Stacy Martin's Directorial Debut 'Amaretti' Premieres at Edinburgh Film Festival

Stacy Martin, known for her roles in films by auteurs like Lars von Trier and Ridley Scott, makes her directorial debut with the short film 'Amaretti', which premieres at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 15 August. The film is loosely based on events that happened to Martin's own grandmother, who was manipulated by her son into believing she had Alzheimer's to cheat her out of her money. Martin wrote the film after long conversations with her grandmother, aiming to give her back her identity. The story follows Lennie (Diana Quick), a woman in her seventies, who learns from a therapist, Lola (Emily Beecham), about her son's deception. Shot on Super 16 by cinematographer Ula Pontikos, the film explores themes of perception, aging, and the roles we assign to people. Martin cited directors Chantal Akerman and Agnès Varda as influences, and credits her collaborations with Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold as instructive for her directing approach. Martin hopes the film marks a new chapter in her career, while also gaining a new appreciation for acting.