The lineup for the prestigious Palm Springs International Shortfest has been unveiled and among carefully curated selection is Arvin Kananian’s film Vernissage.

Vernissage is directed by Arvin Kananian, and written by Kananian together with Nina Mårshagen. In the lead role we see Mårshagen as Siván and Kalled Mustonen as Simon.

Palm Springs International ShortFest, renowned for its predictive power in awards recognition, has showcased more than 100 films over its illustrious 29-year history that later received Academy Award nominations. The festival is set to take place at the Camelot Theatres from June 20-26.

Vernissage has been selected to compete for the prestigious Startsladden Award, one of the world’s largest awards for short film. The eight nominated shorts will be screened at the Göteborg International Film Festival January 29, and the winner will be announced at an award gala. 

Vernissage is directed by Arvin Kananian, and written by Kananian together with Nina Mårshagen. In the lead role we see Mårshagen as Siván and Kalled Mustonen as Simon.

Simon and Siván make the picture-perfect couple. Their lives are thoroughly curated, from the way they have sex to their choice of therapist. During an art exhibition, the dynamics between them harden. While Siván carries herself through the room, flawlessly interacting with the cultural elite, Simon is left to fend for himself. He’s made aware that his presence in Siván’s life is about

the optics rather than the love he thought they shared. Simon is faced with a choice. Will he confront the facade Siván has created, or will he continue to play a role in the drama that is her life?

Filmmaker Arvin Kananian grew up in Stockholm, Sweden and in Yokohama, Japan. In his late teenage years he moved to the UK to study law, but instead found his calling for acting and began studying Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg’s methods at acting schools in London and Stockholm. Kananian quickly made a name for himself in the Swedish film and TV business, becoming well known for his memorable performances in awarded and acclaimed feature films and TV shows such as Aniara (2018) and Caliphate (2020). His upcoming acting projects include Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness and Swedish Television’s Christmas Calendar.

Having worked in front of the camera for several years, Kananian felt increasingly drawn towards filmmaking. He started writing and directing and in 2017 he debuted with his first short film Affect. The following years saw the premieres of his short films Tomorrow the Birds will Sing (2018) and I, Julia (2020). The latter was among else selected for the prestigious Telluride Film Festival.

Currently, Kananian is working on a project with production company Nexiko.