By Benjamin Pola

When Zane Swift ’25 began his MFA in Film and Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, he set out to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Drawing on his background in interactive media, Swift created The Case of the Missing Afikomen, SCA’s first-ever interactive senior thesis film.

The film follows Freddy, a 10-year-old Jewish boy, who desperately wants to sneak off to visit his father in the hospital but doesn’t have bus fare. If only he could win the prize money in the search for the afikomen, a game played by children at traditional Jewish Passover gatherings. 

The interactive element is the audience’s participation in how Freddy navigates the search, alone or with the help of his family. The innovative 10-minute interactive film features three alternate endings and 20 different story pathways. “You could watch it three times and see three different endings,” said Swift. “And even then, you’d only have seen 90% of the footage. We left Easter eggs in the rest, but you’d have to watch it multiple times to catch them!”

When Swift had the idea for film, he realized it was outside the traditional norms of the student films produced in the division of Film and Television Production. However, instead of giving up on the idea, Swift took the initiative. He connected with the CEO of CtrlMovie, a pioneer in interactive film software, and began planning how to bring this technology to his work at USC.

With support from SCA Professors Brenda Goodman and Helaine Head, Swift proposed a groundbreaking thesis project that challenged conventional formats. His goal was to create a film that could be screened live, while allowing the audience to choose the narrative path in real time.

Before graduating, Swift helped organize USC’s first public screening of an interactive film, CtrlMovie’s Late Shift, laying the groundwork for his own premiere. On May 14, 2025, The Case of the Missing Afikomen was successfully screened at USC’s Norris Theatre just a few days before Swift’s graduation.

A passionate filmmaker with a focus on immersive storytelling across film, games, virtual reality, and theme parks, Swift is well on his way to carving out a unique path in this evolving medium.