Invention - Courtney Stephens

On 25 February, director Courtney Stephens will be present to introduce the film and participate in a Q&A session.
​​​​​​​In Invention, personal trauma collides with noir mystery as Callie Hernandez—who co-conceived the film and plays a version of herself—searches for the truth about her conspiracy-minded father, an inventor whose sudden death leaves her with many questions. 

Inheriting his patent for an experimental healing device, she embarks on a journey through a shadowy backwoods America of eccentrics and opportunists, uncovering what loved ones conceal in life and death. Shot on Super 16mm and enriched with archival material from Hernandez’s own late father, Courtney Stephens transforms the investigative narrative into a bold, imaginative meditation on grief, obsession, and the allure of conspiratorial thinking. Hernandez’s acting won her the prize for Best Performance at the Locarno filmfestival in 2024.