The psychological thriller ATTACHED, starring Genyne Deal and Essence Sommers, is adding two more stops to an already extensive festival run, with screenings set for the Richmond International Film Festival on September 26 and the Queen City Film Festival in New Jersey this October.
Shot in Harlem in 2025, the short film follows Draya (Deal), a struggling actress confronting the emotional weight of a difficult past relationship while navigating the pressures of her career and everyday life, with support from her best friend Nya (Sommers). The cast also includes Isaiah Joseph, Milani Jade, Jeremis Rodriquez, Mickalia Forrester-Ewen, Kylie Lavrenchik, and Sarah Hogewood.
ATTACHED is written and directed by Kendra Monet and Demetrius Sadler, with David A. Mejia serving as director of photography. Monet, Sadler, Felisher Minis, and Kishana Davis executive produce under Chimaera Pictures.
“ATTACHED explores the burden of unresolved fears that develop into anxiety while navigating everyday life,” Monet said of the project. “The film follows a struggling actress whose inner worries become impossible to ignore, forcing her to confront difficult truths about herself and her circumstances.” She described the film more broadly as “a reflection on the human experience of carrying emotional burdens, facing uncomfortable truths and finding the strength to confront what has been weighing us down.”
Since its 2026 premiere at the Brooklyn Film Festival, the film has racked up selections at 25 festivals and showcases nationwide, including the Virginia Black Film Festival, Maryland International Film Festival, Sunscreen Film Festival, the Roxbury International Film Festival, the Los Angeles Black Film Festival, and the Hudson Film Festival, where it was recently spotlighted by IndieWire as part of the festival’s lineup announcement. Along the way, ATTACHED picked up the Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Thriller Short at Indie Short Fest and nominations for Best Actress and Best Soundtrack at the Hip Hop Film Festival. Monet was also named a Founding Ambassador of the LightReel Alumni Program.