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|TRAILER| Polaris: an icy, futuristic thriller with an all-female cast

Published

3 years ago

October 18, 2023

Featuring polar bears and a headstrong heroine, the new post-apocalyptic thriller Polaris is out in cinemas on 3 November and VOD on 7 November 2023. Set in 2144, the film follows 10-year-old Sumi’s fight for survival in a frozen, inhospitable world.

The film is carried by the outstanding young actress Viva Lee, who plays Sumi – through her eyes, we see a different perspective on this dystopian world. Sumi narrowly escapes capture from the brutal Morads and sets out alone across the vast subarctic landscape. When she stumbles across the mysterious Frozen Girl, an unlikely friendship is forged and together they race ahead towards the guiding light of the Polaris star.

Despite a a challenging subartic shoot for cast and crew, Polaris retains its strong vision throughout. Executive producer Patrick Ewald explains: “When I met the Polaris filmmaking team at the Frontières market, I was immediately drawn to the story and environmental messaging of this project. It’s amazing to see what KC has accomplished and brought on screen.”

“I can’t wait for audiences to see Viva Lee Sumi’s award-winning performance in this incredible film.”
Executive producer Patrick Ewald

“I want to encourage an emotionally immersive audience experience that is more empathy-based, intuitive and universal.”
Writer and director KC Carthew

Polaris is Carthew’s second feature film, following her multiple-award winning debut feature, The Sun at Midnight (2017) starring Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs from Reservation Dogs. Recognised for spectacular world-building in her visual storytelling, Carthew excels in bringing forth award-winning performances, cultivating innovation and pushing both technical and narrative elements to new heights in her work.

Polaris has already won awards at film festivals around the world, including multiple Best Performance awards for Viva Lee (Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival, Fantasmagoria, LEO), the Audience Choice Award at the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival, the Jury Award at the Reel 2 Reel International Film Festival For Youth and a Visionary Award for KC Carthew (Seattle Make Believe).

Polaris

Synopsis: Set in the frozen world of a post-apocalyptic 2144, a young girl raised by a polar bear must fight to survive after she is captured and escapes from a brutal warriors.

Directed by: KC Carthew (The Sun at Midnight, Fish Out of Water)

Produced by: Max Fraser (Bond of Strangers: The Operation Husky Story, Martinis of the Wilderness), Paul Cadieux (Advocate, Gaza), Alyson Richards (Children Ruin Everything, Before I Change My Mind), Kirsten Carthew (The Sun at Midnight)

Written by: KC Carthew (The Sun at Midnight, Fish Out of Water)

Starring: Viva Lee (An Unexpected Christmas, Deadly Class), Khamisa Wilsher (The Flash, Charmed), Muriel Dutil (Ressac, Curling)

Run Time: 89 minutes

Language: English

Territory: US Only

Theatrical Release Date: November 3, 2023

VOD Release Date: November 7, 2023

The film, a co-production with Epic Pictures, is written and directed by KC Carthew, and is executive produced by Patrick Ewald (Epic Pictures CEO and owner); Paul Cadieux (winner of the 2003 Genie Award for Best Motion Picture for The Triplets of Belleville); Alyson Richards (an Ontario-based producer and writer, known for The Retreat, Don’t Talk to Irene and Guidance); Kirsten Carthew (Elijah and the Rock Creature, The Sun at Midnight) and independent Yukon filmmaker Max Fraser.

Also starring in the film are Muriel Dutil (Ressac, Niagara) as Dee, and Khamisa Wilsher (a Canadian actress, model and singer-songwriter) as Frozen Girl.

ABOUT EPIC PICTURES

Founded in 2007, Epic Pictures is an independent content studio with the mission of delivering the best-in-class genre entertainment “for fans, by fans.” Epic Pictures produces, finances, and distributes approximately twenty-thirty independent genre films a year. In 2013, the company established Epic Pictures Releasing which is its US focused distribution division. In 2017, Epic Pictures acquired the world’s most popular horror website, Dread Central, and launched its unique horror label, Dread, followed by its AVOD channel, DreadTV. In 2019, Epic Pictures started the horror gaming site, DreadXP, with a focus on editorial, reviews, podcasts, and original streaming content. In 2020, DreadXP began a video game production and publishing division in collaboration with some of the most innovative developers in the independent gaming space.

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Malhar Talwalkar Releases Award-Winning Short Film Pink Trees, Exploring Addiction, Recovery and Survival in Los Angeles

Published

2 weeks ago

September 7, 2026

Olivia Long

Director and cinematographer Malhar Talwalkar presents Pink Trees, a compelling short film that takes an intimate and unflinching look at addiction, recovery, poverty, and survival in Los Angeles. Through the story of a recovering addict struggling to stay clean while living in a temporary housing motel, Talwalkar explores the difficult realities faced by individuals attempting to rebuild their lives in challenging circumstances.

Pink Trees follows Matthew “Job” Smith, a recovering addict battling for survival while living in a temporary housing motel surrounded by the harsh realities of urban poverty and crime. His journey reflects the instability and uncertainty that can accompany addiction recovery, particularly when individuals are attempting to overcome substance abuse without the security of stable housing and a supportive environment.

Rather than portraying recovery as a straightforward journey, Pink Trees examines the complicated circumstances that can influence an individual’s ability to remain sober. The film asks important questions about personal responsibility, environment, social institutions, and the systems that surround people struggling with addiction.

“With this film I tried to tackle the shaky and uncertain road of addiction recovery,” says Talwalkar. “My personal history with substance abuse and addiction made me keen to analyze how various individuals, based on their circumstances, deal with addiction and recovery and how much role institutions play in one’s goal to stay clean.”

Talwalkar’s personal connection to the subject matter brings an added layer of authenticity to Pink Trees. Instead of reducing addiction to a single cause or experience, the film considers the different circumstances that can shape an individual’s recovery and the challenges that can make staying clean an ongoing battle.

The short film has already earned recognition across the independent film festival circuit, receiving awards and honors from Indie Short Fest, Indie X Film Fest, LA Indies, New York International Film Awards™ (NYIFA), San Diego Movie Awards, Chicago Shorts, Latitude Film Awards, Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival, Hollywood International Indie Film & Screenplay Awards, and Los Angeles Film Awards.

These accolades highlight the film’s growing impact within the independent filmmaking community and its ability to connect with festival audiences and industry professionals through its emotionally grounded storytelling.

At the center of Pink Trees is a question that extends beyond addiction itself: What does it really take for someone to stay clean when the circumstances around them make recovery so difficult? By placing Matthew “Job” Smith within an environment shaped by poverty, crime, and instability, Talwalkar invites audiences to look beyond stereotypes and consider the human and institutional factors that influence recovery.

Talwalkar is a Director and Cinematographer who graduated in the MFA Filmmaking Program at the New York Film Academy in Burbank, California. His work reflects a passion for telling meaningful stories that explore complex human experiences and socially relevant issues.

With Pink Trees, Talwalkar delivers more than a story about addiction. He creates a portrait of a person fighting to survive, recover, and find a path forward in an environment where simply staying clean can become a daily struggle.