From Oklahoma to Edinburgh: Pretty Babies Makes Its World Premiere

I’m thrilled to share that Pretty Babies will make its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 14, 2026. The film has also been selected to compete for the festival’s Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence.

Written and directed by Tyler-Marie Evans, Pretty Babies follows two teenage girls who leave their hometown, drawn by the glamorous Hollywood they have imagined through classic films. But as they chase their dreams of becoming actresses, their journey leads them into a much darker reality.

The cast includes Ashley Benson, Emily Alyn Lind, Madelaine Petsch and Sadie Stanley, alongside an incredible group of actors and filmmakers—and I am so honored to have a role in the film.

I portray Luna’s mother, a deeply catatonic and silent character. It was a role that challenged me to tell a story without relying on words—to communicate through stillness, presence and everything happening beneath the surface. As someone who has built much of my career around communication, stepping into a character who says nothing was both intimidating and incredibly meaningful.

The opportunity came to me because Pretty Babies was filmed largely in Oklahoma. That is one of the many reasons I continue to champion the film industry in our state. Productions like this create opportunities for Oklahoma actors, crew members, businesses and communities while allowing us to contribute to stories that can travel far beyond our borders.

And this one is traveling all the way to Scotland.

Seeing Pretty Babies make its world premiere at one of the world’s most respected film festivals is a major milestone for everyone who helped bring it to life. I’m proud of the work we created, proud to represent Oklahoma and grateful to be a small part of this powerful film.

There truly are no small roles—only opportunities to show up, do the work and help tell the story.

From an Oklahoma film set to the Edinburgh International Film Festival, this is a moment I will always remember.