Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sabrina Geffner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sabrina, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful film I’ve ever written and directed is Good Enough, a NYIFA award winning short film that explores the universal longing for parental approval and the desperate search for self-worth. It delves into the question—are we ever able to feel ‘good enough’ without this external validation?

This was not only a technically ambitious project for me but more importantly, a very emotionally profound one. Making this film, I was revealing a deeply personal side of myself, one that has remained private for a long time. The inspiration stemmed from my own longing I carried since childhood: the desire for approval from my parental figures. Like many who grew up with a complicated family, I never fully got it.

This theme unfolds through the story of Peter, an insecure concert pianist who clings to his mother’s ashes, unable to move forward. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he visits an eccentric therapist who guides him to confront his deceased mother, seeking the answer to the question that haunts him: Was he ever truly “good enough?”

A crucial part of growing up is accepting that, no matter how much we wish otherwise, our families may not always be capable of giving us what we need. But growth also means understanding that we are enough without it. Through this film, I wanted to capture the emotional journey of learning this lesson, and I know this story will resonate with those who have faced similar struggles.

Sabrina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, my name is Sabrina Z. Geffner, and I’m a writer, director, and casting director dedicated to telling bold, emotionally resonant stories that explore universal struggles. As a woman in film and TV, I’m passionate about carving out space for diverse perspectives and pushing the boundaries of storytelling across drama, fantasy, comedy, and beyond. I strive to create films that leave audiences reflecting on their own lives, seeing glimpses of themselves in my work.

Most recently, I wrote and directed an award winning short Good Enough (11 min) a surreal drama. Good Enough has been selected for major festivals, such as NYIFA Grand Jury Award for Best Student Film—and will be screening at the Garden State Film Festival this March.

My other directorial works include Through the Window Pain, about a girl whose painful snippets of her life are all seen through the window, and Dead Weight, an LGBTQ dramedy, about feeling disconnected from a partner, bringing home a mannequin, hoping it will either help him find love again, or bring them to ruin. It was recognized and screened at the Big Apple Film Festival.

Beyond directing and writing, I’m a dedicated freelance casting director with a sharp eye for talent. I’ve had the privilege of interning with Emmy-winning casting director Jennifer Venditti, known for her work on the Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems and Good Time, as well as HBO’s Euphoria, and a casting assistant for Kate Antognini, recognized for HBO’s How To.

I’m currently a full-time screenwriter and production coordinator at the indie production company Vendetta Unlimited, where I continue to bring compelling TV series to life. In my free time I’m a frequent dweller of cosplay conventions, renaissance faires, and love to create costumes for fun.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As a child, I was a social butterfly, very talkative, constantly getting into trouble for it—yet I carried a deep-seated loneliness that was palpable. I didn’t have any close, real friends growing up, and in my small bubble, with my limited view of the world at the time, I truly believed I was alone in my heartaches, anger, self hatred, and all the cynical, messy growing pains of youth.

But films changed that for me, as silly as that sounds. This medium has a unique way of showing us that we’re not alone—that somewhere, whether some person on the other side of the world or right next door, someone else is going through exactly what we are. And that’s why I fell in love with being a filmmaker. It’s what drives me to tell stories—because if I have the opportunity, my goal is to make a billion and one movies that remind people they are connected.

Human experiences are called human for a reason—we all share them. No one is truly alone.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being an artist? Finishing a damn project. It’s hard enough to take an idea from words on a page to production, post-production, endless editing, rethinking all your life choices—then finally forcing yourself to put the metaphorical brush down and say—it’s finished.

But on a deeper level, the real reward comes when you push past all the fears and doubts, watch your film on the big screen, and feel genuinely proud of what you’ve created. Also, when you get to collaborate and form lifelong friendships with some of the most talented filmmakers you know, such as Maura Garnett, Hayden Klein, and Sofiya Saykovska just to name a few people who mean the world to me.

Another rewarding aspect is, of course, when that work is recognized. I’m beyond grateful that my recent film, Good Enough, has received so much festival success. It won the NYIFA Grand Jury Award for Best Student Film, earned the biggest grant at the School of Visual Arts—the William C. Arkell Memorial Grant—and will be screening at the Garden State Film Festival this March.

Coming from a half-Chinese background, where a practical profession is often prioritized over creativity, filmmaking wasn’t exactly the expected path. My grandmother was particularly disappointed when she realized the fortune teller she consulted before I was born was wrong—I was not destined to be a lawyer. That side of my family was supportive of me but understandably, questioned how I would survive in such an unpredictable field, especially when I struggled academically in middle and high school. But proving I could do this has been one of the most rewarding feelings of all.

Now, just months out of college, I’m a full-time screenwriter and production coordinator at the indie production company Vendetta Unlimited, and get to be creative as a living. This journey—finishing projects, forming lifelong friendships, building a career out of something I love, it’s the most rewarding feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sabrinazgeffner.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinazoegeffner.films/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinageffner/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sabrinaz.geffner9716
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/sabrinazgeffner

Image Credits

Kevin Figueroa
Hayden Klein