2026 Official Selection: Drama – Short (under 20 mins), Thriller – Short
In the dead of night, a teenager waits in her mother’s car while violence unfolds just out of view. As the hours pass, she’s left with a choice that could change her life forever.
Program 23 – Shorts Block – Groundbreaking Spotlight · Sun, Aug 23, 2026 · 6:10 PM
- Director(s): Calvin Ghaznavi
- Writer(s): Amanda Ross
- Producer(s): Neela Gerayli, Devyn Wong
- Key Cast: Lara Hunter, Timothy V. Murphy, Ashley Alva
Language: English
Runtime: 8m
Country: United States
Synopsis: In the dead of night, fifteen-year-old Salem waits in her mother’s run down El Camino. She’s told again and again to “stay in the car” while her mom and her violent partner disappear into empty buildings and dark parking lots. Hours drag on and in the backseat, Salem twists and turns, her small movements filling the silence. The night continues and the car feels less like a place of safety and more like a cage. As the hours stretch on and sirens echo in the distance, Salem
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