ON THE BRINK is the theme for Columbia Theatre’s 4th annual evening of short films produced by Michalyn Steiner and Reena Dutt. The screening is about the infinite possibilities when you’re on the edge of change. The stories will be told through comedy, drama, dance, and other genres. Past years have included films from local Pacific Northwest filmmakers and from across the USA, by folks whose works have been seen on Netflix, HBO, PBS, and festivals worldwide.
* Note: Some films contain adult language and topics. Parental discretion is advised
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
COMFORT FOOD
A widowed, Indian-American activist chef from Oakland meets her mother-in-law, a redneck Japanese-American drunk from the deep South. Will their battle to survive unbearable loss cause more pain...or stir up a healing pot of COMFORT FOOD?
IG: @comfortfoodmovie
(writer/director) Reena Dutt (producers) Kajri Akhtar, Sheheryar Ahsan
(Actors) Shalini Bathina, June Angela
REENA DUTT(writer/director) is dedicated to new and reimagined texts that catapult polarizing conversations through unexpected stories with the bodies, voices and life experiences of the underheard. She is a 2026 AFI DWW+ participant. As a director, her most recent short film, FOUND, brings voice to transracial adoption through fictional storytelling from the adoptee’s point of view, and is currently touring the festival circuit in conjunction with private events with adoption organizations across the country. Dutt directed TOO MANY BODIES, a socially driven music and dance piece advocating for gun reform, which was picked up by NoRAnow.org and Survivors Empowered and received numerous awards in music video and social justice categories. She directed 3 PUFFS OF GOLD, a magical realism piece about domestic violence, and was a finalist for New Filmmakers Los Angeles: On Location competition with her film "SNAPSHOT!" which explored Angelino’s and their diverse roots. As a film producer she has screened films at over 80 festivals worldwide including Sundance, LAFF, Outfest, Frameline, Cucalorous, NBCUniversal, BET, PBS/Latino and HBO. Film Fellowships (Producer): Project Involve at Film Independent, SFFilm, and Trans Atlantic Partners with the Goethe Institut (Berlin); (Director) AFI DWW+ class of 2026. Website: www.ReenaDutt.com
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
THE ERRAND
On the precipice of a life-changing event, Hayley is faced with the cost of letting go as she struggles to complete the final errand that will close the door on her past and force her to embrace an uncertain future.
Directed by, written by, and starring Hayley Marie Norman
Executive produced by Ingrid Haas, Hayley Marie Norman
Produced by Corey Gegner, Elisha Yaffe
Cinematography by Corey Gegner
Edited by Taylor Gianotas
Music by Benny Reid
IG: @HayleyMarieNorman
BIO: Hayley Marie Norman boasts a distinguished list of on-camera credits. As an actor, she has received accolades from Roger Ebert to Vulture.
As a writer, she has collaborated with and sold projects to top Hollywood studios and networks.
The Errand, her directorial debut short, is currently enjoying a successful festival run and was awarded a Vimeo Staff Pick. Her sophomore film, My Black Vagina, is an absurd comedy meets social thriller. It was awarded a fellowship from Silver Lake Shorts and is currently in post production.
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
IMPRINT
In a near-future where knowledge can be traded for citizenship, a desperate mother buys an immigrant’s expertise to give her daughter a competitive edge - at a cost she never imagined.
IG: @imprint_film
(director) Ran Jing (Producers) Selena Leoni, Fiona Hardingham (writers) Yumiko Fujiwara, Ran Jing (editor) Evita Yuepu Zhou (cinematographer) Kai Krause (cast) Wrenn Schmidt, Koko Raine, Alex Wyndham, Valerie Yu, Milinka Winata
Ran Jing (writer/director) is a Beijing-born writer-director whose work spans live action and animation. A 2026 Fellow of the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women, she recently wrote and directed the sci-fi thriller short IMPRINT, inspired by her own immigrant experience. Starring Wrenn Schmidt (For All Mankind), the film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Her debut feature, MODEL, a U.S.–China co-production, received a wide theatrical release in China through United Entertainment Partners before premiering on major platforms including iQIYI, Youku, Tencent, and Mango TV. Featured in Variety, the film earned critical acclaim and won awards at multiple Academy Award®- and BAFTA-qualifying festivals in the U.S. and Canada. Ran holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She spent six years as a storyboard artist at Blue Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, and Reel FX, working on major features including WISH DRAGON (dir. Academy Award® winner Chris Appelhans, prod. Aron Warner of SHREK), FERDINAND, THE PEANUTS MOVIE, SPIES IN DISGUISE, and the ICE AGE franchise. This background instilled a strong visual discipline and a precise command of shot design, composition, pacing, and rhythm, which she brings to her directing. In addition to her directing work, Ran has developed feature projects with Wanda Pictures, and written for film and episodic television with Ruyi Film and ViuTV. A WGA member and recipient of the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Grant and the Alibaba Pictures $25K Script Development Grant, her work has been supported by the Stowe Narrative Lab and recognized on both Coverfly’s Red List and The Black List. Drawing from her transnational background, Ran crafts stories about characters caught between worlds, using genre to explore questions of autonomy, class, and identity. She is currently developing her second feature, the elevated horror FELT, and is a 2026 Rideback Rise cohort member.
——————————————————————————————————————————————-
JANE AUSTEN’S PERIOD DRAMA
England, 1813. In the middle of a long-awaited marriage proposal, Miss Estrogenia Talbot gets her period. Her suitor, the dashing Mr. Dickley, mistakes the blood for an injury, and it soon becomes clear that his very expensive education has most certainly missed a spot.
(writers/directors) Julia Aks, Steve Pinder (producer) Elli Legerski (cast) Julia Aks, Lachlan Ta’imua Hannemann, Samantha Smart, Nicole Alyse Nelson, Hugo Armstrong, Marilyn Brett, Dustin Ingram
@janeaustensperioddrama
@jaksicle
@stevecpinder
Julia Aks & Steve Pinder’s (writers/directors) humor has often been described as “easy” and
“I don’t get it, it’s just Casablanca with fart noises.” The pair met in 2016 when Steve was a film student at USC, directing a Sound of Music parody about climate change, with zombies. He needed an actor who could pull off a kick-ass Julie Andrews impersonation, and Ms. Aks waltzed into his life. In 2019, Julia reached out to Steve with a wild idea: co-direct a Julie
Andrews shot-for-shot remake of Ariana Grande’s hit 7 RINGS music video. The parody went viral, and the two began a string of collaborations for Julia’s Youtube channel, including the sketches REST IN BEAUTY, YOU ARE MY ROCK (MY DWAYNE, MY JOHNSON), and the aforementioned GASABLANCA. Julia and Steve live in LA, where they are developing a
feature film version of JANE AUSTEN’S PERIOD DRAMA and other irreverent comedies with heart.
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
NWA (BLACK)
They say "be you". But what does that mean?
What does it mean to be Black, when Black is many things?
Two cultures. Infinite repercussions. One haircut
(writer/director) Hans Augustave (producers) Bruno Vernaschi, Raashauna Payne, Matthew Romanski, Hans Augustave (actors) Macc Plaise, Nathaniel Sainvilien, Roland Lane, Alphonso Walker Jr., Payton Tevis, Godwin Williams
HANS AUGUSTAVE (writer/director) Hans Augustave is a Haitian-American filmmaker living through his various creative expressions with the intent to heal. Augustave’s stories highlight hard truths through the eyes of soft souls. His choice to imbue his work with themes of male vulnerability, unspoken honesty, and diversity within the Black experience is sparked by his experiences as a curious, creative human of New York. Works include: Oscar-qualified short film, Nwa (Black), Before I Knew (Best Short Short - Harlem International Film Festival), I Held Him (Urbanworld, Brooklyn Film Festival). He has also produced The Forgotten Occupation: Jim Crow Goes to Haiti (Outstanding Feature Documentary - Art of Brooklyn Film Festival), a documentary he produced which examines the United States’ occupation of Haiti from 1915-1934 and its negative impacts on Haiti’s current politics.
My IG is @hanzifilms
——————————————————————————————————————————————-
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT
This music video tells the story of a woman who’s lost all sense of what’s appropriate.
Sick with the alienation that stems from existing in a disparate emotional state from the person or people closest to her, she grapples with debilitating loss, desires to be seen, and dares you to leave. Filmed with J. Smith Cameron at Dame restaurant in Portland Oregon.
(Director) Carrie Brownstein (Music) Sleater-Kinney (Executive Producer) Loma Vista Recordings
(Producers) Karen Murphy, Devin Febbroriello (DP) Tim Orr, (Editor) Stephanie Kaznocha (Production Designer) Karen Murphy (Cast) J. Smith-Cameron
Director's Bio:
CARRIE BROWNSTEIN (write/director) is a writer, director, musician, and actress. She is a founding member of the critically acclaimed and influential rock band Sleater-Kinney and author of the New York Times best-seller, Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl. She, along with Fred Armisen, was the co-creator and co-star of the sketch-comedy series, Portlandia.