Southern Comfort

Two small-town cops visit a spitfire Appalachian woman's home after her husband's disappearance.

  • Danielle Bryn
    Writer
    Midwest Therapy, Party Favors
  • Ava Davis
    Producer
    The Duchess of Grant Park, Black Girls & Fairytales, Late to the Party, Sweet Star Grief
  • Ian 'El' Trutt
    Director
    Cam Girl, Something Like Real
  • Mo Alexand
    Editing and Sound
    Wicked City, Fast First, Tragical History Tour
  • Nicholas Manlavi
    Director of Photography
    Queer Dystopian Short, Sweet Star Grief, Golf on the Moon
  • Jon Hatch
    Music Composition
    Bar Wars, At Least, An American Love Story?
  • Danielle Bryn
    Key Cast
    "Cheryl Evers"
  • Hugh Adams
    Key Cast
    "Officer Dalton Avery"
  • Evan Hill Phillips
    Key Cast
    "Officer Marcus Wilson"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, narrative, thriller
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 13, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ian 'El' Trutt

Director: Ian "El" Trutt is a nonbinary Latine screenwriter, director, and professionally produced playwright originally from Atlanta, GA. They specialize in dark comedies and social commentary brought to life with sharp dialogue.

Trutt holds an MFA in screenwriting from UGA under the mentorship of Christine Swanson (Chicago PD, All About Us) and Holly Sorensen (Step Up: High Water, Make It Or Break It). Their work has been recognized by festivals like LA WEBFEST, Independent Shorts Awards, IndieX Film Fest, Houston Comedy Film Festival, New York New Stories, and Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival.

Writer: Danielle Bryn is a writer, actor and voice actor hailing from Milwaukee, WI. She recently relocated back to the Midwest after spending 6 years in Atlanta, GA. Danielle's roots in comedy and improv infuse her work with sharp wit, while her Midwest upbringing lends an earnestness and genuine quality to her characters. She has written and produced two short films, Midwest Therapy and Party Favors, both filmed in Atlanta. Danielle has also been in writers rooms developing TV pilots, completed a 10 episode solo audio drama, and has recently gotten into poetry.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Southern Comfort" spoke to me with its urgent subject matter paired with Danielle's actor-friendly dialogue. Our team deftly captured my vision for this nuanced, sweltering, aging, and tight-knit community in a film that ultimately feels as powerful as the text that inspired it.