Private Project

PERFECT

In a world devastated by a contaminated water supply, Kai, a lost soul, finds herself homeless and living out of her car after a bad breakup. Each day is a struggle for survival, until fate intervenes and leads her to a hidden utopian lake, a rare sanctuary where the water is pure and life flourishes. 

At this secret haven, Kai encounters a band of eccentric misfits each with their own stories of loss and hope. Among them is Mallory, an enigmatic and wealthy pregnant woman living out an escapist fantasy. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, Kai and Mallory are drawn to each other, and a sudden, passionate romance ignites. 

As their bond deepens, Kai begins to uncover the layers of Mallory’s life and the secrets she harbors. The idyllic setting of the lake contrasts sharply with the dark truths that start to surface. Mallory’s secret threatens to unravel not only their relationship but also the fragile peace of the community.

  • Millicent Hailes
    Director
  • Kendra A Miller
    Writer
  • Millicent Hailes
    Writer
  • Nathan Scherrer
    Producer
    This Is Me...Now, Black Is King
  • Tara Sheree
    Producer
    This Is Me...Now, Black Is King
  • Tyler Payne
    Producer
    Toast
  • Liz Cardenas
    Producer
    Never Goin' Back, A Ghost Story, 7 Days, Materna
  • Douglas Riggs
    Producer
    Shut Up & Fish, Wedding Day
  • Millicent Hailes
    Producer
  • Julia Fox
    Key Cast
    "Mallory"
    Uncut Gems, Presence
  • Ashley Moore
    Key Cast
    "Kai"
    I Know What You Did Last Summer
  • Lio Mehiel
    Key Cast
    "Sunny"
    After The Hunt, Mutt, In The Summers
  • Micaela Wittman
    Key Cast
    "Nik"
    Remy & Arletta, Shirley
  • Ryder McLaughlin
    Key Cast
    "Pinksy"
    North Hollywood, Mid90s
  • Kate Moennig
    Key Cast
    "Dree"
    The L Word
  • Creed Bratton
    Key Cast
    "Cal"
    The Office
  • Ksusha Genenfeld
    Director Of Photography
    Motherland, The Beldham
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, LGBTQ+, Romance
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 34 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 19, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri 35
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85.1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • SXSW Film Festival
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    March 12, 2026
    Worldwide Premiere
    Visions
  • US In Progress
    Wasaw
    Poland
Director Biography - Millicent Hailes

Millicent Hailes is a queer English director known for her work on gender studies and feminism. A self-taught, self-motivated filmmaker with years of experience in video, she has directed for some of the world’s biggest musicians and built a portfolio fueled by fire and passion. She studied fashion in London and holds a degree in photography, having assisted one of the most iconic names in the field. Her creative eye and hands-on experience have led her to work on culture-defining projects across music, fashion, and film. Hailes founded yves.2c, a global magazine platform for women and underrepresented genders, alongside publications like i-D and Wonderland. She has collaborated with artists such as Billie Eilish and Pussy Riot. Her latest project, Unlikeable, explores her evolving relationship with feminism and premiered in Dazed. She is currently directing and producing the queer drama PERFECT, and working on her next film — a thriller dark comedy centering women fighting the patriarchy.

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Director Statement

PERFECT is a film about chasing after perfection—or falling for the illusion of something flawless, only to realize it’s far from it. It’s about the messy gap between aspiration and reality, where what seems perfect is always just out of reach. True perfection isn’t a distant, unattainable ideal; it’s about embracing what’s right in front of you: your chosen family, your support system, and the imperfect, messy moments that make life rich. It’s about finding beauty in the broken pieces, making the most of what you have, and celebrating the raw, unfiltered chaos that makes us human.
This film was a passion project for me, one that explores deeply personal themes and lived experiences. It’s not just a story, but a reflection of struggle, identity, and growth. Built through key women-led departments and shaped by queer and female voices, the project brought together collaborators who understand these realities in an intimate and authentic way. Privately funded and driven by pure creative fire, PERFECT centers queer stories told from a distinctly female perspective.
PERFECT is more than a film, it’s a statement. From its inception, the project has sparked fervent media attention, with early leaks and behind-the-scenes imagery—like Julia Fox’s prosthetic pregnancy belly going viral and gaining coverage from major outlets.
The film’s innovative approach to intimacy pioneered by intimacy coordinator Darci Fulcher utilizes ongoing, evolving consent, allowing performers to pivot their boundaries in real time during simulated sex scenes. This groundbreaking methodology not only prioritizes actor agency but also sets a new standard for ethical filmmaking.
Beyond its narrative power, PERFECT is a cultural event. With original music contributions from FKA Twigs, Sevdaliza, Shygirl, Peaches, and Mannequin Pussy, and high-fashion collaborations pulled straight from the runway from designers such as Dsquared2, Willy Chavarria, and Alexander Wang, the film is a bold fusion of cinema, fashion, and sound.
In a time when LGBTQIA+ stories are more vital than ever, PERFECT commits to telling them in all their complexity, rawness, and unapologetic truth. At its core, this is a love story rooted in pop culture, but ultimately about something timeless: the beauty found in imperfection.