#Melissa
Short Film
Friday, December 12 • Film at 12:00 PM • Limited to passholders.
Caldera House, Teton Village
Social media influencer Melissa sets out on a solo hike to capture the perfect shot at a stunning landmark deep within a National Park. Recording stories for her followers as she treks through the wilderness, she reaches a towering rock formation beside a pristine alpine lake. Determined to get the ultimate video to gain more followers, she takes a leap off of the rock into the water—but on her second attempt, disaster strikes.
Melissa lands awkwardly and fractures her leg, leaving her stranded and unprepared with nothing but the clothes on her back and a dying phone with no signal.
As night falls, Melissa must face the unforgiving wilderness alone. Her only company is the creeping fear of a mysterious creature stalking her from the shadows and the haunting vision of her "ideal" self—the perfect influencer she’s spent years trying to embody. Desperate, she pushes through her pain and fear, even managing to summon the strength to scare away a bear that approaches her.
In the end, rather than confronting her insecurities and the havoc that social media has brought to her life, Melissa posts a video of her breaking her leg, framing the ordeal as the ultimate "viral" moment. Her egotistical behavior is only reinforced as she shares her suffering for likes and attention.
Short Film | Narrative
USA | 2025 | English | 11 minutes
Director and writer: Kayla Arend
Producer: Ouree Lee and Olivia Gray
Writer: Tamir Rawlings
Editor: Glenn Allen
Cast: Olivia Gray