Upcoming Screenings

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Official Trailer

Watch the official trailer for WELL(NESS) below.

About the Film

WELL(NESS) is a 40-minute female-led dramedy about women, wellness, and the "price" of inner peace.

WELL(NESS) asks who profits when community and connection are commodified, revealing the cost of healing as performance while questioning what it really means to be well…?

Set against the backdrop of a wellness retreat gone hilariously wrong, four women confront their own curated calm and each other as the line between authenticity and performance begins to blur. Part comedy, part catharsis, WELL(NESS) pulls back the ring light on self-care culture to reveal the truth hiding behind the hashtags.

The Cast

Kerri Van Auken

Kat the Koach

A self-proclaimed wellness leader guiding her retreat with more enthusiasm than credentials. Caught between empowerment and performance.

To learn more, visit Kerri Van Auken

Rheagan Wallace

Mi55_F1re the Gamer

Tech-savvy and reluctant, allergic to nature and addicted to connection through screens. Mi55_F1re brings realism and rebellion to the circle.

To learn more, visit Rheagan Wallace

Mary Lou Sandler

Vera the Void

A quiet observer who's spent a lifetime people-pleasing. Vera's silence erupts into truth as she confronts the commodification of connection and her need to belong.

To learn more, visit Mary Lou Sandler

Liza Dealey-Thomason

CoCo the Chameleon

An ever-evolving seeker who's tried every self-help trend. CoCo shapeshifts to fit in, masking exhaustion beneath affirmations and glitter and glow.

To learn more, visit Liza Dealey-Thomason

Director's Statement

The Team

Mary Lou Sandler

Writer · Director · Producer · Actor

Mary Lou Sandler is a Los Angeles-based Black biracial visual storyteller and creative entrepreneur whose work spans film, photography, graphic design, and performance. She is the co-founder and lead visual creative of 3 cubed studios, LLC — named 2016 Outstanding Small Business of the Year by the United Chambers of Commerce — serving as its lead photographer, cinematographer, and graphic designer, alongside her husband and creative partner, Justin Sandler.

Before turning her focus to filmmaking, Mary Lou built a career as a working actress, professional dancer, video game stuntwoman, and fitness cover model. Her acting credits include starring as Sabrina in the Bollywood feature Banana Brothers (2006) opposite acclaimed actor Anupam Kher, and serving as the first motion capture model for Nvidia's landmark Dusk and Dawn technology demos. As a Snoopette dancer on Snoop Dogg's MTV sketch comedy series Doggy Fizzle Televizzle (2002–2003), she appeared in every episode and in over 30 music videos for multiple artists.

As a filmmaker, she served as cinematographer, co-director, and producer on the award-winning short film Welcome to Where You've Always Been, which screened at 22 festivals, won 5 awards including Best Short, and earned her and Justin the 2018 IIFC Inspirational Filmmaker Award before being distributed internationally on ShortsTV and Amazon Prime in the USA and UK. She also served as cinematographer and co-producer on the documentary The Empty Womb, and created and photographed The Beard Book, a collection of over 100 men, their beards, and their stories, with proceeds benefiting cancer charities. As a celebrity photographer, her published work includes multiple publications and a billboard in Times Square.

Her commitment to representation and empowering women in the industry led her to create FemaleFilmmakers.org, a community dedicated to empowering and employing female filmmakers. She is also the writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and host of the forthcoming documentary Caregiving Cancer: The Silent Heroes, and co-director, co-writer, and cinematographer of the upcoming MANtimacy.

WELL(NESS) marks Mary Lou's SAG directorial debut as a writer-director as well as her acting return to the silver screen, and represents over twelve years of lived experience inside wellness culture, weaving personal truth into sharp, compassionate comedy.

To learn more, visit Mary Lou Sandler

Justin Sandler

Producer · Editor

Justin Sandler is an award-winning filmmaker, editor, actor, musician, speaker, and cancer survivor. He is the co-founder of 3 cubed studios, LLC, alongside his wife and creative partner, Mary Lou Sandler.

A graduate of Indiana University, Justin began his career directing and producing cable television in Chicago before writing, directing, producing, and editing commercials for ABC, FOX, and Telemundo in Palm Springs. Since relocating to Los Angeles, he has worked professionally across film, television, commercials, music, and live performance. His acting credits include Surfer, Dude (2008) as Surf Punk #1 opposite Matthew McConaughey, and 17 Again (2009).

Justin wrote, directed, produced, edited, and starred in the award-winning short film Welcome to Where You've Always Been, which screened at 22 festivals, won 5 awards including Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Short, and was distributed internationally on ShortsTV and Amazon Prime in the USA and UK.

In addition to his work on WELL(NESS) as producer and editor, Justin is a TEDx speaker and the creator of the one-man show Embrace Love Free. He is also currently developing a forthcoming memoir expanding on his cancer journey and the life philosophy that continues to shape his creative work.

To learn more, visit Justin Sandler

An 80% female above-the-line production
3 cubed studios, LLC  in association with  FemaleFilmmakers.org

Crew

Nat Armenta

Camera

Born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles, Nat is a cinematographer and photographer whose clients include Netflix, Peacock, NBCUniversal, AT&T, and Lifetime. She blends her Xicana heritage with a commitment to authentic, organic visual storytelling.

To learn more, visit Nat Armenta

Hilary Stewart

Sound

Since 1997, Hilary has built a career in location production sound spanning documentaries filmed from the Cannes Film Festival to the summit of Mt. Everest, the tombs of Egypt, and the jungles of Bolivia. A veteran of tight-crew storytelling worldwide.

To learn more, visit Hilary Stewart

Special Crew Thank Yous

WELL(NESS) would not be the film it is today without two people who stepped in at the very end of production when it mattered most and saved the film!

Gene Blalock, ICG

Colorist, Seraph Films

Gene recolored the entire film and helped untangle so much that had gone wrong in post production. He was also our partner on our very first film, Welcome to Where You've Always Been, and has been part of our filmmaking journey since the beginning.

To learn more, visit Gene Blalock or Seraph Films

John T. Woods

DCP, The Archetype Company

John gave generously of his time, expertise, and resources to help us finish this film right, and is now creating the DCP for our theatrical screenings. His knowledge has been invaluable at every step.

To learn more, visit The Archetype Company

Behind the Scenes

For Press & Programmers

WELL(NESS) is available for festival consideration and press screening requests. View the film's official festival profile and submission history on FilmFreeway.

Press Kit / EPK: Coming Soon

For immediate press inquiries, please get in touch:

Awards & Festivals

Upcoming Screenings

SIMI Film Fest

Official Selection

Friday, September 18, 2026, 7:15pm  ·  Simi Valley, CA

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SIMI Film Fest

🏆 Official Nominee: Best Ensemble Cast

Friday, September 18, 2026, 7:15pm  ·  Simi Valley, CA

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SIMI Film Fest

🏆 Official Nominee: Best Comedy

Friday, September 18, 2026, 7:15pm  ·  Simi Valley, CA

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California Mind-Full Film Festival

Official Selection

Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:50pm  ·  Santa Ana, CA

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Tarzana International Film Festival

🏆 Finalist

Sunday, October 4, 2026, 2:00pm  ·  Sherman Oaks, CA

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Mental Filmness Film Festival

Official Selection

October 9–10, 2026  ·  Chicago, IL

Awareness Film Festival

Official Selection

Friday, October 16, 2026, 7:00pm  ·  Santa Monica, CA

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Laugh After Dark ComedyFest

🏆 Official Honorable Mention

October 2026  ·  Las Vegas, NV

WELL(NESS) has been submitted to 33+ film festivals and we are currently awaiting selection notifications. Check back here for upcoming screening announcements as decisions come in.

Past Screenings & Awards

California Women's Film Festival  ·  Whitefire Theatre  ·  August 7, 2026  ·  Sherman Oaks, CA  ·  SOLD OUT

California Women's Film Festival

🏆 1st Place Audience Award

Sherman Oaks, CA

California Women's Film Festival

Official Award Certificate

A special thank you to our screening sponsor Rock Corn (@rockcornusa) for the delicious popcorn. We and the audience loved every bite!

California Women's Film Festival: Videos

WE SOLD OUT THE THEATRE!

California Women's Film Festival: Premiere Photos

View All 68 Photos

Creative Chakra Film Festival  ·  Private Residence Screening  ·  June 14, 2026  ·  Tarzana, CA

Creative Chakra Film Festival

🏆 Award: Best Satire Film

Tarzana, CA

Creative Chakra Film Festival

Official Selection

Tarzana, CA

Creative Chakra Film Festival: Videos

Creative Chakra: Festival Photos

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema  ·  March 6, 2026  ·  Idyllwild, CA

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

🏆 Award: Festival Producers Choice

Mary Lou Sandler

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

🏆 Award: Best Editing: Featurette

Justin Sandler

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

🏆 Award: Vanguard Best Actress: Featurette

Kerri Van Auken

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

🏆 Award: Vanguard Best Actress: Featurette

Rheagan Wallace

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

🏆 Award: Indie Spirit Award

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema

Official Selection

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema: Videos

Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema: Festival Photos

Updates

How We Started

WELL(NESS) was self-funded from the start. Mary Lou personally covered pre-production, production, and principal photography before launching a crowdfunding campaign on Seed&Spark to help fund post-production and get the film out into the world. Our community raised $8,678, all of which went straight into finishing the film. Mary Lou has continued personally funding the film ever since, covering additional post-production, festival submissions, and travel to the festivals we are accepted into. As of September 2026, her personal investment totals over $8,000 and growing, on top of the funds raised through Seed&Spark.

What began as a 15-minute short film grew organically into a 40-minute feature-length short during production, as the story and characters demanded more room to breathe.

Watch our original campaign video below, then visit the Seed&Spark page to see the full story of how WELL(NESS) was made.

If you'd like to support the continued festival run of WELL(NESS), we'd love to hear from you.

Full Credits & Backers

Thank you to every supporter who made WELL(NESS) possible.

Full Production Credits

Soundtrack

Special Thanks

Seed & Spark Supporters

The following supporters funded WELL(NESS) through our Seed&Spark crowdfunding campaign.

Sandler Sanctuary Campaign Supporters

These supporters originally contributed to our Sandler Sanctuary fundraiser. When the property sold to another buyer, they graciously reallocated their contributions to help make WELL(NESS).

Additional names coming soon.

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