2025 Richmond International Film Festival

Permanent Scar

Available in 54d 09h 22m 33s
Available September 23, 2025 4:00 PM UTC
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Introverted Kali meets a precocious young girl at a park. To her surprise, Kali is disarmed by the girl’s charm, and spends the day playing with her. The duo’s inexplicable friendship begins to make sense as we learn that the girl’s brother recently died—and that Kali is the only one who can help her heal.

Director Biography - Ally Betker

Ally Betker is a filmmaker and freelance creative director focused on mental health, women’s empowerment, and travel and lifestyle through films, commercials, branded content, and global campaigns.

She recently completed her first short film/directorial debut, Permanent Scar, which is about grief, loneliness, and healing through social connection. She is in pre-production for a documentary short, Dancing with the Teachers, which spotlights a high-performing high school serving an under-resourced Brooklyn community through the lens of a unique annual fundraising event.

Ally has worked with brands including Chase Sapphire, Meta, Away, and Malibu. Her work has been featured by Vogue, AdWeek, Women’s Wear Daily, Conde Nast Traveler, CNN, and Forbes. She’s also worked in media at top publications including Vogue, W Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, and New York Magazine’s The Cut.

Most recently, Ally was the Head of Creative at the global travel brand Away, leading a team of art directors, designers, and copy writers across campaigns, content, creative strategy, and more. Previously, she was the brand’s Editorial Director, launching and overseeing the travel publication Here Magazine.

Ally is passionate about self-actualization, mental health, and travel. She holds a degree in journalism from Boston University, and her journalism background imbues all of her work, which attempts to capture the joyful and complicated reality of the human experience.

  • Year
    2025
  • Runtime
    21:15
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Ally Betker
  • Screenwriter
    Ally Betker
  • Producer
    Megan Duffey
  • Cast
    Arcadia Squires, Elouise Cabaco
  • Cinematographer
    Bobby Davidson
  • Editor
    Tyrone Rhabb
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