A pitch perfect candle lit dinner night, or so it seems.

A man prepares a perfect dinner. Candles lit, wine poured and every detail carefully controlled. Across from him sits a woman who seems to fit right in, almost like she’s been here before.

But something feels off.

A laugh that needs correcting, a story that doesn’t belong and a conversation that keeps slipping out of place. What begins as an intimate dinner slowly reveals itself to be something far more unsettling.

A controlling boyfriend making what was supposed to be a relaxed late night dinner date in his apartment, a tense nightmare for his girlfriend, but is there more to this than what meets the eye?

Maya is a psychological drama short film that explores grief, control and the false comfort of denial.

Why this film matters to us

Directed by Karan Paitka and co-produced by Madi Berry and Aaditya Taneja, Maya isn’t just a student project for us. It’s an opportunity for us as filmmakers to push beyond surface level storytelling and explore a story that relies on tension, detail and human behavior rather than spectacle.

What we lack in studio backing we aim to make up for by approaching this project with the same level of professionalism and care as an industry production.

What your support will help fund

Making a film, even one set in a single apartment, requires a lot of people and things to come together. Your donations will go directly towards essential production costs, including:

Location and production design

Props and set dressing

Cast and crew support

Sound design and post production

Film festival submissions

Why we ask for your support

By supporting Maya you’re not just helping fund a short film. You’re supporting emerging filmmakers trying to tell bold, meaningful and unique stories.

In a time where content is fast and disposable, we want to create something intentional. Something that lingers. Any donation, no matter how small or big, makes a real difference.

And if you can’t donate, sharing this campaign helps more than you think! :)