"ANNA" a Short Film by Benedetta Spinetti
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
When sudden death shatters a family, one woman seeks stability in a new relationship, only to find hidden patterns of violence and control. Will she be able to reclaim her voice or be silenced forever? Anna's journey is a powerful reflection on abuse, survival, and the necessity of breaking free.
"ANNA" a Short Film by Benedetta Spinetti
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $6,538 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
60 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
When sudden death shatters a family, one woman seeks stability in a new relationship, only to find hidden patterns of violence and control. Will she be able to reclaim her voice or be silenced forever? Anna's journey is a powerful reflection on abuse, survival, and the necessity of breaking free.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
.jpg)
"ANNA"
by Benedetta Spinetti
After her father commits suicide in their family home, Anna’s world is shattered. Feeling responsible for the stability of the house and of her grieving mother and younger brother, she begins a relationship with an old friend, who she believes will be a loving partner in this new life.
But once settled into marriage, cracks begin to form, revealing deep wounds and a violent need for control that threatens Anna’s safety. As her world unravels, she must summon the strength to reclaim her voice or be silenced forever.
Our film is a raw, emotionally charged story of grief, resilience, and self-reclamation. As Anna searches for healing and belonging, her journey offers a powerful reflection on survival, strength, and the necessity of breaking free.
WRITER'S STATEMENT
This story was born from anger.
In Italy we have a word to describe the killing of women; femminicidio. The UN reports that every ten minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member. I looked around at the women I love, friends who should feel free to live, speak, move, and instead I saw the constant shadow of fear. What pushed me to write this story was the need to shed light on the courage it takes to survive abuse, to reclaim one’s body, voice, and future after trauma. I've heard too many stories from people close to me, people I love, who’ve been hurt and silenced. Anna’s journey is for them.
Told entirely from Anna’s perspective, the film stays rooted in her experience of love, loss, and ultimately, self-reclamation, exploring abuse, both physically and psychologically, as well as the grief, loss, and the silence that follows violence. But it also explores freedom, hope, and the quiet, defiant power of choosing yourself. It’s about finding safety not in someone else, but within. My hope is that this story gives voice to those who were silenced, and reminds those still searching for theirs that they are not alone.
CHARACTERS
ANNA
LEAD / LATE 20s
Quiet, observant, and emotionally complex. Struggling with the weight of her father’s death, she yearns for connection and stability, but must confront the cost of love built on control. Her journey is one of reclaiming voice and agency.
To be played by BENEDETTA SPINETTI
.jpg)
JAMES
SUPPORTING / EARLY 30s
Charismatic and protective at first glance, James offers Anna the illusion of safety. But underneath he’s manipulative, wounded, and driven by control. His charm masks a slow descent into emotional and physical abuse.
To be played by PATRICK TROY-BRANDT
.jpg)
DAVID
SUPPORTING / MID 20s
Anna’s younger brother. Quiet, observant, and often overlooked, David copes with their father’s death by retreating inward. Though he rarely speaks up, he becomes a steady presence when she needs it most.
To be played by KEVIN RÍOS
.jpg)
VIOLET
SUPPORTING / LATE 50s - 60s
After the suicide of her husband, she is trying to make sense of her life again, standing and leaning on her two adult children. Once a vibrant, full of light woman, she finds herself lost and heartbroken.
CURRENTLY CASTING
.jpg)
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
This film is a story about self-determination.
It is about a woman trapped, not only an abusive partner, but by the invisible hands of inherited trauma, obligation, and fate. Anna is not a wilted flower. She is a woman of strength and kindness who is nonetheless kept from actualizing the fullness of her personhood. She reflects the inner desire of many women - of all of us that want to break free, but can not.
I see this film as a parable and Anna as a heroine of a tragedy, unfortunately destined to meet a tragic end. Every move she and the people around her make pushes her towards that end, unbeknownst to them all. The film will explore when destiny is cemented in silence. We will work with close yet structured compositions, forcing the family home that Anna is fighting to maintain to constrict around her, suffocating her. Violence will be portrayed starkly and absolutely, not to sensationalize it, but to convey its long tail: how violence echoes in routine, in meaning, in the body.
The film will be intimate and restrained; quiet, except when very loud; in pitch when dark, but bright in the light; raw in honesty and simplicity, but evoking a mysticism and deep resonance.
.jpg)
.jpg)
FILM TIMELINE
.jpg)
PRE-PRODUCTION
JULY to AUGUST, 2025
Fundraising (Seed&Spark, Live Events)
Hiring Department Heads (Cinematographer, Prod. Designer, etc.)
Auditions (Casting "Violet")
Full Cast Table Read / Rehearsals Begin
Choreography for Violence & Intimacy
Location Scouting
PRODUCTION
AUGUST to EARLY SEPTEMBER, 2025
Fundraising Ends
Cast Rehearsals
Finalize Creative (Design, Look Book, Shot List)
Finalize Pre-Production
Hiring Full Crew
PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY: September 5th - 8th
POST-PRODUCTION
MID SEPTEMBER to DECEMBER, 2025
Editing
Color Grading
Sound Design / Mixing
Grant Applications (Finishing Costs, Festival Fees)
FESTIVALS / SCREENINGS
JANUARY to SPRING, 2026
Festival Submissions
Private & Public Screenings
Community & Industry Outreach
FESTIVAL RUN BEGINS
SHOOTING BUDGET
Camera: $1,900.00
Grip & Electric: $1,725.00
Locations / Catering: $750.00
Art (Set Dec, Props, PD, FX): $700.00
Production Sound: $700.00
Wardrobe: $350.00
Make-Up & Hair: $525.00
Intimacy / Fight Coordinator: $270.00
Transportation: $900.00
Total Production Cost: $7,820.00
But, we cannot tell this story without your help...
This film demands care, collaboration, and courage. We’re assembling a team deeply committed to making this film with integrity, and with your support, we can give voice to a narrative that too often goes unheard, to make seen what is too often invisible. Your contribution will allow us to honor the incredible artists who are bringing their time and brilliance to our film and to bring Anna’s story to life with the sensitivity and precision it deserves.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING "ANNA"
.jpg)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rentals and Crew
Costs $1,900
To capture the story with rich, cinematic visuals.
Grip & Electric, rentals and Crew
Costs $1,725
Lighting and rigging to shape the emotional tone
Transportation
Costs $900
Moving gear, crew, and talent efficiently and safely.
Production Sound
Costs $700
Capture crisp dialogue and ambient sound on location.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $525
Help everyone look camera-ready and in character.
Wardrobe
Costs $350
Costuming our characters authentically.
Art Dept (Set Dec, Props, PD, FX)
Costs $700
Everything seen on screen — from decor to small details.
Locations & Catering
Costs $750
Location fees and food for our hardworking cast & crew.
Intimacy and Fight Coordinator
Costs $270
To ensure that the fight scenes and intimacy scenes executed safely.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CASEY REGAN
DIRECTOR
Casey Regan is a celebrated filmmaker whose evocative visual storytelling has brought powerful real-life narratives to screens worldwide. While earning a BFA in Film Production at Emerson College, Casey wrote, produced, and directed short films, such as “Thy Kill Be Done” (2010) and “Meat Me In Plainville” (2011), both of which were screened in competition respectively at the Sitges and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festivals. Casey moved to New York to pursue production opportunities, accepting an EMMY Award for his camerawork on the 2015 sports/talk series, MSG Network’s The Mask. He then began a distinguished career as a documentary cinematographer, starting with STEP (2017), which told the story of a Baltimore high-school step team and won the Special Jury Prize for Inspirational Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival before being acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures for theatrical distribution. In its review of the film, Variety praised Casey’s “deft camerawork.” Other notable credits include Hulu’s Ballet Now (2018), the 2020 SXSW Official Selection Hood River (2021), and Found (2021), a Netflix feature documenting the journey of three adopted young women who explore their shared Chinese roots and find family in each other. His latest film, “Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede” (2025), is a poignant tribute to the long-running San Francisco LGBTQ+ country-western staple that proclaims dance as a vehicle for celebration, survival, and community.
BENEDETTA SPINETTI
WRITER / PRODUCER / "Anna"
Benedetta Spinetti is a New York based actor originally from Italy. She was born and raised in Pistoia, a small town only 30 minutes away from Florence. After studying Theater in Italy for 10 years, Benedetta moved to New York 6 years ago after she was accepted in the 3 year Professional Conservatory at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting where she graduated in April 2022. After obtaining an O-1 work visa for her professional work in both Italy and USA, she has worked on several productions including the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (directed by Miles Sternfeld), Lucy in After Eden (TheaterEast). She is one of the writers-in-residence at the Theatre East’s Writing Room, where she has developed most of her writing material. Her short play “Till Next Time” has been selected for the Rogue Theatre Festival and will be brought to life in August. She would like to thank her parents for their support. With special thanks to her grandma Anna, whose kind and beautiful heart taught her everything that she knows.
PATRICE YIP
FILM PRODUCER
Patrice Yip is a Hong Kong-born producer with a background in dance and a passion for storytelling, shaped by her international upbringing and early experiences performing with renowned ballet companies. She recently wrote, directed, and produced two short films: one sponsored by W Labs and another funded by XR Motion, where she now works as an in-house producer. With an Economics degree from NYU, she has worked on over 90 projects across departments, blending creativity and business in collaborations with companies like Sony, Columbia Records, Scheimpflug, Lost & Found, W Lab and XR Motion.
KEVIN RÍOS
PRODUCER / "David"
Kevin is a New York based actor born and raised in Guadalajara Mexico. He joined Casazul Conservatory in Mexico City in 2015 where he found his passion and love for the art of acting. After graduating, he relocated to New York City to begin his journey at the Stella Adler Studio. There he discovered a deep connection and passion for Shakespeare, which took him to the professional stages in New York. Kevin had his theatre debut starring as Claudio and playing simultaneously the role of Pompey in one of Shakespeare’s comedic plays, “Measure for Measure.” He also started his professional career with his outstanding participation in Shakespeare most popular play “Romeo & Juliet,” where he played Peter/Friar, John/Watchmen, and Benvolio as an understudy. In contemporary theatre, he has starred in Nilo Cruz’s most acclaimed play, “Anna in the Tropics,” winner of the Drama Pulitzer in 2003, where he played “Cheche,” the villain of the drama, selling out every show and breaking box office records in Westbury, NY. Parallel to his theatre trajectory, Kevin has starred in short film productions, including “Fernando” directed by Christian del Rio, “Juan’s Rose” directed by Desiree Monae, “The Fallen Angel” directed by Diego Cobena, and “Transitions” directed Rafael Silva and written and produced by Mr. Rios. Kevin thinks that art is vital for the development and wellness of society. He works from an ethos of love and honesty and hopes to spur self-reflection and community in audiences.
PATRICK TROY-BRANDT
"James"
Born and raised in Burlington, NC, Patrick grew up acting and tech-ing in community/public school theatre, only putting his artistry on pause to join the Army after graduating high school in 2004. After an honorable discharge in 2010, Patrick returned to his home and used the GI Bill to attend Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. Outside of school Patrick reconnected with old theatre friends, helping to develop Fly-By-Night Theatre, LLC. The F-B-N gang enjoyed some wonderful years creating new, innovative and sometimes hilarious work before succumbing to the financial woes of many such local theatre companies. Patrick graduated in 2015 with a BA in Theatre Performance and then moved t0 Asheville, NC, where he performed professionally with Flat Rock Playhouse, NC Stage, Immediate Theatre Project, and Attic Salt Theatre Company. In 2018 he was accepted into the 3-year Professional Conservatory at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Patrick completed his training at Stella Adler in August 2021. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his partner Nina and black cat Bruce.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"ANNA"
by Benedetta Spinetti
After her father commits suicide in their family home, Anna’s world is shattered. Feeling responsible for the stability of the house and of her grieving mother and younger brother, she begins a relationship with an old friend, who she believes will be a loving partner in this new life.
But once settled into marriage, cracks begin to form, revealing deep wounds and a violent need for control that threatens Anna’s safety. As her world unravels, she must summon the strength to reclaim her voice or be silenced forever.
Our film is a raw, emotionally charged story of grief, resilience, and self-reclamation. As Anna searches for healing and belonging, her journey offers a powerful reflection on survival, strength, and the necessity of breaking free.
WRITER'S STATEMENT
This story was born from anger.
In Italy we have a word to describe the killing of women; femminicidio. The UN reports that every ten minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member. I looked around at the women I love, friends who should feel free to live, speak, move, and instead I saw the constant shadow of fear. What pushed me to write this story was the need to shed light on the courage it takes to survive abuse, to reclaim one’s body, voice, and future after trauma. I've heard too many stories from people close to me, people I love, who’ve been hurt and silenced. Anna’s journey is for them.
Told entirely from Anna’s perspective, the film stays rooted in her experience of love, loss, and ultimately, self-reclamation, exploring abuse, both physically and psychologically, as well as the grief, loss, and the silence that follows violence. But it also explores freedom, hope, and the quiet, defiant power of choosing yourself. It’s about finding safety not in someone else, but within. My hope is that this story gives voice to those who were silenced, and reminds those still searching for theirs that they are not alone.
CHARACTERS
ANNA
LEAD / LATE 20s
Quiet, observant, and emotionally complex. Struggling with the weight of her father’s death, she yearns for connection and stability, but must confront the cost of love built on control. Her journey is one of reclaiming voice and agency.
To be played by BENEDETTA SPINETTI
JAMES
SUPPORTING / EARLY 30s
Charismatic and protective at first glance, James offers Anna the illusion of safety. But underneath he’s manipulative, wounded, and driven by control. His charm masks a slow descent into emotional and physical abuse.
To be played by PATRICK TROY-BRANDT
DAVID
SUPPORTING / MID 20s
Anna’s younger brother. Quiet, observant, and often overlooked, David copes with their father’s death by retreating inward. Though he rarely speaks up, he becomes a steady presence when she needs it most.
To be played by KEVIN RÍOS
VIOLET
SUPPORTING / LATE 50s - 60s
After the suicide of her husband, she is trying to make sense of her life again, standing and leaning on her two adult children. Once a vibrant, full of light woman, she finds herself lost and heartbroken.
CURRENTLY CASTING
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
This film is a story about self-determination.
It is about a woman trapped, not only an abusive partner, but by the invisible hands of inherited trauma, obligation, and fate. Anna is not a wilted flower. She is a woman of strength and kindness who is nonetheless kept from actualizing the fullness of her personhood. She reflects the inner desire of many women - of all of us that want to break free, but can not.
I see this film as a parable and Anna as a heroine of a tragedy, unfortunately destined to meet a tragic end. Every move she and the people around her make pushes her towards that end, unbeknownst to them all. The film will explore when destiny is cemented in silence. We will work with close yet structured compositions, forcing the family home that Anna is fighting to maintain to constrict around her, suffocating her. Violence will be portrayed starkly and absolutely, not to sensationalize it, but to convey its long tail: how violence echoes in routine, in meaning, in the body.
The film will be intimate and restrained; quiet, except when very loud; in pitch when dark, but bright in the light; raw in honesty and simplicity, but evoking a mysticism and deep resonance.
FILM TIMELINE
PRE-PRODUCTION
JULY to AUGUST, 2025
Fundraising (Seed&Spark, Live Events)
Hiring Department Heads (Cinematographer, Prod. Designer, etc.)
Auditions (Casting "Violet")
Full Cast Table Read / Rehearsals Begin
Choreography for Violence & Intimacy
Location Scouting
PRODUCTION
AUGUST to EARLY SEPTEMBER, 2025
Fundraising Ends
Cast Rehearsals
Finalize Creative (Design, Look Book, Shot List)
Finalize Pre-Production
Hiring Full Crew
PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY: September 5th - 8th
POST-PRODUCTION
MID SEPTEMBER to DECEMBER, 2025
Editing
Color Grading
Sound Design / Mixing
Grant Applications (Finishing Costs, Festival Fees)
FESTIVALS / SCREENINGS
JANUARY to SPRING, 2026
Festival Submissions
Private & Public Screenings
Community & Industry Outreach
FESTIVAL RUN BEGINS
SHOOTING BUDGET
Camera: $1,900.00
Grip & Electric: $1,725.00
Locations / Catering: $750.00
Art (Set Dec, Props, PD, FX): $700.00
Production Sound: $700.00
Wardrobe: $350.00
Make-Up & Hair: $525.00
Intimacy / Fight Coordinator: $270.00
Transportation: $900.00
Total Production Cost: $7,820.00
But, we cannot tell this story without your help...
This film demands care, collaboration, and courage. We’re assembling a team deeply committed to making this film with integrity, and with your support, we can give voice to a narrative that too often goes unheard, to make seen what is too often invisible. Your contribution will allow us to honor the incredible artists who are bringing their time and brilliance to our film and to bring Anna’s story to life with the sensitivity and precision it deserves.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING "ANNA"
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Rentals and Crew
Costs $1,900
To capture the story with rich, cinematic visuals.
Grip & Electric, rentals and Crew
Costs $1,725
Lighting and rigging to shape the emotional tone
Transportation
Costs $900
Moving gear, crew, and talent efficiently and safely.
Production Sound
Costs $700
Capture crisp dialogue and ambient sound on location.
Hair & Makeup
Costs $525
Help everyone look camera-ready and in character.
Wardrobe
Costs $350
Costuming our characters authentically.
Art Dept (Set Dec, Props, PD, FX)
Costs $700
Everything seen on screen — from decor to small details.
Locations & Catering
Costs $750
Location fees and food for our hardworking cast & crew.
Intimacy and Fight Coordinator
Costs $270
To ensure that the fight scenes and intimacy scenes executed safely.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
CASEY REGAN
DIRECTOR
Casey Regan is a celebrated filmmaker whose evocative visual storytelling has brought powerful real-life narratives to screens worldwide. While earning a BFA in Film Production at Emerson College, Casey wrote, produced, and directed short films, such as “Thy Kill Be Done” (2010) and “Meat Me In Plainville” (2011), both of which were screened in competition respectively at the Sitges and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festivals. Casey moved to New York to pursue production opportunities, accepting an EMMY Award for his camerawork on the 2015 sports/talk series, MSG Network’s The Mask. He then began a distinguished career as a documentary cinematographer, starting with STEP (2017), which told the story of a Baltimore high-school step team and won the Special Jury Prize for Inspirational Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival before being acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures for theatrical distribution. In its review of the film, Variety praised Casey’s “deft camerawork.” Other notable credits include Hulu’s Ballet Now (2018), the 2020 SXSW Official Selection Hood River (2021), and Found (2021), a Netflix feature documenting the journey of three adopted young women who explore their shared Chinese roots and find family in each other. His latest film, “Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede” (2025), is a poignant tribute to the long-running San Francisco LGBTQ+ country-western staple that proclaims dance as a vehicle for celebration, survival, and community.
BENEDETTA SPINETTI
WRITER / PRODUCER / "Anna"
Benedetta Spinetti is a New York based actor originally from Italy. She was born and raised in Pistoia, a small town only 30 minutes away from Florence. After studying Theater in Italy for 10 years, Benedetta moved to New York 6 years ago after she was accepted in the 3 year Professional Conservatory at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting where she graduated in April 2022. After obtaining an O-1 work visa for her professional work in both Italy and USA, she has worked on several productions including the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (directed by Miles Sternfeld), Lucy in After Eden (TheaterEast). She is one of the writers-in-residence at the Theatre East’s Writing Room, where she has developed most of her writing material. Her short play “Till Next Time” has been selected for the Rogue Theatre Festival and will be brought to life in August. She would like to thank her parents for their support. With special thanks to her grandma Anna, whose kind and beautiful heart taught her everything that she knows.
PATRICE YIP
FILM PRODUCER
Patrice Yip is a Hong Kong-born producer with a background in dance and a passion for storytelling, shaped by her international upbringing and early experiences performing with renowned ballet companies. She recently wrote, directed, and produced two short films: one sponsored by W Labs and another funded by XR Motion, where she now works as an in-house producer. With an Economics degree from NYU, she has worked on over 90 projects across departments, blending creativity and business in collaborations with companies like Sony, Columbia Records, Scheimpflug, Lost & Found, W Lab and XR Motion.
KEVIN RÍOS
PRODUCER / "David"
Kevin is a New York based actor born and raised in Guadalajara Mexico. He joined Casazul Conservatory in Mexico City in 2015 where he found his passion and love for the art of acting. After graduating, he relocated to New York City to begin his journey at the Stella Adler Studio. There he discovered a deep connection and passion for Shakespeare, which took him to the professional stages in New York. Kevin had his theatre debut starring as Claudio and playing simultaneously the role of Pompey in one of Shakespeare’s comedic plays, “Measure for Measure.” He also started his professional career with his outstanding participation in Shakespeare most popular play “Romeo & Juliet,” where he played Peter/Friar, John/Watchmen, and Benvolio as an understudy. In contemporary theatre, he has starred in Nilo Cruz’s most acclaimed play, “Anna in the Tropics,” winner of the Drama Pulitzer in 2003, where he played “Cheche,” the villain of the drama, selling out every show and breaking box office records in Westbury, NY. Parallel to his theatre trajectory, Kevin has starred in short film productions, including “Fernando” directed by Christian del Rio, “Juan’s Rose” directed by Desiree Monae, “The Fallen Angel” directed by Diego Cobena, and “Transitions” directed Rafael Silva and written and produced by Mr. Rios. Kevin thinks that art is vital for the development and wellness of society. He works from an ethos of love and honesty and hopes to spur self-reflection and community in audiences.
PATRICK TROY-BRANDT
"James"