born and raised on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Receiving critical acclaim from the likes of Stephen King and Roger Ebert, his work has been recognized worldwide by the Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards, SXSW, Fantastic Fest, Deauville American Film Festival, Sitges, FrightFest, and many others.
Over the course of his career, van den Houten has been involved in the development, financing, production, and distribution of more than eighty feature films, including Independent Spirit Award nominee In the Family, the cult classic Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door, and the Sundance shocker The Woman. Through his first production company, Modernciné, he directed both Headspace and Offspring.
Under his production banner Hood River Entertainment, van den Houten has produced a diverse slate of action, horror, and thriller films, including the Shudder Original The Ranger, the McManus Brothers’ critically acclaimed The Block Island Sound, and A Day to Die, directed by Wes Miller and starring Bruce Willis.
Together with director Wes Miller, van den Houten co-founded BLacklight, a production company dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for people of color and other traditionally underserved voices both in front of and behind the camera while remaining committed to producing commercially successful and globally resonant stories.
BLacklight’s first production for BET, Call Her King, stars Naturi Naughton and Lance Gross. In partnership with Dark Star Pictures, BLacklight serves as a releasing and distribution partner on Black Heat, starring Jason Mitchell, NLE Choppa, and DreamDoll, and on the upcoming releases Wildcards, starring Leon, Aries Spears, and Elise Neal; A Bloody Night, starring Leon, Hannaha Hall, NLE Choppa, and Jack Wright; and Mercy Mercy Me, the prequel to Black Heatstarring Lil Mama and Jason Mitchell.
Van den Houten also completed Ballard C. Boyd’s (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) feature directorial debut Jackrabbit, starring Kuhoo Verma (Murder Mystery 2) and Taylor Ortega (Big Mistakes).
In 2026, van den Houten completed a new psychological horror-thriller feature, with premiere and release details forthcoming.
Beyond production and directing, van den Houten works in film finance, sales, distribution, and corporate consulting through 79th & Broadway Entertainment and is also a partner in film distributor and financier Kamikaze Dogfight.
Andrew van den Houten
Kamikaze Dogfight is a film distribution company focused on releasing cutting edge horror and thriller feature films.
Actor and Producer Han Soto is a native New Orleanian whose work spans across the lines of genre. Whether acting in blockbuster films/video games such as Life Is Strange: True Color, Ender's Game and Logan or television hit series such as Cobra Kai and Outer Banks, Soto brings his blend of business sense, keen eye and positive energy to whatever project is at hand.
Han's ability to bring together creative talent and resources can be witnessed by his latest Award Winning Documentary A Tuba to Cuba, an impressive documentary that follows the famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Cuba in a quest to uncover the roots of New Orleans Jazz. A Tuba to Cuba was received with high accolades during its premiere at SXSW 2018 and has won multiple festivals and garnered top awards during its circuit while selling out in every theater during its theatrical debut. Through Setlife Films he Executive Produced Jeffrey Reddick's directorial debut "Don't Look Back" alongside Hood River Entertainment.
When asked during a press interview what keeps him alive in this business, Han says "All aspects of filmmaking I consider intimate. There is a Nguni Bantu term meaning "humanity." It's called Ubuntu and loosely translates to "I am because we are." This is my mantra."
Han Soto
