We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Pinar Binay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Pinar, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

First of all, thank you for having me! I’m so excited to introduce you to Short Film Therapy.

At the end of June 2025, I wrapped post-production on what I believe will be my final short film. While that milestone was exciting, it also prompted a deep reflection on the journey I’ve taken as a short film producer. I looked back at everything I had accomplished in a relatively short period of time—especially the year before, when I produced six shorts. One of them, Sunflower, was longlisted for the Academy Awards. Others went on to screen at top-tier festivals and even win awards.

As I began transitioning into feature film producing, I realized I didn’t want to simply move on from shorts without creating a platform to share everything I’ve learned. That’s how Short Film Therapy came to be—a creative consulting space dedicated to the development, production, and distribution of short films. It’s a way for me to support other filmmakers through the same challenges I faced, offering them both strategic insight and emotional support.

Pinar, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Of course! My name is Pinar Binay, and I’m an independent producer based in Los Angeles. I’m originally from Turkey and have been living in LA for about five years. I’ve produced a range of projects—from short films to TV pilots—and what first drew me to cinema was its unique ability to tell stories that transcend physical space. Film can reach people across the world without us ever needing to be in the same room, and that power still drives me today.

My work has screened at festivals like HollyShorts, Urbanworld and RiverRun. I’m particularly proud of Sunflower making the Oscars longlist and Survived By winning the Audience Award at the 2024 Dances With Films.

With Short Film Therapy, I offer one-on-one creative consulting tailored specifically for short filmmakers. It’s for anyone developing a project who might be seeking clarity, support, or structure in the process. What sets this apart is that it’s not just about giving notes or building pitch decks—it’s about building a relationship around a project and treating the creative process with care and intentionality.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. My mission with Short Film Therapy is to create a space where filmmakers feel genuinely supported—creatively and personally. We live in a world that often feels overwhelming and hyper-competitive, and I know so many creatives (myself included) who turn to therapy just to stay grounded. That led me to ask: Why shouldn’t we apply that same level of care to our creative projects?

What if filmmakers had a dedicated hour each week to focus purely on their project? A space to unpack doubts, celebrate milestones, and move through creative or logistical blocks with support.

That’s the spirit behind this business. And because I know that everyone’s process is different, I designed three tiers of service:

Tier I is a one-off meeting to talk through any topic—maybe budgeting, story structure, or festival planning.

Tier II is a weekly session model, which feels most like creative therapy. For example, I’m currently working with a filmmaker on her festival strategy, and we’re building it step-by-step each week.

Tier III is the most hands-on. I act as an Executive Producer, guiding the film from the beginning to the very end—very similar to the work I’ve done on past award-winning shorts.

Each option is designed to meet filmmakers where they are.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A big lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that consulting has to be a buttoned-up, overly serious, transactional process. I came into this space with industry experience, and yes—I can help clients strategize, budget, schedule, and plan. But what I’ve realized is that the most impactful sessions are the ones where we allow room to be vulnerable, to ask the “dumb” questions, to say “I have no idea what to do next” without shame.

So I stopped trying to make Short Film Therapy feel like a traditional consulting firm. Instead, I leaned into the “therapy” part. I created a space where creativity and clarity can co-exist.

I bring the strategic tools and industry perspective—but I expect my clients to bring their ambition, their passion, and their North Star for the project. When we combine those two sides—the emotional and the logistical—that’s when the real magic happens.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pinarbinay.com/short-film-therapy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/binaypinar/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinarbinay