top of page
Darn It Darla with Laurels April 2025 (24 x 36 in).jpg

Upcoming Screenings:

🎬 Festival:
Love Wins International Film Festival

📍 Location:
The Hauppauge Center
125 Kennedy Dr Suite 100
Hauppauge, NY 11788


📅 Date/Time:
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 6:00pm


Purchase Tickets:

Click Here for Tickets

“The chemistry between the cast electrified the screen, drawing audiences into Naveen’s darkly comedic yet poignant journey.”
-LA Weekly

Watch the Trailer

In The News

PDF Press Kit: Click Here

LA Weekly
Walid Chaya Wins Best Male Director for “Darn It Darla!” at Central Coast International Film Festival

 
Cali Post:
Actor-Director Walid Chaya Brings “Darn It Darla!” from Stage to Silver Screen Brilliance

Level Up Magazine
Best Male Director Awarded to Walid Chaya at Central Coast International Film Festival


Vents Magazine:
Audiences Name ‘Darn It Darla!’ Best Comedy Short at HRIFF

Cali Post:
Walid Chaya’s “Darn It Darla!” Film Wins Best Comedy Short People’s Choice Award at Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival

Film Blog

About the Film

LOGLINE:

A former child star fights for a real comeback when her manager spins scandals and a sham conservatorship to thrust her back into fame.


 

MORE INFORMATION:

Naveen, once a child star famous for playing "Darla" in a sitcom, now faces the challenges of Hollywood as an adult and is eager to secure better roles for herself as a woman instead of being typecast as a sex symbol.

 

However, her menacing talent manager, Blake, stands in her way, manipulating her career trajectory. Things take a darkly comedic turn when Blake, along with his fame-hungry assistant Linda and Devin, a washed-up former boy band member, concocts a fake incident involving Naveen and involves the press.

 

As Naveen battles manipulation and betrayal in this dark comedy, the film sheds light on the insidious nature of artist manipulation, illustrating how such exploitation can lead to conservatorships and strip away an artist's freedom, not only in their work but also in their day-to-day life and autonomy. Alongside this struggle, Naveen grapples with the suffocating effects of a conservatorship, highlighting the pervasive control structures within the entertainment industry.

Through Naveen's journey, "Darn It Darla!" sparks conversations about representation, resilience, and the pressing need for reform to safeguard artists' autonomy and creative expression.

Meet the Team

CAST:
 

Liz Venz
as "Naveen"

 

Walid Chaya

as "Blake"

 

Quincy Cho

as "Linda"

 

Nelson Arrieta Jr.

as "Devin"


 

CREW:

 

Lavinia Roberts

Writer

 

Walid Chaya

Director & Executive Producer
 

Ryan Constantino

Director of Photography & Producer


Peter Molinaro

Editor

 

Shorif Suhel

Sound

Rawan Chaya

Music

 

For full production credits, please visit our film IMDb page.

bottom of page