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Matt Smith and Dan Gedman trace a creative partnership that began in Kansas City and deepened at the University of Kansas, where fraternity life gave way to film obsession. The pair translated that shared passion into a production company called Highway 10 founded in 2026, and in 2026 they brought its first two features to the festival circuit. These debuts landed back-to-back at SXSW, a high-profile proving ground for independent films. Along the way they combined industry experience — Smith’s previous producing credits and Gedman’s background directing music videos — to shepherd projects that blend genre hooks with small-budget ambitions.
The two films that announced Highway 10’s arrival could not be more different in mood: The Saviors is a paranoid comedy-thriller about a suburban couple and the foreign tenants who unsettle them, while Wishful Thinking is an intimate, slightly surreal relationship drama that hints at larger consequences. Comedy-thriller and speculative relationship drama are the shaping descriptors here, and both pictures moved rapidly from production into festival-ready form — one finishing just before wildfires hit nearby areas, the other wrapping shooting in Portland during 2026 and delivering a final cut mere days before SXSW. Those logistical stories are part of the films’ lore.
How Highway 10 came together
Smith and Gedman weren’t strangers to the entertainment world before forming their company. Smith’s producing résumé includes entries like MGM’s musical remake of Valley Girl and two films in the Step Up franchise; Gedman built a profile directing music videos for major artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Tech N9ne. After raising initial capital for Highway 10, they began seeking scripts that matched their appetite for distinctive yet accessible material. The company name is a personal nod — referencing the route that links Kansas City and the University of Kansas, the place where their friendship and cinematic conversation first took root. Their stated aim: back small films with punchy ideas and emotional stakes.
Two films, different approaches
The Saviors: production and themes
The Saviors, directed by Kevin Hamedani from a screenplay he co-wrote with Travis Betz, centers on Sean and Kim Harrison (played by Adam Scott and Danielle Deadwyler) and the unease that follows when they rent a guest house to Amir and Jahan (played by Theo Rossi and Nazanin Boniadi). The movie mixes moments of suspense with satirical touches and asks pointed questions about suspicion, immigration and neighborly fear. Filming took place in Altadena and wrapped just before a series of wildfires in the Los Angeles area; notably, homeowners later used footage from the production to substantiate an insurance claim after a guest house was destroyed. The film leans into tonal contrasts and cultural anxieties.
Wishful Thinking: casting and quick turnaround
Wishful Thinking, written and directed by Graham Parkes, follows a Portland couple whose personal troubles seem to reverberate outward. The film stars Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman; Parkes wrote the material with Pullman in mind since the two are long-term friends, and Hawke signed on quickly as the filmmakers’ top choice. Shot in Portland during 2026, the picture moved through a brisk post-production schedule to meet the festival slot. Producers credit strong performances and a lean creative team for making the tight schedule possible, and the finished film emphasizes character-driven stakes while flirting with broader, almost speculative implications.
Festival reaction and critical perspective
Once both films screened at SXSW, response mixed from critics and audiences. Some reviewers praised the energy and casting, while others found tonal unevenness in elements of The Saviors. A prominent critique observed that the film’s social commentary — which evokes post-9/11 paranoia around suspicious strangers — didn’t fully land for all viewers and that the script’s political points crystallized late in the running time. That review referenced names in the supporting cast such as Kate Berlant, Greg Kinnear, Colleen Camp and Ron Perlman, and noted the film’s SXSW screening on March 13, 2026. In contrast, Wishful Thinking was often singled out for its performances and immediate emotional clarity.
What’s next for the company
Highway 10’s founders are already planning follow-ups. They have a thriller titled When a Stranger Venmos in development about a young woman who accepts online challenges for money — a premise that taps into contemporary internet anxieties — along with several other projects under consideration. Smith and Gedman describe their philosophy as genre agnostic, meaning they pursue work across styles so long as a project has a strong central hook and emotional resonance. Their simple ambition is to give moviegoers a memorable night at the cinema while continuing to build a slate of distinctive independent films under the Highway 10 banner.