Title: The Sweater
Director: Maziyar Khatam
Starring: Maziyah Khatam, Anya Chirkova, Dylan Ray Hatton
Runtime: 8 min

What It Is: A young guy (Khatam) is pressured by his angry girlfriend (Chirkova) to get rid of his messy clothes. He reluctantly obliges, but soon regrets it—especially missing a particular sweater with a mushroom on it. Encouraged by his friends, he sets out on a mission to track down the missing sweater.

What We Think: Something about me: I love anything analog or analog-inspired. Filmed with a video grain reminiscent of ’90s indie cinema—think Kevin Smith and Harmony Korine—we follow an easily influenced 20-something as he hunts down a sweater that seems to hold sentimental value. But does the sweater have real value? Is it a symbol of reclaiming his masculinity and power in his relationship? Just a temporary fixation of consumer satisfaction? Or maybe all of the above? Whatever the case, watching him track it down is a joy.

The filmmakers seamlessly blend a down-to-earth aesthetic with real encounters and semi-improvised dialogue, resulting in a great, vibey comedy with a surprising expressionist edge.

Grade: A, Loved this short, and I want to see more from these filmmakers! Khatam, who wears both the director’s and lead actor’s hats, has a natural charisma that I’d love to see carry into bigger projects. This short alone feels like the intro to a full-length ’90s-inspired flick. Not to mention, the Weezer needle-drop is the ultimate chef’s kiss, adding even more authenticity to the film’s tone—balancing silly humor with internal contemplation.

Hope to see more from these guys in the future!