Directing My Mother: Kenny Riches On MOUSE (2026)
Director Kenny Riches is here to break down pretty much every stereotype in independent film: it's in his fourth feature where he feels like it is his first; you can cast your own mother, a non-professional actor, in your film and have it work out well (she's so good in his latest film); and you can make unconventional decisions about the screenplay in MOUSE (2026) that makes viewers wonder why we don't see more films like this.
Maybe because there are few indie filmmakers who are splitting their time between Miami and Salt Lake City, born in Japan and raised in Utah; a filmmaker but also earned a BFA in Painting and Drawing.
His films are wholly original because so is Kenny, and I can't wait for you to see MOUSE screening somewhere near you.
Kenny and I talk about:
- what you should expect when you watch MOUSE;
- what constitutes success for an indie's theatrical release;
- two films named MOUSE being released at the same time;
- what he took away from making three previous features;
- how he directed himself in this feature and ensures he's getting accurate feedback about his scenes;
- directing his mother, who is not a professional actor, and how you get a great performance (she's fantastic in this film);
- the unique dual story structure of the film by slowly bringing the two main characters together;
- how he got into filmmaking;
- his feelings toward Sundance as a participant and also as a Utahn;
- directing vs. producing and whether he'll shoot his own film;
- what's next for him.
Memorable Quotes:
" I almost feel like MOUSE is my first feature film and my previous three were just really long short films."
" Producing for me for the other projects, I find it that it's very fun, but personally not as fulfilling because I think I'm just meant to be a director."
Kenny's Indie Film Highlight: IN THE MOUTH (2025) dir. by Cory Santilli
Links:
DEAR DENNY Screenings For Mouse
