June, 2025 — Amidst local and international media interest, Zenofar Fathima officially launched The Reel Files Season 2, the latest installment of her breakout horror anthology series. What began as a series of viral 60-second horror shorts on Instagram has now evolved into a full-fledged cinematic experience on ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest platform for South Asian content available in over 190 countries.
First launched in September 2024, The Reel Files made an immediate impact by delivering compact, spine-chilling horror stories tailored for Instagram’s vertical video format. Zenofar’s ability to distill compelling narratives into one-minute episodes quickly set her apart in the horror genre, with the filmmaker being the only female director
producer and expat in the region to remain consistent with her productions, continually evolving with her filmmaking style and production value of her projects. “The beauty of short-form horror is that every second counts,” said Zenofar. “But with the longer format, we’ve been able to explore deeper storytelling, and more immersive cinematic experiences. Season 2 is fully optimized for OTT.”
The release of Season 2 was celebrated with an exclusive soiree attended by actors, media representatives, industry peers, and influencers. Zenofar,who has directed over 20 short films since 2018, led the creative direction for the new season, which stars Joe Mohan, Casey Shannon, and Zaynab Naqvi. Together with budding filmmaker and screenwriter Afraah Farhana, this second season builds on the eerie tension that fans have come to love but now introduces multi-layered plots, global perspectives, and elevated production values: an evolution made possible by the series’shift to OTT.
Season 2 of The Reel Files retains the haunting psychological elements that defined the Instagram series, while expanding its narrative and visual scope. Viewers can expect longer episodes, richer character development, and a diverse cast that brings layers to the horror genre.
In an exciting announcement during the launch event, Zenofar also teased Season 3 of The Reel Files. Titled Kaze, Japanese for “wind”, the upcoming season will feature a three-episode arc based on a paranormal experience Zenofar herself encountered.
“This next chapter is deeply personal,” she shared. “It’s a story I lived, and I’m thrilled to bring it to life through the lens of The Reel Files.”
Zenofar remains closely connected to her audience and invites fans to join the ongoing conversation on Instagram (@zenofar_fathima). The Reel Files Season 1 and 2 are now streaming exclusively on ZEE5 Global. Subscribers can access the episodes via the ZEE5 Global app or website.
