Allison Torem is Chicago-based filmmaker and actor. As a writer-director-producer, short film credits include the absurd comedies Beefsteak and Or Your Money Back, the dramedy Essentials starring Austin Pendleton (LAShorts International Film Festival 2023, NewFilmmakers LA 2023, Chicago Made Award at Chicago Underground Film Festival 2022, Best Actress at Chilliwack Independent Film Festival 2022, Mentorship Award from Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, nominated by IndieOutlook for 2022’s “Best Short Film Of The Year”), and the gortesque comedy ROAD HEAD (Best Female Performance at MidWest WeirdFest 2023, Chicago Underground Film Festival 2023, Best Comedy Short at NoHo Cinefest 2023, Tallgrass Film Festival 2023, Cucalorus Film Festival 2023, Chilliwack Independent Film Festival 2023, BizarroLand Film Festival 2023, Midwest Film Festival 2023 - nominated for Grand Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor at the Best of the Midwest Awards 2023). Allison is currently developing three feature screenplays, including the irreverent queer ensemble comedy Wannabe (Semifinalist for Screencraft’s 2021 Comedy Competition, Quarterfinalist for Scriptapalooza’s 2021 Feature Competition and Screencraft’s 2021 Writing Fellowship). As an actor, she has performed in leading roles at Lookingglass (Jeff Award Nomination for Actress in a Principal Role for Trust dir. David Schwimmer), Victory Gardens, and Steppenwolf and she can be seen on screen in Stephen Cone’s The Wise Kids (voted by Michael Koresty in The Village Voice Poll for Best Supporting Performance of the Year; the film was named named NYT Critic’s Pick, received Grand Jury Awards at Outfest and Sidewalk/SHOUT, received a spotlight on Criterion Collection, and screened on Mubi), Ignatiy Vishnevetsky’s Ellie Lumme (BAMcinemaFest and BFI London), and Bradley Grant Smith’s Our Father (SXSW 2021). Allison is inspired by artfully imagined, existential film and television in which the comedic value and elements of the ridiculous are inextricable from the vulnerability of the acting.