The Key × Short Film
In a world where women are locked in chastity belts until marriage, a wedding night goes awry when an anti-bride attempts to escape for good.
The Key is a fantastical period piece that explores body autonomy, sexuality and female pleasure at a time where it was (a little) more than taboo to be sex positive. This film opens the gender boxes we are all put into and the constraints that come with it.
The film will premiere at Austin Film Festival 2026. If you would like to watch the full film, email info@stephaniehalovanic for a private screener link.
Project credits
Director: Stephanie Halovanic
Starring: Mia Rose Kavensky, Kyle Gordon and Zavior Phillips
Writer: Mia Rose Kavensky
DP: Mika Hawley
Producers: Mia Rose Kavensky, Canning Robb and Rose Gendelma.
Music Supervisor: Livy Rodriguez-Behar
Executive Producers: Carol Edwards and Eric Zhang
1st AD: Mary Elizabeth Monda
1st AC: Anne-Marie Halovanic
Gaffer: Kevin Mathein
Production Designer: Karen Weber
Fabrication Artists: Samuel Centrella, Bones Gilmore
Intimacy Coordinator: Melissa Blackwell
HMU: Ashtyn Thurbs
Costume Designer: Worthy Dye
Title Design: Kitron Z Neuschatz
Editor: Cam Anderson
Editing Assistant: Nathan Olszewicki
Colorist: Jenny Montgomery, Company 3
ADR and Sound: Quiet Cricket Studio
Behind the Scenes
