Stream the curated UCLAxFilmFest 2026 Official Selections here!
Synopsis
Annie, haunted by memories of a childhood stalker, is convinced she and her friends are being followed. On the final night of summer, she must navigate strained relationships in order to survive the strange but familiar danger they recognize too late.
At a gathering of friends on the final night of summer, Annie becomes convinced that they are being followed in their car. Her friends discount her, brushing it off as paranoia stemming from childhood trauma. She must navigate strained relationships in order to survive the strange but familiar danger they recognize too late.
Director's Statement
Told through the perspective of a meek, paranoid teenager, Fender explores feminist themes of self-censorship, intuition, and the vital role of female friendship in confronting the expectations imposed by a patriarchal society. Our psychological suspense story examines women’s universal experience of internalized doubt, fear, and paranoia in a world where we are constantly questioning our own instincts. In developing Fender, we made the deliberate choice to assemble an entirely female and non-binary crew. We did this not only to ensure that the story was told through the same marginalized lens as our main character, but also to carve out space for underrepresented voices behind the camera where scant seem to exist. On a shoestring, crowd-funded budget, we tackled the technical challenge of filming a story that unfolds largely inside a moving vehicle. Our team built an innovative, makeshift soundstage using projectors, plates footage, dedicated PAs to simulate motion, and a skilled G&E team rotating lights to mimic the rhythm of a car speeding down a six-lane Texas highway. At this pivotal cultural moment, we believe Fender offers both relevance and resonance. As women co-writers, directors, producers, and actors, we are committed to creating work that sparks dialogue and helps shape the future of women and non-binary people in cinema.
Crew & Cast
Jy Prishkulnik (Co-Director, Co-Writer, Producer, and Cast) Jy is a First-Generation American storyteller who began acting professionally at age 11. Earning her BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a double minor in Theater and Film from UCLA, she then developed her film production company, Rhymes With Pie Productions in 2022. Her goal as a young artist is to portray authentic, raw, and socially impactful stories about women that will expand and evolve cinema as we know it.
Sophie Anne Miller (Co-Director, Co-Writer, Producer, and Cast) Sophie Anne Miller is an actor, director, and writer known for her directorial work in I Think I Love You (2022), and Genuinely (2021). Sophie loves telling stories that hit close to home; the gritty, the beautiful, and everything in-between, especially the messy. She wants to leave people in a state of curiosity and contemplation. Not all stories have a happy ending.
Amber Buchanan (Director of Photography) Amber Buchanan is a Cinematographer, a Society of Camera Operators Associate member, and a member of ICG Local 600. She has a Radio, Television & Film Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a dedicated and focused individual with hands-on experience in photography, film production, and camera management.
Minica Casbara (Editor, Sound Designer, Colorist) Studio Minica is an LA based one-stop media production company, focused on celebrating stories with a focus on cinematic color grading and sonic emphasis. At the helm, Minica Casbara guides her clients through the entire creative process, from conceptual development to final deliverables.
Beverly Batzel (1st AD) Born and raised in Southern California, Beverly started out in the Entertainment Industry as a Professional Dancer/ Actress and pursued her career in front of the camera for over 10 years before she decided behind the lens is where she wanted to be. After traveling and living in Toronto and New York City as a professional dancer/ actress, Beverly came back to Los Angeles to pursue a career in production as a Director/ Producer. She began working in production on shows such as ABC's 'Life in Pieces', Good Girls, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Kevin Harts "Campus Law, FIY & A&E Networks and Feature Films such as 'Beautiful Boy' as a stand in to learn the ins and outs of TV, Commercial and Film Production. Beverly started her own production company in 2020 and now works with clients domestic and internationally Producing TV, Commercial, Film, Docuseries and Music Videos with credits such as Paramount+, Viacom, Hallmark, A&E, Hydrafacial, Imbue Curls, Viasat and music videos hitting over 2M views. Beverly is an extremely passionate creative and is all about digging deep into the art of story while bringing real, raw and relatable stories to life.
Se’An Boatner (2nd AD) Se'An (“see-on” into the future) Boatner, a recent BFA in Acting graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, is making waves in Los Angeles. She starred in the 2023 Official Selection at the New Orleans Film Festival, Hair Care, with an all-POC cast and crew—a cherished achievement for the native of the city. Ready to leave her mark, Boatner is set for a promising future in the entertainment industry.
Kent Burns (Co-Producer) Kent Burns is a non-binary producer, writer, actor, and model whose passion for entertainment and creation knows no bounds. After receiving their BA in Drama and their Certificate of Business and Management of Entertainment from UCLAx, they have worked for independent television and film companies like Alliance Cinema and Green Glow Films. Kent is honored to support impact independent projects and be a part of the “Fender” team!
Nya Garner (Co-Producer & Cast “Toni”) Nya—rhymes with ‘papaya’—is an actor and film producer based in Los Angeles. She is a founding member of her production company Dropout Films, alongside Sophie Anne Miller. Pioneering what began as a student production collective, she has since brought to life more than ten diverse short films, taking on various production and creative roles. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, she holds a BFA in Acting. When she’s not devising her next film project, you can find her petting all of the dogs all of the time.
Katrina Gaedcke (Production Coordinator & Cast “Wren”) Katrina Gaedcke, a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s BFA in Acting program, is an actor and writer. She has a great passion for psychology, which has led to her love of telling stories that explore the many facets of the human psyche. Katrina believes that every project presents an opportunity to better understand herself and others. She also hopes to someday put her martial arts experience to use in an action/adventure film. Katrina Gaedcke is a Texas-born actress who loves telling stories that explore the many facets of the human psyche. She believes that every project presents an opportunity to better understand herself and others
Shelby Stancliffe (Boom operator) Fender was Shelby Stancliff’s film production debut as a boom operator. Since production, she has continued doing production sound as well as wardrobe and production assistance on other indie projects and commercial shoots.
Jaden Rodriguez (Key Grip) Jaden Rodriguez graduated from the Los Angeles Film School in 2024 with a degree in cinematography. Since then, they've been working primarily as a First AC for a commercial production company, honing their craft and staying sharp across both camera and G&E departments. Jaden is committed to technical precision, collaboration, and continuing to grow as a visual storyteller, when not on set Jaden can be found working with dogs as a "pet stylist."
Miia Harris (Wardrobe Designer) Miia Harris is thrilled to be Wardrobe Designer on Fender. Acting, performing, and storytelling have been her passion for as long as she can remember. She is eager to explore conveying stories through a new medium—fashion and clothing! She spent the past several years engulfed in a detailed and fashion-oriented film franchise called Monster High, inspired by Mattel’s line of monster fashion dolls. Taking on the role of Clawdeen Wolf, who is notoriously a fashion icon, has provided her with inspiration and newfound confidence when it comes to fashion that she is excited to use for the cast of Fender.
Camryn Basile (Production Designer) Camryn Basile is a dynamic actor and multi-hyphenated talent whose creative odyssey ignited at the young age of six in the realm of community theater. Enthralled by everything the entertainment industry has to offer, Camryn's passion has only intensified over the years. Now, she's over the moon to collaborate with the passionate and genuine crew on the exciting project, Fender. Get ready for a journey fueled by creativity and genuine enthusiasm!
Lauryn Vania Kurniawan (Score and On-Set Sound Mixer) Lauryn is an Indonesian media composer who has scored Emmy-nominated films, indie games and animations. Her works have been performed worldwide, she is a big advocate for cultural works in media and music. In 2022, she produced and composed for the first Indonesian Gamelan concert in Hong Kong. Lauryn has collaborated with esteemed organizations like Sony Music, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Esplanade Theatres, solidifying her industry reputation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master's degree in Music Technology from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, receiving accolades through the HKSAR Belt and Road Scholarship and Jacqueline Hoefer Scholarship. Lauryn has collaborated with esteemed organizations like Sony Music, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Esplanade Theatres. Currently, Lauryn is a composer's assistant for composer Stewart Mitchell at Hans Zimmer’s, Russell Emanuel’s and Steven Kofsky’s Bleeding Fingers Music and is involved on various landmark studio projects.
Mahagany Adair (“Margot”) Mahagany (she/her) is a Los Angeles based actor with an interest in sci-fi and psychological thrillers. Her second home is Texas and she is represented by the Blanco Agency. @mahaganyja on Instagram Congrats to the Fender team for this win!
Kobe Williams (Actor) Kobe Williams is an actor/filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Coming from a performing arts high school as well as the University of Texas at Austin, he is excited to use his artistic training to tell stories and give a voice to the voiceless.
Calem MacDonald (Actor) Calem is a Canadian film and television actor born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is known for the CBC dramedy series "Moonshine", Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy" and the upcoming feature film "Permanent Damage" alongside Stephen Dorff. Calem is represented by CESD (Los Angeles), The Characters (Toronto), and Symington Talent Management (Los Angeles).
Sydney Richter (Actor) Sydney Lane Richter born in Los Angeles California has been singing and acting professionally since she was 5 years old. She has been a part of the YouTube series WHatsupmoms for the last 9 years and has also appeared in many musicals, commercials and short films. She has trained with Lisa Picotte, Margie Haber and the Groundlings.
Olivia Richter (Actor) Olivia Monroe Richter born in Los Angeles California has been acting since the age of 3. She has appeared in many short films as well as commercials , musicals , and the YouTube series Whatsupmoms. She has trained with Lisa Picotte, Elizabeth Brummett and the Groundlings.
Shiloh Tighe (Actor,“Rosie”) Shiloh is thrilled to have been cast as Rosie in Fender, her first film! Shiloh loves being on stage and counts some of her favorite roles as Alice (in Wonderland), Little Red (Into the Woods), and Lydia (Beetlejuice). When she’s not performing, you can find her dancing in the mirror to Katseye’s Gnarly, playing Adopt Me in Roblox, or tormenting her little brother.
Behind the Scenes
- Runtime14:45
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
Stream the curated UCLAxFilmFest 2026 Official Selections here!
Synopsis
Annie, haunted by memories of a childhood stalker, is convinced she and her friends are being followed. On the final night of summer, she must navigate strained relationships in order to survive the strange but familiar danger they recognize too late.
At a gathering of friends on the final night of summer, Annie becomes convinced that they are being followed in their car. Her friends discount her, brushing it off as paranoia stemming from childhood trauma. She must navigate strained relationships in order to survive the strange but familiar danger they recognize too late.
Director's Statement
Told through the perspective of a meek, paranoid teenager, Fender explores feminist themes of self-censorship, intuition, and the vital role of female friendship in confronting the expectations imposed by a patriarchal society. Our psychological suspense story examines women’s universal experience of internalized doubt, fear, and paranoia in a world where we are constantly questioning our own instincts. In developing Fender, we made the deliberate choice to assemble an entirely female and non-binary crew. We did this not only to ensure that the story was told through the same marginalized lens as our main character, but also to carve out space for underrepresented voices behind the camera where scant seem to exist. On a shoestring, crowd-funded budget, we tackled the technical challenge of filming a story that unfolds largely inside a moving vehicle. Our team built an innovative, makeshift soundstage using projectors, plates footage, dedicated PAs to simulate motion, and a skilled G&E team rotating lights to mimic the rhythm of a car speeding down a six-lane Texas highway. At this pivotal cultural moment, we believe Fender offers both relevance and resonance. As women co-writers, directors, producers, and actors, we are committed to creating work that sparks dialogue and helps shape the future of women and non-binary people in cinema.
Crew & Cast
Jy Prishkulnik (Co-Director, Co-Writer, Producer, and Cast) Jy is a First-Generation American storyteller who began acting professionally at age 11. Earning her BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a double minor in Theater and Film from UCLA, she then developed her film production company, Rhymes With Pie Productions in 2022. Her goal as a young artist is to portray authentic, raw, and socially impactful stories about women that will expand and evolve cinema as we know it.
Sophie Anne Miller (Co-Director, Co-Writer, Producer, and Cast) Sophie Anne Miller is an actor, director, and writer known for her directorial work in I Think I Love You (2022), and Genuinely (2021). Sophie loves telling stories that hit close to home; the gritty, the beautiful, and everything in-between, especially the messy. She wants to leave people in a state of curiosity and contemplation. Not all stories have a happy ending.
Amber Buchanan (Director of Photography) Amber Buchanan is a Cinematographer, a Society of Camera Operators Associate member, and a member of ICG Local 600. She has a Radio, Television & Film Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a dedicated and focused individual with hands-on experience in photography, film production, and camera management.
Minica Casbara (Editor, Sound Designer, Colorist) Studio Minica is an LA based one-stop media production company, focused on celebrating stories with a focus on cinematic color grading and sonic emphasis. At the helm, Minica Casbara guides her clients through the entire creative process, from conceptual development to final deliverables.
Beverly Batzel (1st AD) Born and raised in Southern California, Beverly started out in the Entertainment Industry as a Professional Dancer/ Actress and pursued her career in front of the camera for over 10 years before she decided behind the lens is where she wanted to be. After traveling and living in Toronto and New York City as a professional dancer/ actress, Beverly came back to Los Angeles to pursue a career in production as a Director/ Producer. She began working in production on shows such as ABC's 'Life in Pieces', Good Girls, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Kevin Harts "Campus Law, FIY & A&E Networks and Feature Films such as 'Beautiful Boy' as a stand in to learn the ins and outs of TV, Commercial and Film Production. Beverly started her own production company in 2020 and now works with clients domestic and internationally Producing TV, Commercial, Film, Docuseries and Music Videos with credits such as Paramount+, Viacom, Hallmark, A&E, Hydrafacial, Imbue Curls, Viasat and music videos hitting over 2M views. Beverly is an extremely passionate creative and is all about digging deep into the art of story while bringing real, raw and relatable stories to life.
Se’An Boatner (2nd AD) Se'An (“see-on” into the future) Boatner, a recent BFA in Acting graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, is making waves in Los Angeles. She starred in the 2023 Official Selection at the New Orleans Film Festival, Hair Care, with an all-POC cast and crew—a cherished achievement for the native of the city. Ready to leave her mark, Boatner is set for a promising future in the entertainment industry.
Kent Burns (Co-Producer) Kent Burns is a non-binary producer, writer, actor, and model whose passion for entertainment and creation knows no bounds. After receiving their BA in Drama and their Certificate of Business and Management of Entertainment from UCLAx, they have worked for independent television and film companies like Alliance Cinema and Green Glow Films. Kent is honored to support impact independent projects and be a part of the “Fender” team!
Nya Garner (Co-Producer & Cast “Toni”) Nya—rhymes with ‘papaya’—is an actor and film producer based in Los Angeles. She is a founding member of her production company Dropout Films, alongside Sophie Anne Miller. Pioneering what began as a student production collective, she has since brought to life more than ten diverse short films, taking on various production and creative roles. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, she holds a BFA in Acting. When she’s not devising her next film project, you can find her petting all of the dogs all of the time.
Katrina Gaedcke (Production Coordinator & Cast “Wren”) Katrina Gaedcke, a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s BFA in Acting program, is an actor and writer. She has a great passion for psychology, which has led to her love of telling stories that explore the many facets of the human psyche. Katrina believes that every project presents an opportunity to better understand herself and others. She also hopes to someday put her martial arts experience to use in an action/adventure film. Katrina Gaedcke is a Texas-born actress who loves telling stories that explore the many facets of the human psyche. She believes that every project presents an opportunity to better understand herself and others
Shelby Stancliffe (Boom operator) Fender was Shelby Stancliff’s film production debut as a boom operator. Since production, she has continued doing production sound as well as wardrobe and production assistance on other indie projects and commercial shoots.
Jaden Rodriguez (Key Grip) Jaden Rodriguez graduated from the Los Angeles Film School in 2024 with a degree in cinematography. Since then, they've been working primarily as a First AC for a commercial production company, honing their craft and staying sharp across both camera and G&E departments. Jaden is committed to technical precision, collaboration, and continuing to grow as a visual storyteller, when not on set Jaden can be found working with dogs as a "pet stylist."
Miia Harris (Wardrobe Designer) Miia Harris is thrilled to be Wardrobe Designer on Fender. Acting, performing, and storytelling have been her passion for as long as she can remember. She is eager to explore conveying stories through a new medium—fashion and clothing! She spent the past several years engulfed in a detailed and fashion-oriented film franchise called Monster High, inspired by Mattel’s line of monster fashion dolls. Taking on the role of Clawdeen Wolf, who is notoriously a fashion icon, has provided her with inspiration and newfound confidence when it comes to fashion that she is excited to use for the cast of Fender.
Camryn Basile (Production Designer) Camryn Basile is a dynamic actor and multi-hyphenated talent whose creative odyssey ignited at the young age of six in the realm of community theater. Enthralled by everything the entertainment industry has to offer, Camryn's passion has only intensified over the years. Now, she's over the moon to collaborate with the passionate and genuine crew on the exciting project, Fender. Get ready for a journey fueled by creativity and genuine enthusiasm!
Lauryn Vania Kurniawan (Score and On-Set Sound Mixer) Lauryn is an Indonesian media composer who has scored Emmy-nominated films, indie games and animations. Her works have been performed worldwide, she is a big advocate for cultural works in media and music. In 2022, she produced and composed for the first Indonesian Gamelan concert in Hong Kong. Lauryn has collaborated with esteemed organizations like Sony Music, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Esplanade Theatres, solidifying her industry reputation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master's degree in Music Technology from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, receiving accolades through the HKSAR Belt and Road Scholarship and Jacqueline Hoefer Scholarship. Lauryn has collaborated with esteemed organizations like Sony Music, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Esplanade Theatres. Currently, Lauryn is a composer's assistant for composer Stewart Mitchell at Hans Zimmer’s, Russell Emanuel’s and Steven Kofsky’s Bleeding Fingers Music and is involved on various landmark studio projects.
Mahagany Adair (“Margot”) Mahagany (she/her) is a Los Angeles based actor with an interest in sci-fi and psychological thrillers. Her second home is Texas and she is represented by the Blanco Agency. @mahaganyja on Instagram Congrats to the Fender team for this win!
Kobe Williams (Actor) Kobe Williams is an actor/filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Coming from a performing arts high school as well as the University of Texas at Austin, he is excited to use his artistic training to tell stories and give a voice to the voiceless.
Calem MacDonald (Actor) Calem is a Canadian film and television actor born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is known for the CBC dramedy series "Moonshine", Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy" and the upcoming feature film "Permanent Damage" alongside Stephen Dorff. Calem is represented by CESD (Los Angeles), The Characters (Toronto), and Symington Talent Management (Los Angeles).
Sydney Richter (Actor) Sydney Lane Richter born in Los Angeles California has been singing and acting professionally since she was 5 years old. She has been a part of the YouTube series WHatsupmoms for the last 9 years and has also appeared in many musicals, commercials and short films. She has trained with Lisa Picotte, Margie Haber and the Groundlings.
Olivia Richter (Actor) Olivia Monroe Richter born in Los Angeles California has been acting since the age of 3. She has appeared in many short films as well as commercials , musicals , and the YouTube series Whatsupmoms. She has trained with Lisa Picotte, Elizabeth Brummett and the Groundlings.
Shiloh Tighe (Actor,“Rosie”) Shiloh is thrilled to have been cast as Rosie in Fender, her first film! Shiloh loves being on stage and counts some of her favorite roles as Alice (in Wonderland), Little Red (Into the Woods), and Lydia (Beetlejuice). When she’s not performing, you can find her dancing in the mirror to Katseye’s Gnarly, playing Adopt Me in Roblox, or tormenting her little brother.
Behind the Scenes
- Runtime14:45
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
