Glaistig is a Gaelic mythological fairy that wields her magical powers to destroy the patriarchy. A manifestation of the bond between Mother Nature and the divine feminine, she is a supernatural creature that protects the pillaging of both life-sustaining resources. Finding refuge in the dark, wild waters of the rainforest, she is a survivor and an outsider that reflects the unapologetic resilience of the sacred feminine within all of us.

As a woman raised in a patriarchal society, I have lived through a life sentence of limitations on my personal and professional freedoms. I created this film as a way to offer an opportunity to heal myself and others. To expose the truth of trauma we, as women, face every day. To honor those who feel unable to fit into what’s expected of them, from their bodies to their communities, careers and beyond.

This film utilizes the lens of artistic creativity to explore the deep impact of a very personal journey that takes you from exploring sexual trauma (without sensationalizing or glorifying the act itself) through the healing made possible by self-love, sisterhood and the sacred embrace of Mother Earth. Glaistig inspired me to unearth the permission and proactivity I needed to reclaim my feminine power from masculine domination.

I wholeheartedly believe that women need to voice their stories in order to restore the balance necessary to heal the world’s relationship with the feminine in all its forms. This film is my current contribution to furthering this ever-important conversation, so we might all dance our way to freedom. and recreate a culture of women who feel heard, healed and whole.

It was a true honor coming onto this project and working with Arianna Veronesi to bring her beautiful script to life. Directing this art film allowed me to freely stretch my own creative boundaries, and helping Arianna tell her story was healing for the both of us. I knew right away that I wanted the talented Kaity Williams to be our Cinematographer, and the opportunity to collaborate with her on our second project together was a joy in itself. 

A small group of us spent about a week in the enchanting forest of Mt. Hood, Oregon leading up to principle photography, which allowed us to become fully consumed in the art. The days and nights were spent learning about each other, telling stories of our own pasts and discovering the commonalities in the hardships we’ve all faced as women. It was the ultimate collaboration as we were able to take the time to carefully dig into the deep world of Anna and Glaistig and decide exactly how we wanted this story to evolve both thematically and visually.

We had an amazing crew and every one of them brought their all to the project. Kaity Williams and Brett Dennison, or Gaffer, created visually stunning frames with their strong attention to details and their delicate and intentional use of light created such beautiful compositions. Our Production Designer, Arae Webner did an outstanding job transforming our locations and curating the wonderful worlds that you’ll see throughout the film. Nadiya Mazurczak, our Costume Designer was to the vintage looks for the flashback components. Bringing the looks together was our Hair and Makeup Artist, Laura Raczka, who’s attention to detail is apparent, and whose subtle flares in the Glaistig look, make it fun to watch over again as you will always notice something new. I can’t give enough thanks to our Key Grip, Ali Sayago who ran a killer team and navigated the crew safely through the difficult terrains of the forest, while creatively designing rigs for all of Kaity and I’s ideas. Of course I give a huge thanks to our Producer, my dear friend Mauricio Arrioja who organized everything and kept it running smooth from prep through post-production.  

The goal of this film was to remain ambiguous enough that all women can relate, and through the arc of the story, act as a healing device for those who are struggling to overcome their own trauma. I hope that the audience can feel a sense of calmness after watching this film, and that they feel encouraged to stand up to their inner demons, fight them to the death and move forward relentlessly. I want to thank Arianna for trusting in me, and for putting your whole heart and soul into the story- your talent knows no bounds.