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Logline

To protect her best friend from being forced out of the country, a young woman uses her digital influence as currency, until her carefully controlled game spirals into something far more dangerous.

Synopsis

Saccharine is a contemporary psychological thriller set in Los Angeles that follows Gabriela Hollis, a young woman who appears to have mastered the art of digital influence. Offline, she is grieving the loss of her mother and quietly carrying mounting financial and emotional instability. Gabi’s closest connection to her late mother is Vanessa, her best friend and last tie to her Panamanian heritage. When Vanessa’s safety in the United States is threatened, Gabi becomes determined to secure the funds necessary to keep them together. With limited time and few traditional resources, Gabi leverages her online influence in a dangerous real-world arrangement. Exploring themes of grief, identity, immigration, sacrifice and survival, Saccharine traces one woman’s unraveling as she confronts the true cost of trying to outmaneuver systems designed against her.

Meet the Filmmakers

Megan Barkley — Writer/Director
Megan Barkley is the Los Angeles based writer and director of Saccharine. Through this emotionally grounded narrative, she seeks to create work that invites audiences to step into lives different than their own and recognize the universal experiences that connect us all: grief, family, fear, belonging and survival.

Her debut feature explores themes of digital identity, immigration uncertainty, female autonomy, and economic instability through the lens of a contemporary psychological thriller. By centering characters often reduced to stereotypes or political talking points, Megan aims to foster empathy, understanding, connection, and compassion.

Inspired by the resurgence of Y2K culture, the film blends a hyper-feminine pink aesthetic with a hybrid format of digital cinema and camcorder footage, creating a nostalgic yet contemporary exploration of identity, perception, and human connection.

Melanie Wagor — Producer
Melanie Wagor is a multi-Emmy Award-winning producer whose career spans film, television, and digital media. With decades of experience producing independent projects of all sizes, she is passionate about helping filmmakers transform ambitious ideas into compelling stories on screen. As producer of Saccharine, Melanie brings both industry expertise and a commitment to championing original, artist-driven storytelling.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.