#CuratedBy: Dive into this curated series evoking girlhood’s gentle decay with British-Persian director Sayna Fardaraghi @ocean.grrrl 🎠
This selection of visuals explores the motifs and inspirations surrounding Fardaraghi’s debut narrative short ‘Glint’ - a coming-of-age horror focusing on the fear of growing up through the eyes of a sedentary teenage girl.
“Through this curation, I have put together a series of images and clips from films that recognise the feelings of ‘Growing Pains’ from a female perspective. These images not only link to the warm feelings of childhood we can't help but cling to but also reflect thoughts of multiplicity in who we grow up to be” 🪽
Horror has long confronted taboos and challenged assumptions, exposing the fears and anxieties of the collective subconscious of its time. 'Glint' can be watched in a curated film programme this October 31st at @referencepoint180
Tap the link in bio to learn more 🎞️
1. 'Untitled’ by Stacy Kranitz (2023)
2. 3 Women Dir. Robert Altman (1977)
3. Coming of age by Carlotta Guerrero (2023)
4. The Taste of Tea Dir. Katsuhito Ishii ( 2004)
5. Girl Pictures ‘Poison Ivy’ by Justine Kurland (1999)
6. Freckle Face, Strawberry by Zoe Ghertner (2017)
7. Glint Dir. Sayna Fardaraghi (2024)
Sayna Fardaraghi’s (@s____yna ) work has been circulating online for years now, her soft cinematography and pensive short films regularly finding virality in Twitter (before its X-days) film circles. I first came across her in 2019 when she posted “L’Observateur”, a Wes Anderson–inspired student short about a girl and her beloved binoculars. Sitting down with her all these years later – crammed into the delightful Moko Made Café, her own recommendation – to discuss her latest project, Glint, felt like a true full-circle moment.
In our conversation, Fardaraghi reflects on those early student days, recalling the terror she felt as graduation loomed and a career in film seemed impossibly out of reach. Several projects and much commercial success later, she revisits that same teenage fear in “Glint”, a horror short following 17-year-old Helena as she grapples with isolation and toys with the prospect of finally leaving her home for a party. Evoking the traditions of body horror and supernatural hauntings, Glint captures the fear and fragility of growing into womanhood – and represents a new cornerstone for Fardaraghi’s evolving career.
Read the full interview at the link in our bio 🔗
Words by @valeberghinz
Edited by @jude_j0nes2002
*SOLD OUT!* ‘GLINT’ The making of book, following the intimate process of making a short film. With personal texts, deleted scenes, BTS, annotated script pages and much more….
So happy to finally share this labor of love with you all and a glimpse into my process ☆
an edition of 100 copies now available worldwide <3 <3 <3
£12 - link in bio
44 pages
full color
softcover w/ stitch binding
NEW! #NOWNESSASIAPresents: Director Sayna Fardaraghi
@s____yna shares the five films that helped inspire the creation of her latest short film - 'Glint'.
Written by makeup artist Julian Stoller, 'Glint' is a haunting, cinematic exploration of girlhood, revealing the horrifying consequences of adolescent desire – desiring beauty, independence, release – and the shame and indecision that accompany this desire. 🧸
These 5 selected films centre the female lived experience as the heart of the narrative, while unveiling the vast, complex, and sometimes deeply insidious inner world of women and girls. Through horror, mystery and thriller, these 5 works served as inspiration behind Fardaraghi's foray into the terrors of female adolescence.
Tap the link in bio to watch ‘Glint’ on NOWNESS ASIA 🎬
excited to announce that my little baby glint, a short film I made when i too, were a little baby is finally out in the world premiering on nowness!! glint was a film I started to make just after turning 23, fresh out of university. Now of course, at 26, my taste and style have evolved far beyond this — but I’m so grateful that I created this little time capsule of my life, and have the pleasure of seeing it resonate with so many people, despite it technically being made so long ago. 𓂃 ོ☼𓂃
This was the first narrative I ever directed, and the first time I worked with a full crew. Looking back, I’m in awe of how far I’ve come since then. Glint was my classroom, my catharsis — a way to process my fears, explore narratives, and begin to find my voice. Biggest love to the team who brought this to life with me<3
link in bio🪺🌬️
