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Logline

In the wake of a local tragedy, a mayor in a tight re-election race faces mounting pressure to back a morally compromising bill – caught between her idealistic daughter and the Party deal that could save her campaign.

Synopsis

Freshman mayor Ayesha Strickland’s platform of police reform is upended when a local officer’s death thrusts public safety to the center of her re-election race.

Pressured by party leadership to fall in line or lose their support, Ayesha must choose between protecting her political future and betraying the values that got her elected – along with the daughter who still believes in them.

Meet the Filmmakers

Jaelyn Ellis — Writer/Director/producer
Jaelyn Ellis is an NYC-based writer, director, and producer from South Carolina. Her work centers underrepresented stories with nuance and humanity beyond trauma. Her thesis film Girlhood received support from The Future of Film is Female and has been curated by the Museum of Modern Art and NoBudge. She founded Craft House Pictures, where she has produced projects that premiered at Palm Springs ShortFest, HollyShorts, Frameline, NewFest, and NFFTY. Jaelyn is a graduate of Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts and works on independent feature films as a Line Producer and Unit Production Manager. She is a 2026 WAVE Grant Recipient for her current short film in development, Spoils of Office.

Olivia Andrade — Producer
Olivia Andrade, although small in size, brings a large presence to her career. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Olivia is a Producer and 1st Assistant Director, in addition to being a Student Emmy nominated writer/director for her most recent project Rex. An alumna of the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts, she is equipped with a wide range of knowledge and experience across multiple production roles throughout all project phases.

Pavit Gandhi — Producer
Pavit Gandhi is a multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of journalism and cinema. Born in India and based in the United States, her work explores memory, displacement, and the emotional residue of personal and collective histories. Pavit is currently producing her debut feature, Regret Like That. She is a recipient of the Forest Foundation “Gillian Anderson” Grant and holds an MFA in Film & Television from
DePaul University. In addition to her creative work, Pavit brings a strong background in journalism. She currently works as a newscast producer at WBNG 12 News, where she curates impactful newscasts tailored to specific audience demographics. Her professional practice is furthered by her experience in film programming, beginning with an internship at the Chicago International Film Festival and later producing local Chicago festivals, including Big Shoulders International Film Festival and Premiere Showcase, DePaul’s in-house festival.

Emily Waloski — Director of Photography
Emily Waloski is an NYC based cinematographer whose work has been featured at festivals such as NFFTY, Comic Con, and screened at the MOMA through the Future of Film is Female. She is a graduate of Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts, and has since worked on independent feature films such as Creepbox, Lovemomb, and Guna Up. A firm believer that the people make the project, she enjoys working with friends and growing her community of collaborators.

Kennisa Ragland — Editor
Kennisa Ragland is a filmmaker, poet and storyteller interested in exploring and illuminating the intimacy and nuances existent in narratives involving blackness, queerness and womanhood, the institutions of the family, school and church and sagas unique to The United States (especially those of the American South).

Her time earning an MFA from Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts solidified her admiration for and desire to be a part of the filmmaking process in its entirety, from pre-production, throughout production and into post-production. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Strickland Pathfinder Award for her achievements.

In 2024, she was selected as one of only two interns (out of 150 applicants) for the prestigious ACE (American Cinema Editors) internship. She currently works as an Assistant Editor in New York while making strides towards being a multidisciplinary artist. When she’s not working on her own or others’ projects, she enjoys strength training, seeing live music across the city and getting lost in a book at home or out and about (read: underground on a train).

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.