We Took a Train
Experimental
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Short Films, 13-Jan-2026
A travel vlogger persuades his "friend" to embark on a 36-hour journey aboard the Amtrak Coast Starlight with the hope it will finally bring them closer. “We Took a Train,” directed by Austin Zollars, is a docu-fictional piece that reveals an increasingly tumultuous dynamic in a male friendship. Artie and Joey meet in Los Angeles and board their northbound train. Artie enthusiastically shoots from behind the camera, documenting their shenanigans along the way. The adventure begins as a playful game of catchup but escalates into conflict as Artie’s rowdiness gets harder for Joey to manage, especially when they meet a girl seated a few rows up. Private moments that aren’t intended for others to see are recorded, shared in spite, and it all leads to an unsettling fallout. It’s an effective use of the found footage genre where, here, unhinged behavior reveals a raw rift between two friends. -JM. Director: Austin Zollars. Writers: Austin Zollars, Jacob Vaus. Cast: Austin Zollars, Jacob Vaus, and Isabella Navarro. Editor: Austin Zollars. Additional Editing: Jacob Vaus. Sound Mixing: Jack Hisatomi. Music: Austin Zollars.
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