Institute History
Description
In a quiet southern town, popular and charismatic theatre kid Krista finds herself increasingly drawn to Nito, the new student in her high school who catches her attention with his impressive skating videos. The two share an easy rapport and quickly grow close. Unbeknownst to her, their lives and that of her gun-loving neighbor, Adam, will soon become intertwined—until they reach a breaking point.
Director Danny Madden takes his award-winning short film Krista and impressively transforms it into an unsettling feature exploration of adolescence, performance, and identity. Newcomer Shirley Chen gives a remarkable breakout performance, crackling with the vulnerability and joy of first love, while Will Madden and Jose Angeles deliver disquieting turns as young men grasping for individuality in an uncertain time. Brimming with energy and style, Beast Beast captures what it means to come of age in an era marked by technology and social media, where violent clashes awaken dormant passions and teenagers are faced with growing up all too quickly.
Screens with Backpedal
A collage of an American poem, exploring the universality of womanhood.