The thought-provoking sci-fi/fantasy short film Motherthief by writer-director-producer Brendan Cleak and actress-writer-producer Caryn Sandoval, is on its festival run! A captivating exploration of caretaking and motherhood in the digital age, Motherthief delves into profound questions about creativity, identity, and human connection. The 15-minute short explores the uncertainties and anxieties of caring for something you don’t truly understand.
“We all have the capacity to love. We don’t have to fear the unknown if we seek to understand it,” explains director Brendan Cleak. “The film asks: if no one’s ideas are truly their own, and we are all thieves of each other’s perspectives, can there be a happy ending?”
Cleak and Sandoval, graduates of UC Santa Cruz Film & Digital Media program, bring a unique creative vision to Motherthief through their production company, One Apparatus. Their collaborative approach embodies the film’s themes, as Sandoval (who also stars in the film) explores her own urge to be a mother, while Cleak deploys his poetic visual storytelling to frame the film’s protagonist.
The film premiered at San Diego Film Week on November 14, 2024, and is now available for audiences to experience at select festivals ahead of its digital release in September 2025. Building on its 2024 success, Motherthief begins 2025 with a special screening at Short. Sweet. Film Fest. on March 1, 2025.
A Distinct Approach To Storytelling
Brendan Cleak and Caryn Sandoval are the creative force behind One Apparatus, a production company founded on the principle that their “creative relationship, their tools, and their minds are all one functioning apparatus, built through repetition and love.” They focus on creating works that explore unconditional love, what it means to be seen, and how these concepts fit into our global, digital world.
“We’re both deeply empathetic people who, from a young age, naively assumed others were just as loving and accepting,” Sandoval explains. “Learning this wasn’t the case caused depression for both of us. Unconditional love is both now a choice and a nature for us, though it can be very painful.”
Reflecting on the inspiration behind Motherthief, Cleak shares, “The fear of loss. The push to love something you may lose someday. It’s an absolutely terrifying thought, and one that challenges us at every turn.”
The Significance Of Connecting With Audiences
Since its premiere, Motherthief has garnered significant recognition, including nominations for Best Cinematography at the 2024 San Diego Film Awards, as well as Best Experimental Film and Best Editing at San Diego Short Film Festival 2024.
For Cleak and Sandoval, each festival screening represents more than just accolades. “We grew up working in and around movie theaters, and studied film, so for us it’s a really special experience to share it with our audiences on a big screen,” shares Cleak. “To have the opportunity to gather friends, family and complete strangers in a theater to watch the film is something we’ll never take for granted. Every screening is different. The reactions to certain scenes are different. It’s become a spiritual experience of sorts for us.”
This connection with audiences is particularly significant for a film like Motherthief, which explores deeply human questions about creativity, identity, and connection. Unfiltered reactions that create a dialogue between the film and its audience.
The film stars Caryn Sandoval in the lead role, with Mariela Jennings and Alex Angeli co-starring. The atmospheric soundtrack, which enhances the film’s exploration of love and digital identity, was created by Jared Brannan.
Where to Watch
Watch Motherthief at Short. Sweet. Film Fest. 2025, on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Find the screening time on Short. Sweet. Film Fest.’s Official Website.
For media inquiries and interviews with Brendan Cleak & Caryn Sandoval or if you are interested in learning more about Motherthief and viewing a private screener, contact One Apparatus on their website.
Learn more about Motherthief and its festival journey on Cinevite.
