After carrying deep pain for years, Mark faces the challenge to either be held by the nightmare of his past or forgive it.

”Forgiving The Nightmare” is a short film based on the book and life of Mark Sowersby, who was sexually abused as a child by his stepfather, but overcomes his past trauma by confronting his abuser and forgiving him.

This film is about the power of forgiving others even when they don’t deserve it or have asked for it. It’s about the biblical principle of forgiveness found in Matthew 6: 12-13.

Our hope is that ”Forgiving The Nightmare” will inspire others to choose to forgive those who hurt them deeply, so that they can experience freedom in their lives.

Forgiving the Nightmare trailer

Cast and Crew

Producer/Writer/Director Henrique Franhani

Henrique Franhani is a Brazilian American filmmaker and actor local to Central Florida. Henrique has been a part of the entertainment industry ever since he stepped foot on stage at the age of ten.

Henrique has acted/performed in multiple shows and films and has also worked behind the scenes in many film and stage productions, as well as directed two short films and one music video.

Henrique is always looking forward to working with great professionals in his field, in order for him to grow as an artist, but also as a person.

Author/Executive Producer Mark Sowersby

Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 21 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Calvary Community Church in Dudley, MA. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College.

Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God’s grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare.

When he isn’t serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Upstate

New York, spending time with his family.

Producer/Executive Producer Michael Babcock

Michael has been acting professionally now for over 15 years. Credits include Disney, Nickelodeon, Universal, Amazon Prime, several national commercials, and much more. Recently, Michael has transitioned into directing, producing, and writing.

He just wrapped production on a brand-new sitcom pilot which he wrote, cast, directed, produced, and acted in. Michael also privately coaches other actors and creatives. Michael is passionate about his faith, and the importance of showing love to one another. He teaches film and acting at a private Christian high school and loves to mentor and encourage young people to be the best version of themselves.

Mark is played by Marc Lucia

Marc Lucia is an actor based out of Orlando, FL.

He has worked on both feature length and short films.

The Abuser is played by Scot Scurlock

Scot Scurlock is a resident of Saint Augustine, Florida. Prior to relocating to Florida, he was very active in the New Mexico Independent Film community, working in several award-winning feature and short films.

He has received Best Actor nominations for his roles in the films Bad Situation and Sea Critter. Scot was selected as one of 15 actors invited to participate in the Nashville Film Festival’s first ever Actor’s Challenge and was a finalist in both the 2018 and 2019 New Mexico Film Foundations - Actors Showcase.

In addition to his film, TV and voiceover work, Scot has both directed and produced films and has completed his first short film script.

Director of Photography Kyle Loftus

Kyle Loftus is a seasoned director and cinematographer with a decade of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, he has partnered with globally recognized brands such as Gatorade, the Orlando Magic, Timberland, Puma, and many more. His exceptional talent has earned him numerous awards, including accolades from prestigious events like the Miami Independent Film Festival and the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Film Festival.

A multilingual individual fluent in both Spanish and English, Kyle's passion for storytelling has taken him to over 25 countries and counting. He thrives on connecting with diverse communities and cultures, driven by a deep desire to share impactful stories that resonate globally. Through his work, Kyle continually seeks to inspire, provoke thought, and spark conversations that matter.

Production Sound Mixer Louis J. Richner

Louis J. Richner is an award-winning sound designer, production sound mixer, boom operator, audio engineer, cinematographer and media production specialist with over 15 years of experience. Louis’ work has been heard and seen in international and U.S. commercials, narrative films, documentaries, educational films, live events, music videos and corporate projects.

His portfolio includes renowned companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Domino's Pizza, Outback Steakhouse, TIME Studios, Telemundo, Disney, and more. As the owner and operator of Paradise Studios Inc. in Winter Springs, Florida, his versatility and commitment to excellence ensures he stays busy, whether it's sound mixing, producing podcasts, recording music, or filming your next project.

Original Score by Joe Hodgin

Award-winning composer, producer, & engineer. Joe Hodgin has been writing and producing music for 20 years. His deep love for film helped him find his way into film scoring in his late 20’s.

“It’s really the best of both worlds for me. Writing to picture just brings something out in my writing” he says. “It really helped me fall in love with music all over again.”

Hodgin has composed an array of genres but loves to score anything that will make the audience feel something. “That’s the best part,” he says. “Whether it’s love, anger, terror: I want to help the audience get there.”