Walid Chaya in LA Weekly for 'Darn It Darla!' Award-Winning Film Feb. 2025

Friday, February 7, 2025 | The dark comedy short Darn It Darla! premiered triumphantly at CCIFF, winning Walid Chaya “Best Male Director.”

The dark comedy short film “Darn It Darla!” made a triumphant kick off at the Central Coast International Film Festival (CCIFF) this month, securing the coveted “Best Male Director” award for Walid Chaya. Held at the Elite Theatre in Oxnard from February 1-2, 2025, the festival celebrated outstanding achievements in filmmaking, and “Darn It Darla!” stood out as a compelling exploration of Hollywood’s darker underbelly.

Chaya, who both directed and starred in the film, brought a dynamic vision to the story of Naveen, a former child star grappling with the manipulations of her menacing talent manager, Blake—a role Chaya himself portrayed. The film delves into the insidious nature of artist exploitation and conservatorships, shedding light on the control structures that stifle creative freedom within the entertainment industry...

- Jon Stojan, LA Weekly

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