Team
Talisha Elger
WRITER/DIRECTOR
TALISHA ELGER is an award-winning film director, writer, and photographer from Brisbane, Australia. Her first short film, "THE FEARS OF YOUNG CAROLINE" was a Coup de Coeur favorite at Cannes and won several awards, including Best Drama at the QNFA Awards and Best Foreign Film at Indie Fest. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film & Television and Writing from the University of Queensland, an Advanced Diploma of Screen, and a Certificate IV in Photo-imaging from Southbank Institute of Technology. Elger completed a quarter at UCLA, concentrating on Screenwriting and Filmmaking, earning a spot on the Dean's Honours List. Her TV pilot, "THE PRINCIPAL" is a Script Pipeline Finalist and her feature screenplay "UTOPIA DYSTOPIA" has placed in Austin, Screencraft, and Page screenplay competitions. Recently, she graduated with an MFA in Screenwriting from the AFI Conservatory, where she co-wrote the thesis film "SOME KIND OF PARADISE" which premiered at AFI Fest and has just screened at CAA Showcase and the world-renowned Tribeca Film Festival. Her feature screenplay, "GOLDEN NUGGET", has also just been optioned. She specializes in thriller and dark genres.
Lara Marks
PRODUCER/PERFORMER
LARA MARKS is a British-Greek filmmaker and actor from London, now based in LA. She completed her MFA in Film Producing at the American Film Institute Conservatory and trained as an actor at the East 15 Acting School in London. At the University of Oxford, she founded Gold Thread Productions, producing and starring in shows in Oxford, London, Berlin, and at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her notable works with Gold Thread include "DYING LIGHT", "FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS", "THE REAL THING" and '"NIGHT, MOTHER". She also used these productions to raise funds for charitable causes, Clean Break and Papyrus. At AFI, she produced "CHERRY KOMPOT", which premiered at AFI Fest and won 'Best Short Film' at Indie Short Fest. She also produced and starred in "TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE" and produced three additional short films. Most recently, Marks produced, directed and edited Samfire's music video "POSSIBLE STRANGER", which premiered in Wonderland magazine. Passionate about suverting traditional narratives, Marks draws inspiration from actor-filmmakers like Greta Gerwig, Brit Marling and Issa Rae, focusing on stories with nuanced female characters.
Leo Behrens
CINEMATOGRAPHER
LEO BEHRENS is an award-winning Norwegian trans cinematographer & director, based in Los Angeles. In 2023, Leo earned his cinematography degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Shortly after his graduation, he was selected for The ASC Vision Mentorship Program 23-24. Leo’s short film "SKIN" won the Gold Medal in the alternative/experimental category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards, where he served as the writer, director, and cinematographer. In addition, "SKIN” was selected for AFI FEST and Oslo Fusion Film Festival. His recent cinematography contributions to the documentary “EVAN EVER AFTER” earned the Audience Award for “Best Florida Short” and the Jury Award for “Best Short Doc” at Out On Film Atalanta in 2023. It gained recognition at notable film festivals, including, Outfest, HollyShorts, InsideOut Film Festival Toronto, and NewFest New York. Leo has a deep love for stories that showcase unique angles and provide fresh perspectives. He holds a special fondness for drama, thriller, magical realism, and science fiction. Being a transgender filmmaker, Leo is also passionate about exploring LGBTQ themes across different genres.
Paige Schaeffer
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
PAIGE SCHAEFFER is a Los Angeles based production designer, art director, set decorator and visual artist. Originally a studio artist from the Chicago suburbs, Paige has found a passion in creating worlds that live on the screen. After studying architecture and fine art at the University of Kansas, she decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film. She has designed multiple stage designs for theater, as well as production design for short films, commercials and online mini series. She received an MFA in Production Design from the American Film Institute, graduating in 2023. At AFI she was the Production Designer for "WE MET AT CAMP" a comedy narrative short which premiered at AFI Fest and screened at the CAA Showcase, as well as being nominated for a student EMMY award. She also did the Production Design for alt-pop artist Samfire’s new music video, "POSSIBLE STRANGER", for which she was awarded Best Production Design in the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival and the Eastern Europe Film Festival. Seeing something missing in the film industry, Schaeffer is passionate about using production design to amplify stories of those who are often underrepresented.
Millie Jones
COSTUME DESIGNER
MILLIE JONES is an LA-based visual artist, graphic designer, costume designer, and textiles-maker with a diverse and dynamic portfolio. She has contributed to the art department on numerous films, including WE MET AT CAMP, which was nominated for a student Emmy among other accolades. Her work has been showcased at prominent galleries across Los Angeles, such as ShockBoxx Gallery and Tiny Art Gallery, and featured at festivals like the Kansas City Underground Film Festival. As a costume designer, Millie has created intricate, hand-made costumes for award-winning music videos like POSSIBLE STRANGER, which premiered in Wonderland Magazine and short film CHERRY KOMPOT, both of which won international awards and received special mentions for their costumes. Additionally, Millie is a graphic artist and designer for a wide range of musicians and albums, including TwinnFlame, represented by Kansas-based Wavelength. Her unique blend of visual artistry and design expertise has established her as a versatile and innovative creator in the industry.
Natasha Frank
COMPOSER
NATASHA FRANK is a multi-award winning composer from London, based in Los Angeles. A two-time BAFTA scholar, in May 2023 she won the coveted BMI Composer Award, regarded as the most prestigious prize for young composers in the Western Hemisphere - previous winners have included composing legends such as Phillip Glass and John Adams. Natasha has worked on projects for Sony Playstation, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, Disney + and Meta including Netflix's One Piece Live Action (2023), The Exorcist: Believer (2023), Red, White and Royal Blue (2023) to name a few. She has composed for independent films with prominent directors from all over the world, most recently (SOME KIND OF PARADISE dir. Nicholas Finegan (2024), DEEP INTO THE FOREST dir. Violet Liu (2024) which both were featured at Tribeca 2024. She has been featured on CBS News and New Music USA for her work, and her music has been performed globally; from St. Petersburg to San Francisco. In her spare time you will find her drinking tea and playing the banjo!
Samfire
VOCALIST
SAMFIRE is an alt-pop, synth-obsessed artist and producer. Her background in orchestra and choir is evident in her music, as she layers her songs with dreamy harmonies and textures that add a touch of melodrama. Samfire's first EP ‘Time’ was released in 2021, and her second EP ‘Possible Strangers’ in 2023. 'Possible Strangers' was made with support from Help Musicians, The Fenton Arts Trust, and the Francis Chagrin Award and its music video garnered attention with features in Wonderland Magazine and Ninu Nina. She also performed the single live on the radio for BBC Introducing and was named one of BBC Introducing Suffolk’s ‘Ones to Watch’ of 2023. Samfire has provided original tracks and vocals for several productions, including London-based stage show 'NIGHT, MOTHER and short films A ROOM OF HER OWN and TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE. Most recently, she performed at The Hanwell Hottie Music Festival and Latitude Festival, headlined by Londoin Grammer and Duran Duran . Her single 'I'm with you' is out now.
Katya Marks
MEDICAL ADVISOR
KATYA MARKS is a junior doctor working in East London with strong interests in women’s health and health equity. She studied medicine at Oxford University, before completing a Masters in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, where she focused her study on issues of health equity. She found a love for surgery during time spent as a student with the neurosurgery department at Oxford and with the trauma surgery department at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg. She is currently applying for surgical training. Katya has also been closely involved for a number of years with the International Student Surgical Network, who advocate globally for equity in surgery, including specific focus on women’s issues. Throughout her years spent in clinical settings, Katya has been keenly aware of and angered by the health injustices and prejudices facing women, both subtle and completely blatant, so she is thrilled to be able to lend her support to this important project, and is eagerly awaiting the release of the film.