Chicken Fingers

While on an odyssey to find her favorite childhood chicken fingers Karen grapples with loss in a world that refuses to stand still. Whimsical and absurd, with a sneaky emotional punch, this film suggests that although life is ephemeral, it is also sweet. Like ice cream on a hot day.

  • Zoe Dahmen
    Director
  • Zoe Dahmen
    Writer
  • Zoe Dahmen
    Producer
  • Sofia France
    Key Cast
  • Jared Spears
    Key Cast
  • Judy Lee
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Slice of Life, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 4, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,900 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Austin Community College
Director Biography - Zoe Dahmen

Zoe Dahmen is a filmmaker, Austinite, and card carrying member of the Austin Public Library. Her films explore themes of loss, longing, belief, hope, and Texas. She has produced and directed numerous award winning films.

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Director Statement

“Chicken Fingers” is a narrative short film about coping with loss in a world that refuses to stand still. It is a deeply personal film about my own experience with grief after the death of my brother, but it is also about Austin, TX — a city whose identity is defined by loss and longing. Whether it is the loss of a place, a person, or a way of life, we all grapple with what it means to move forward, plan for the future, or merely exist with the constant changes brought on by technology, climate change, and economic uncertainty. An expansive idea, told with a story that is small. And funny — whimsically absurd, with a sneaky emotional punch that is ultimately hopeful, it suggests that although life is ephemeral, it is also sweet. Like ice cream on a hot day.

And while this film has the potential to reach viewers from all places, it is particularly poignant for those who call Texas, or the south in general home.