An Artist’s Curse
Directed by Steven J. Mihaljevich
Australia, 2025
Drama
What this film tells
A childhood terror lurks within a girl's artwork. Years later, as a mother, nightmares bleed into reality — and art reveals a shocking truth.
Why it matters
An Artist's Curse dares to explore the darkest corners of maternal love and inherited trauma. Steven J. Mihaljevich uses art itself as a vessel of horror — not as decoration, but as a living force that binds generations together in ways they cannot control. The film asks an unsettling question: what if the creative impulse that defines us is also the thing that destroys us? Blending psychological thriller with supernatural dread, it reminds us that childhood wounds don't heal with time — they simply change shape, passing silently from parent to child.
What this film tells
A childhood terror lurks within a girl's artwork. Years later, as a mother, nightmares bleed into reality — and art reveals a shocking truth.
Why it matters
An Artist's Curse dares to explore the darkest corners of maternal love and inherited trauma. Steven J. Mihaljevich uses art itself as a vessel of horror — not as decoration, but as a living force that binds generations together in ways they cannot control. The film asks an unsettling question: what if the creative impulse that defines us is also the thing that destroys us? Blending psychological thriller with supernatural dread, it reminds us that childhood wounds don't heal with time — they simply change shape, passing silently from parent to child.
Steven J. Mihaljevich
Steven is a Perth filmmaker with a background in education, media, and film. He has produced, directed, written and edited two feature films: The Xrossing (2020, premiere at St Louis IFF) and Violett (distributed by Syndicado). Awards include Best Director at London Film Awards. Previously worked as a Specialist Performing Arts Drama teacher.
Director's Statement
An Artist's Curse tells the story of a melancholic Mother Sonya, who sees the world from the P.O.V of her mentally impaired mind as she tries to unravel the shocking truth about her daughter. It is a story about grief, personal demons and how we see the world from a different colour when experiencing mental trauma or suffering deeply.
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