British actress Harriet Bridgwater, in collaboration with Lunar 11 Productions, has been making an impact in the indie film world, starring in a series of films receiving recognition at festivals.
She and Lunar 11 previously worked together on the 2024 short film “Spotlight Of Love,” which received praise from VIP Connections.
Drive By Brings Comedy to the Festival Circuit
The first of these films, “Drive By,” is an award-winning film in the “Thilsri Film Festival” and “CinemaBriz Film Festival”, and was in the official selection for the JhaJha International Film Festival in 2025. Details on the title are available on its Drive By page on IMDb.
“Drive By” is an outrageous comedy about a young man, Sean (played by Arthur Bastos, known for “Spotlight of Love”), who adopts a rock-star persona and pretends to live a lavish life in Los Angeles, in part to impress his best friend Emma, for whom he has started to have feelings (played by Bridgwater, known for “Feast”).
Everything goes awry when his Uber driver, Milton (played by Sean Cowhig, known for “Hell Den”), becomes unhealthily obsessed with Sean. Sean seeks the help of Emma after Milton’s infatuation becomes dangerous.
Bridgwater plays Emma with a lovable, girl-next-door quality. She is completely unaware of Sean’s affection, which gives rise to an abundance of innocent, situational comedy. She shows exceptional comedic timing and delivers an effortlessly real, down-to-earth performance. Bridgwater convincingly plays the American Emma, adopting an American accent she has used across a range of roles, including her next role in association with Lunar 11 Productions.
A Darker Turn in Auder
The next film in her collaborations with Lunar 11 Productions and FFE Productions, “Auder,” highlights Bridgwater’s ability to transform into a range of contrasting characters and her versatility as an actor.
From the friendly, approachable Emma in “Drive By,” she becomes nearly unrecognisable in “Auder” as Ellen, a sinister figure, in a chilling performance. Playing such a brutal character, she conveys a sense of soulless, dead eyes that makes the role even more unsettling.
“Auder,” directed by Brazilian filmmaker Felipe Marinheiro (known for “Murmur”), tells the story of two foreign teenagers, Beatriz from Brazil (played by Carolina Liz, known for “Quando Éramos Nós”) and Valentina from Mexico (played by Marycarmen Portillo, known for “Autumn’s Dream”). The girls are kidnapped and forced into an assimilation camp where the English language is weaponised to strip them of their cultural identity. More information appears on the Auder page on IMDb.
“Auder” earned an official selection at the LA Holly Films Festival and was featured at the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival (LABRFF). The film won Best Performances in “WILDsound Feedback Film & Screenplay Festival 2025.”Felipe Marinheiro and Carolina Liz shared insight into the poignant message within the film, in the interview: “Immigration & Identity: The Powerful Metaphor”.
Vulnerability and Release in Crazy Bitch
Following these features, Bridgwater starred as Olivia in the film “Crazy Bitch.” Details on the film are available on its Crazy Bitch page on IMDb.
The film follows Olivia, who experiences amnesia after a traumatic event and becomes increasingly suspicious of a new neighbour, Eric (played by Victor Montez, known for “Jasmine”), while seeking the help of her antisocial neighbour, Anna (played by Carolina Liz).
Bridgwater plays Olivia with a visceral vulnerability. There is a feeling of Olivia being stifled by a subliminal shame and self-hatred that runs throughout the film, until she is finally liberated and able to release her rage. Bridgwater embodies the smallness Olivia has been made to feel, then delivers an immense, cathartic outburst at the end that sets free the internalised actions of someone else.
