Montgomery County native Mitchell Zack is taking his local roots to the international film stage as a producer of the independent feature film Bellyache, which recently made its world premiere
Zack was born and raised in Montgomery County, growing up in Silver Spring and attending Glenallan Elementary School, Brooke Lee Middle School, and John F. Kennedy High School before graduating from the University of Maryland. He credits the county with shaping his values and creative outlook, pointing to a childhood centered around community, sports, and artistic expression. He was also a Wheaton Boys & Girls Club All Star during the program’s early years, an experience he says helped instill teamwork and confidence that continue to influence his work today.
Now a producer with GoPOP Films, Zack helped bring Bellyache to life alongside writer and director Van Ditthavong. The film will make its world premiere at the Chandler International Film Festival on January 25, 2026, where it has also been nominated for Best Feature Film. Following its festival debut, the film will screen at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on February 19 as part of the museum’s Beyond the Festival film series.
Bellyache stars Marianne Rendón and runs 91 minutes. Zack served as one of the film’s producers alongside Bren O’Donnell and Samir Desai, with Alejandra Rosabal as co producer. The story follows a grieving witch who retreats to a remote cabin to give birth, chronicling her experiences in a journal for her unborn child. As the delivery approaches, mysterious visions begin to reshape her understanding of love, sacrifice, and motherhood.
The film was shot entirely in Costa Rica, a decision that became central to its visual and emotional identity. Production involved a small but resilient crew made up of approximately 95 percent Costa Rican technical crew members, working bilingually across cultures. Zack spent more than a month in the country during filming, calling the experience a dream come true. He described producing as a role that requires constant problem solving, creativity under pressure, and building trust across the entire team.
Filming took the crew to remote and unforgettable locations, including volcanic craters and mountain peaks more than 7,000 feet above sea level. Zack said the challenges of creating a feature film in those environments led to lasting friendships and memories, and reinforced why he is drawn to independent filmmaking.
As Bellyache prepares to debut on the international festival circuit and in a museum setting, Zack sees the moment as both a professional milestone and a reflection of the foundation he built growing up in Montgomery County. He says that if audiences get the chance to see the film, they should know it was made with care, collaboration, and love.
