David Meltzer
A chilling new vision is emerging with Derangement, the upcoming short film slated for release in mid-2026. Marking the striking directorial debut of Virga Siksniute, the film promises a visceral and visually arresting descent into the fragile architecture of the human mind.
At the center of this psychological storm is Paul Pedana, delivering a haunting transformation that signals a bold new chapter in his artistic evolution. Unrecognizable and emotionally raw, Pedana embodies a solitary man pushed to the edge of sanity, driven by obsession, memory, and survival during a desperate search through an unforgiving world. His performance oscillates between quiet vulnerability and explosive breakdown, anchoring the film with unsettling authenticity. The transformation behind the role was as demanding as the performance itself, taking a full year to complete and involving long hair growth, a full beard, and a dramatic loss of weight.
Derangement have been entirely produced by Siksniūtė and Pedana themselves, a rare and ambitious creative partnership that underscores the deeply personal nature of the project. Far from aiming for blockbuster spectacle, the duo deliberately chose to craft a film that captures the simplicity of drama, with quiet moments of reflection and silence, portraying the raw essence of sadness and human fragility.Visually, the film embraces a singular aesthetic choice: it was shot entirely with one vintage Russian Helios 44m lens, a bold technical decision designed to preserve the same grain, texture, and atmospheric continuity throughout the film.
The scope of the shoot is as extreme as the story itself. Filming took place across multiple locations, from the frozen landscapes of Northern Europe, where temperatures dropped to -20 degrees, to the stark, dramatic vistas of the ex sovietic desolated wastelands. These environments become more than backdrops they mirror the character’s physical and psychological isolation.
Siksniute’s direction is confident and uncompromising, blending oppressive emotional intimacy with stark natural beauty, trapping the audience inside the protagonist’s unraveling psyche. Though Derangement marks her first short film, her visual command and narrative restraint suggest the arrival of a powerful new voice in independent cinema.
With its haunting atmosphere, fearless lead performance, and bold, self-made production, Derangement is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing psychological shorts on the horizon.
Watch the Official Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gTZQXvgMX4
