About this submission

In college, my thesis film was a docufiction about an ambitious filmmaker trying to tell a story about a struggling town and its residents. The film explored themes of artistic intention and subjectivity. Following graduation in 2024, my peers/professors encouraged me to continue working in this mode, which involves numerous location scouts and castings with non-actors before writing a script. For Palm, I focused on an overlooked yet crucial job in a climate-threatened city – specifically the responsibilities and isolation the work carries. The allure and iconography of palm trees in LA were the genesis for this project.

Max Drexler

Creator

I’m a New York based director/editor working in both documentary and fiction. My films take a personal, low-tech approach to storytelling, focusing on themes like escapism and urban change. I like to work with non-professional actors and shoot in an observational, minimal style to create an intimate and grounded tone. My short films have screened at ICA London, BAM, and LSFF. I received a BFA in Film/Video from Pratt Institute.