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@ahliasanders

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4285

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On my way!
@ahliasandersphoto
@acestudioadl
@paradigmjewelz

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Proof of existence

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Happy birthday @ahliasanders!! Obviously we don’t know each other very well really (in truth I only know it’s your birthday because of @emilycaitliin s very sweet birthday story collage). But! It’s always a pleasure running into you when I do + I’ve always thought this sequence of pictures of you and you and your mother at @secondlifemarkets in february turned out really nicely so I just figured, why not post them and also say, happy birthday! Happy birthday!

Taken using #sonya7rv / #sigma24mmf2contemporary / #metz38ct3. February 8, 2026

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Two females = yes
Who talk to each other = yes
About something other than a man = yes

Not only does Chiara, Stay Awhile pass the Bechdel Test, but it was officially selected as a Top 25 Finalist in the global Sofia Coppola Short Film Award! 🥹🫀😭🪽
On August 25th, I woke up to find out my very first film placed among the finalists out of thousands of global entries (top 1%)! Safe to say I jumped out of bed with huge tears and immediate smiles, screaming to Noah “I made it, I made it!!!” - I still haven’t fully wrapped my head around it.

Back in May, when I saw the grant ad on IG, I had a deep gut feeling I had to apply. The application needed a screenplay, lookbook, and video sample. The catch? My only video sample was a high school project from 7 years ago that completely out dated my production abilities. So, I dedicated the next 2.5 months to shooting a proof of concept sample from scratch.

A BIG thank you to my production team, family, and friends who poured their heart and magic into making my screenplay come to life.
The support that flooded in after was unreal - reviews from family, friends, darlings from my Mexico travels, fellow filmmakers, and strangers on Reddit, Discord, and socials. I spent days peer reviewing too. There is so much raw talent in this community!

To everyone who reviewed, endorsed, and supported: thank you. Your support helped get Chiara, Stay Awhile in front of Sofia Coppola’s panel.

Huge thank you to @decentralized_pictures for this incredible opportunity, encouraging community growth and backing inde creators. Also a big hug to @sofiacoppola 🫀

Massive congratulations to @adrianeneshoda on winning the top award... so proud to see Australian filmmakers championing the global industry! Congrats as well to the standouts (@costa.isabela._ , Sadie & Phoebe, Salma, Julia), the honorable mentions (@evablckwll, Onyou & Ryan), and every single finalist and applicant.

Chiara, Stay Awhile is dedicated to the children and single mothers who ultimately have to raise themselves and each other. It’s a foundation of perspective, shifting family dynamics, and the importance of growth and self awareness.

We are just getting started ;) 🪽

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i think I’m addicted to all this love <333

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only 4 spots left eeeep

link in bio

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this is how we made @chiarastayawhile film poster 🪞

includes: 100 year old family dolls house, hand light, beautiful Tuscany, incredible Ahlia, pink tulle stretch mesh, and a dream. xx

do you want to see more of BTS?

Photography: @ahliasanders
Actor/model: @tuscanyhenry

#shortfilm #filmbts #photoshoot #magicalrealism #filmmaking

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FLEURIEU SHOWCASE DINNER Part 1 - Preparation! When you have 100 hungry guests coming for dinner, there’s a lot to be done - cooking prep, setting tables, planning the run of service, briefings… but working with true professionals makes the job so much easier!

I had THE MOST fun day working with @karena_armstrong @cheftoddsteele @david_swain_fino @shazarama and @crispian__ ! @victoriapark.socialclub

Make sure you check out the rest of the upcoming @fleurieufood Festival events running through the month of August!!

#fleurieufoodfestival2026 #adelaidefoodie #jffevent #jacquisfoodfetishevent

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Chiara, Stay Awhile is currently in the top 100 leaderboard for @decentralized_pictures @sofiacoppola short film award !!!

It was such a pleasure to be apart of the incredible vision conceived by the extraordinary @brooke.belotti 🫀🫀🫀

To vote follow the voting instructions at the link in bio !!! We have 7 days left remaining for votes :)

Photography by @ahliasanders
@honor.robins <3

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If you found a place where nothing was ever lost... would you stay? 🕯️🌠

Chiara, Stay Awhile is a fantasy coming-of-age short film about adolescence, compassion, and the unseen worlds we create to feel less alone.

The official full teaser concept is now live on Decentralized Pictures as part of the Sofia Coppola Short Film Award.

If you’d like to support the film, you can watch the full 5min teaser and leave a rating, review and comment via the link in my bio. 🗝️🕯️⭐️

+ thank you to the entire team 🫀

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Three months ago, I picked up a script I’d been carrying with me for years and decided to stop waiting for the right time and got to work

I had no expectations and very little experience. I just knew this was a story I needed to tell and followed that feeling and passion for film

Over the following months, it slowly became a real world. Sets were built by hand, and costumes were made from scratch. A freaking amazing volunteer cast and crew came together and gave their time, talent and belief to a project that at one point, only existed in my head.. and to turn it into a real proof of concept for an award submission.

There were tons of moments where I had no idea what I was doing lol. I learned by asking questions, making mistakes, and figuring things out as I went. It was the best experience, truly!!

Today.. the Chiara, Stay Awhile TEASER proof of concept is officially live on Decentralized Pictures as part of the Sofia Coppola Short Film Award!!

If you’d like to support the film and help it be fully realised, I’d be SO SO grateful if you watched the teaser and leave a rating and comment (important). Every review helps the project reach more people and judges in the DCP community

The final slide explains how to vote 📨

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this story to life. This film simply wouldn’t exist today without you🫀
@chiarastayawhile
⭐️

Extra tags: @lottifilms_ @rebel1productions @arwen.diamond @noah.lagos @thenaturalplasterer @emmma_louiseee @nashmodi @daisylittlevan @laura_yourlocalracoon @missseaviewzoo_ @anastasiagoncharovart

Location, thank you to:
Marie, John, Nicole and Nick

And @decentralized_pictures @sofiacoppola

#decentralizedpictures #shortfilm #independentfilm #adelaidefilm #chiarastayawhile

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This is a reel for when you are blonde.

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another beautiful photo by @ahliasanders of Zoe, Katie and I wearing @lady.eyes.reinventions

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