The midnight short “Prime,” written and directed by Meagan Coyle, has some gorgeous images shot on McEnroe Organic Farm. According to Coyle, the entire film started out as a comedy, but morphed into a meditation on the director’s guilt over eating meat. As the press notes say, “The director still eats meat, and she still feels guilt about it.”
PLOT
The plot features an accident survivor who joins a commune group on an organic farm after she has survived a horrible car crash that incinerated her mother. Claire Whitfield (Katie Mumford) joins the group in an upstate New York farm that looks idyllic. In fact, the images in this 16 minute short are outstanding. [If only the acting were as good.]
There is much mumbo-jumbo about “Life’s greatest accomplishment is to maintain the infinite cycle of life.” Exactly what that means is not clear from the outset, but this is a midnight short, so use your imagination.
CAST
Katie Mumford as Claire Whitfield in the Midnight Short “Prime” at Sundance on January 25, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Sundance Film Institute).
Actress Katie Mumford plays Claire Whitfield. The cult leader is an older woman named Rhea, portrayed by Anita Durst. Durst, who founded this farm collective IRL, has a very Zen vibe. Durst’s real-life background lends itself to her fictional role.
The various scenes of nature are impressive.
The acting is not.
THE GENESIS OF “PRIME”
Writer/Director Meagan Coyle is a graduate of Boston College who has been doing make-up on the New York indie scene since 2017. The lead actress, Katie Mumford, appeared previously in “The Ring of Light” (2022). Veteran actress Anita Durst plays cult leader Rhea. Durst’s career is described as “eclectic.” Here is what that means in more concrete terms.
CHASHAMA
Midnight Sundance short “Prime” screened January 25, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Sundance Film Institute).
Durst is the founder of Chashama, which is said to mean “to have vision” in Persian. That translation is disputed and some say Chashama is a made-up word. Because Durst is the daughter of a New York real estate mogul, she had the connections to envision support for the arts utilizing locations in the New York City area that were otherwise not being utilized, a project she has been pursuing since 1995.
ChaShaMa has transformed 70 locations throughout the city and launched the careers of over 12,000 artists by giving them access to subsidized space, which supported approximately 10,000 public presentations for over 500,000 viewers. Chashama helps create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world by partnering with property owners to transform unused real estate. These spaces are used for artists, small businesses, and for free community-centric art classes.
ABOUT ANITA DURST
McEnroe Organic Farm, where “Prime” Midnight Short at Sundance was shot. (Photo courtesy of Sundance Film Institute.)
Anita Durst is the daughter of developer Douglas Durst, who is the 81-year-old younger brother of convicted murderer Robert Durst of “The Jinx” fame; Durst died in prison in 2022. Anita has been part of the avant-garde performing arts and emerging arts scene in New York City since age 18.
Following the death of her mentor and artistic professor Reza Abdoh from AIDS in 1995, Durst was driven to create a place for artists free of financial constraints. Anita has worked for over 20 years to secure over one million square feet of space in New York City for artists. Born in New York City, she has lived in New Foundland Canada, Ibiza Spain, and the New York City suburbs.
Chashama, as an entity:
- Awards 11 million worth of real estate to artists
- Subsidizes 300 artist work spaces
- Provides over 215 free art classes
- Gives 200 artists free space to present
- Supports over 75 businesses with free space
“PRIME” IMAGES
McEnroe Organic Farm in the Sundance short “Prime.” (Picture courtesy of Sundance Film Institute.)
The images in the short “Prime” are what makes this short noteworthy. They are gorgeous and memorable. Cinematography was by Joshua Echevaria. Editing of the many beautiful images by Mike O’Brien. Ben Chesnau was responsible for sound design and Yan Pavelchuk was the composer.
Onscreen, portraying the leader of the collective farm, Rhea Durst gives off a very Jim Jones/David Koresh vibe, well-suited to what passes for the plot of this 16-minute visual treat. Enjoy the images and applaud her Durst’s tireless work for artists and art, which come to light for most of us because of this Sundance short.
