Walid Chaya Shines in ‘Magic Hour’ Premiere at Santa Barbara Film Festival Feb. 2025

Thursday, February 20, 2025 | The 40th Santa Barbara Film Festival opened with a bang, featuring the world premiere of Magic Hour.

The 40th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival kicked off with a bang this year, and one of the standout moments was the world premiere of Magic Hour, an indie comedy directed by Jacqueline Christy. Walid Chaya, known for his dynamic acting talents, plays Joel, a sassy and frustrated Airbnb host who finds himself entangled in the chaotic world of filmmaking when he rents out his space to a movie crew. His character quickly finds himself caught in a tangled web of mischief, offering a humorous and nuanced performance that has audiences laughing from start to finish.

Magic Hour follows the story of Harriet, played by Younger star Miriam Shor, a woman who takes the plunge into film school while juggling her chaotic home life. As she tries to make her mark as a filmmaker, she faces obstacles both on and off set. Chaya’s character, Joel, becomes an integral part of her journey as she rents his Airbnb for her film project, only to have her secret uncovered by Joel, who is less than thrilled about the situation.- Cali Post

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