Narrative short film
Written and directed by Kevin Murray, based on a story by Ted Patterson

Synopsis: Two balloon twisters — one a shy entertainer, one a pompous showman — vie for the same job at a child's birthday party. As they engage in an epic duel to woo the crowd and win the coveted paycheck, their battle produces hazardous yet hysterical, and magical, results. It's high noon — with balloons.

Background: A quirky comedy that takes a fun and absurd look at the art (and rivalry) of balloon twisting. Filmed in Charlotte, NC.

Watch: Watch "A Twistful" of Dollars" on Thingamajig Media's Vimeo page.

Accolades: "A Twistful of Dollars" won Best Short at the 2024 Spring Lane Film Festival; Audience Choice at the 2024 Con Nooga Film Festival; Best Comedy at the 2023 Longleaf Film Festival; Best Comedy, Best Director, and Audience Choice at the 2023 Stranger Days Independent Film Festival; Best Comedy at the 2023 Andromeda Film Festival; Best Comedy and Best in Show at the 2023 ConCarolinas Film Festival; Best Short Film at the 2023 Motion Picture Film Awards; Best Comedy Short at the 2023 Sacramento Independent Film Festival; Best Comedy at the 2023 Oakland Film Festival; Best Comedy at the 2024 Santa Cruz Independent Film Festival, and Best Comedy at the Dallas Shorts film festival. "A Twistful of Dollars" was named a Finalist at the 2025 Waterford International Film Festival, a Semi Finalist at the 2025 Dallas Shorts Film Festival and at the 2023 New Jersey Independent Short Festival, a Quarterfinalist at the 2025 Hollywood Storytellers Film Festival, and was named an official selection of the 2025 Tennessee International Indie Film Festival, the 2024 Studio City International Film & TV Festival, the 2023 Footcandle Film Festival, the 2023 Beyond: The Cary Film Festival, the 2023 Raleigh Film and Arts Festival, the 2023 Redwood Film Festival, and the 2023 Sioux City Film Screening. The "Twistful" script also was a recipient of the Footcandle Society's 2019 Filmmaking Grant Fund.

IMDB: Check out "A Twistful of Dollars" on IMDB.