TIME(@TIME):Kane Parsons, the 21-year-old wunderkind director behind this year’s horror hit ‘Backrooms,’ says he doesn’t believe anyone in the film industry has a magic rulebook. When asked for advice for aspiring filmmakers at an event honoring the TIME100 Creators honorees, he also said, “I always feel iffy giving advice because I have not been doing this long enough to.” Parsons’ rise to mainstream creative stardom, built out of internet virality and obscure message-board subculture, represents a new path for aspiring filmmakers—one that doesn’t necessarily require submitting to traditional film festivals. Read more about Parsons:

2026.07.31 02:13

Kane Parsons, the 21-year-old wunderkind director behind this year’s horror hit ‘Backrooms,’ says he doesn’t believe anyone in the film industry has a magic rulebook. When asked for advice for aspiring filmmakers at an event honoring the TIME100 Creators honorees, he also said, “I always feel iffy giving advice because I have not been doing this long enough to.” Parsons’ rise to mainstream creative stardom, built out of internet virality and obscure message-board subculture, represents a new path for aspiring filmmakers—one that doesn’t necessarily require submitting to traditional film festivals. Read more about Parsons: