Misfortune sends a weary ex-caretaker, a self-destructive rebel, and a spacey hipster on contrasting journeys throughout Los Angeles as they battle their inner demons in search of the one thing that will turn their world to color.
Set against the landscapes of Los Angeles, Altadena, Pasadena, and Long Beach, this arthouse anthology unfolds in three vignettes that begin in stark black and white before blooming into color, mirroring each character’s passage from emptiness toward transformation.
Jacob, a man hollowed by years of caring for his parents through early-onset Alzheimer’s, drifts through a meaningless office job until a chance encounter with Mary, a recovering addict, opens him to the possibility of connection. Their night wandering historic streets gives him a glimpse of beauty and hope, only for tragedy to intervene. Yet even in death, his presence lingers, shaping Mary’s path forward.
Sarah, still haunted by the toxic love she once had with Mary, spirals into self-destruction until her loyal best friend Shelly forces her to confront the truth that what she clung to was never real. A confrontation with Mary’s old dealer, Abe, exposes the double edge of drugs as tools of harm and healing. But it is in the luminous presence of Paige, a kindred soul with her own scars, that Sarah finds genuine connection and the courage to move on.
Brandon, a quiet Long Beach pot dealer, is pulled from his peaceful rhythms by Simon, a thrill-seeking friend on a quest for a mythical drug. Their journey drags them into the BDSM underworld of Queen Emily, a drag "queen pin" who rules the city from a throne of silver cocks. Given the coveted drug, Simon’s trip spirals from radiant euphoria into a cacophony of natural forces until it dissolves into silence, leaving him with a revelation about the fragile resonance of human existence.
Together, these three stories weave a mosaic of grief, longing, addiction, friendship, and transcendence. Each character searches for meaning in a fractured world, and each story slides from shadow into color, where even fleeting encounters can illuminate the path to transformation.
This mixed-race Mexican-American chick grew up in deserts—from Arizona to the Alaskan Arctic Circle—always drawn to storytelling in every form. At 13, she was writing fantasy trilogies in junior high, performing on stage. But it was post-divorce movie nights with her dad that shaped her love for visual storytelling. Every Friday, they'd rent a film and fall into its world together, deepening their bond and her passion for cinema.
Her father, a Latin Jazz musician, passed on a love for rhythm and performance, so stepping into acting felt natural. After decades in front of the camera, she was ready to take a more active role in shaping stories. Now a filmmaker, Seriina has written and directed several short films and recently completed her first feature, In-Between the Mountains and the Ocean.
Regardless of genre, she regularly frames her trademark punchy and thought-provoking dialogue in adult coming-of-age stories. Diagnosed with a rare disease in 2020, she also strives to highlight unique perspectives from underrepresented groups—stories that are rarely centered but deeply needed.
In-Between the Mountains and the Ocean—a bold, visually distinct anthology—swept the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, taking home eight awards, including Best Feature. Has also won Best Cinematography for a Feature Film at the Silicon Beach Film Festival, and is set for release in 2025.
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2025
Long Beach Underground Film Festival 2025
Visionaries Film Festival 2024
Silicon Beach Film Festival 2025
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2025 - Best Feature Film/ Grand Jury / Dough Austin Humanitarian Award for Narrative
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2025 - Best Ensemble Cast / Best Actress / Best Cinematography / Best Editing
Silicon Beach Film Festival 2025 - Best Cinematography Feature Film
