A Short Film Set Against the High-Stakes World of Professional Tennis
Misha Calvert’s emotionally charged short film FAULT will make its West Coast premiere at the 2026 HollyShorts Film Festival, bringing a deeply personal story about abuse, trauma, power, and silence to the screen.
Set within the demanding world of elite tennis, the film follows Steph, a world-renowned tennis champion preparing for the U.S. Open. When her estranged sister Gigi arrives, the carefully controlled life Steph has built begins to unravel.
When Success Comes at a Cost
As the sisters’ reunion becomes increasingly difficult, Steph is forced to confront her relationship with her coach and the abuse taking place behind the scenes.
The film examines the difficult choice between protecting a successful career and speaking publicly about abuse, while also exploring how survivors can process trauma in very different ways.
A Personal Story Behind the Film
FAULT draws inspiration from the personal experience of Coco Jourdana, who also stars as Gigi.
Jourdana brings an especially personal perspective to the role, drawing from her own experience of abuse within her family. Her performance sits at the emotional center of the film alongside Sarah Rich, who plays Steph.
Rich, known for Purple Hearts and #Like, portrays a champion whose competitive strength gradually gives way to the emotional consequences of years of control.
Misha Calvert’s Vision
For writer-director Misha Calvert, FAULT is intended to go beyond a traditional sports drama.
The film uses professional tennis as a setting to examine larger questions surrounding women’s equality, abuse, power, and the systems that can allow harmful behavior to remain hidden.
Calvert hopes the film can contribute to a more direct cultural conversation about these issues, embracing the discomfort that can accompany meaningful change.
FAULT at HollyShorts
FAULT will screen as part of the HollyShorts sports block during the 2026 festival.
August 18, 2026
2:30 PM
TCL Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles
With its combination of psychological drama, sports and deeply personal storytelling, FAULT turns the world of elite tennis into a backdrop for a much larger story about confronting trauma and finding the courage to speak.
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