Cut It Out
dir. Sophie Chappell
2026
Running time: 16 min.
Winner: Best Director
Trailer
Two years after “something bad” happened at a party, Sophie decides that she is not sufficiently healed. She starts by turning to her community and her camera for help. But reflective conversations alone cannot alleviate her hurt. Over time, she realizes the only path forward is back — and then through — so she returns to places from her past in an attempt at closure. The film ultimately reflects on her fear that no matter how much time passes, nothing will be enough to heal what is inside her.
Sophie Chappell
Sophie Chappell is a documentary filmmaker, student of history, and journalist. She is fond of emotionally intimate stories detailing the female experience, queer joy, and the whimsy in the mundane. She graduated from the Murray Center in 2026 with a master's degree in journalism.