Izabel Pakzad, Actor and ‘Find Your Friends’ Filmmaker, Signs With CAA

CAA has signed Iranian-Greek American filmmaker, author and actress Izabel Pakzad for illustration.

The signing comes as Pakzad’s feature directorial debut, “Find Your Friends,” is ready to be launched on Shudder on June 12. The thriller follows a gaggle of mates (including Helena Howard, Bella Thorne, Chloe Cherry, Zion Moreno, Sophia Ali and Pakzad) as they dodge more and more harmful males while they’re just making an attempt to have a superb time partying in the desert.

Pakzad, whose performing resume contains “Birds of Prey” and HBO’s “The Deuce,” was impressed to write down and direct the project after reflecting on a terrifying experience she endured some years in the past during a “wild girls trip” to Joshua Tree.

Ahead of the movie’s world premiere at last yr’s Fantasia Film Festival, Pakzad shared the backstory with Variety’s William Earl: throughout the journey, her crew handled “strange interactions with men,” however issues escalated on the last evening. When Pakzad and considered one of her mates left their Airbnb in the wee hours of the morning, a thriller man tried to lure them of their cul-de-sac along with his automobile, then pursued them down the freeway at 100 MPH.

“It was the most terrifying seven minutes of my life. But I just didn’t stop the car,” Pakzad said of their white-knuckle escape.

But placing that harrowing experience in context with the fact that she and her ladies have been latest school grads “stuck in these weird party rituals,” made nice fodder for the story.

“This movie is about messy and complicated female friendships as much as it’s a commentary on this party, frat culture that raised them. I think it gives interesting context,” Pakzad explained. “I’m trying to bring my truth to this movie, and I’m pushing it to extremes. But it’s rooted in something I experienced.”

Following its debut at Fantasia, “Find Your Friends” traveled the movie pageant circuit, screening at the Toronto International Film Festival; Fantastic Fest, the place it made its U.S. premiere; Stiges in Catalonia, Spain; and Torino in Italy.

In addition to CAA, Pakzad continues to be represented by Black Bear and Paula Woods Consultants.