Kestrin Pantera

Kestrin Pantera is an American writer, director, and musician. Described by The New York Times as "a force," Pantera directed the SXSW South by Southwest films Pretty Problems and Mother’s Little Helpers, blending humor, drama, and social commentary. Her works include the films Pretty Problems and Mother’s Little Helpers, both of which premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. Pretty Problems won multiple awards, including the SXSW Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sonoma International Film Festival, and was later acquired by IFC Films. Pantera's directorial debut, Let’s Ruin It With Babies, was praised by The Los Angeles Times as “honest, convincing, and just plain adorable.”
In addition to her filmmaking career, Pantera is an accomplished musician. 
==Early Life and Education==
Kestrin Pantera was born and raised in California. She is a classically trained cellist, speaks Mandarin fluently, and is proficient in German.
==Career==
Pantera wrote and directed the 2022 feature film Pretty Problems, a comedy-drama which Deadline called "A comic tale Of wealth, privilege, relationships, sex & wine." The film premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award. Pretty Problems also received the Grand Jury Prize at Sonoma International Film Festival and the Audience Awards at Maui Film Festival and Sidewalk Film Festival. In 2022, Pantera was named Bay Area Filmmaker of the Year. 
The film was acquired by IFC Films and was released in 30 cities nationwide.
Deadline Hollywood praised Pretty Problems as a "laugh out loud comedy" and described it as "a party you want to go to, to live vicariously, laugh a lot, and then be glad to go home to your own life," calling it "a tremendous amount of fun." 
https://deadline.com/2022/03/pretty-problems-sxsw-audience-award-winner-1234983174/https://deadline.com/2022/04/pretty-problems-sxsw-movie-sells-to-ifc-films-1234994118/The film was also awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the Sonoma International Film Festival and won Audience Awards at Maui Film Festival and Sidewalk Film Festival. Pantera's previous film, Mother’s Little Helpers, premiered at SXSW in 2019 and received critical acclaim. Her directorial debut, Let’s Ruin It With Babies, was released theatrically and was praised by The Los Angeles Times and Marie Claire.
Pantera’s previous feature, Mother’s Little Helpers, premiered at SXSW in 2019 and was released in 2020 by Gravitas Ventures. The film, described as a “wonderful, Big Chill-esque dramedy,” received accolades for its ensemble performance and chemistry, winning several awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Ensemble Performance, and Best Actress.
Pantera’s directorial debut, Let’s Ruin It With Babies, was released theatrically and received positive reviews, with The Los Angeles Times describing it as “honest, convincing, and just plain adorable.” The film was also highlighted as a "must see" by Marie Claire.https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ruin-it-babies-review-20140131-story.html
==Untitled Kestrin Pantera Feature==
Pantera is currently developing a new feature film, an untitled comedy project with an ensemble cast that includes "Weird Al" Yankovic, Jackie Tohn, David Wain, Tiffany Haddish, Tia Carrere, Sherry Cola, Breeda Wool, and Sam Littlefield. The project was recently announced by Deadline Hollywood.https://deadline.com/2024/08/weird-al-yankovic-jackie-tohn-david-wain-more-join-kestrin-pantera-comedy-1236032219/
==Music==
Pantera is a musician and performs as a singer and cellist with David Wain and Ken Marino's Middle Aged Dad Jam Band. Before her work in film, she toured with rock bands professionally, including performances alongside Cary Brothers and opening for artists like Brandi Carlile and The Fray. She also performed local shows with Beck in Los Angeles when she first arrived in Los Angeles and was a dancer in Beck’s “Girl” video.https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-07-25/the-middle-aged-dad-jam-band-david-wain-ken-marino-weird-al-yankovic
==Filmography==
* Let’s Ruin It With Babies (2013) - Director, Writer
* Mother’s Little Helpers (2019) - Director, Writer
* Pretty Problems (2022) - Director, Writer
* Untitled Kestrin Pantera Feature (Upcoming) - Director, Writer
==Additional References==
* [Deadline Hollywood - Pretty Problems SXSW Award](https://deadline.com/2022/03/pretty-problems-sxsw-audience-award-winner-1234983174/)
* [Deadline Hollywood - Upcoming Project with Weird Al Yankovic](https://deadline.com/2024/08/weird-al-yankovic-jackie-tohn-david-wain-more-join-kestrin-pantera-comedy-1236032219/)
* [Deadline Hollywood - IFC Buys Pretty Problems](https://deadline.com/2022/04/pretty-problems-sxsw-movie-sells-to-ifc-films-1234994118/)
* [Deadline Hollywood - Mother’s Little Helpers SXSW Exclusive](https://deadline.com/2019/03/mothers-little-helpers-trailer-sxsw-kerstrin-pantera-1202570220/)
* [Deadline Hollywood - Gravitas Acquires Mother’s Little Helpers](https://deadline.com/2020/03/gravitas-ventures-kestrin-pantera-mothers-little-helpers-1202874178/)
* [LA Times: Middle Aged Dad Band Is Thriving](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-07-25/the-middle-aged-dad-jam-band-david-wain-ken-marino-weird-al-yankovic)
* [LA Times: Let’s Ruin It With Babies Review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ruin-it-babies-review-20140131-story.html)
* [New York Times]: (https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/fashion/weddings/11VOWS.html)
*[Rama's Screen SXSW Review]: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXcqZCNCZ5o)
Category:American writers
Category:Director
Category:American people
Category:Musicians
Category:People from California