Exclusive Trailer Debuts for Indie Drama "Hekla"

Chicago filmmaker Michael Glover Smith's latest film follows a day in the life of a rising actress.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Glover Smith has unveiled the first trailer for his new indie drama "Hekla", which stars Elizabeth Stam as a determined Chicago actress navigating auditions, breakups, and self-doubt over the course of one chaotic day. The film, which is a spin-off of Smith's 2022 feature "Relative", will have its world premiere on March 6 at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Alabama.

Why it matters

Smith's previous indie dramas like "Mercury in Retrograde" and "Rendezvous in Chicago" have earned him acclaim, and "Hekla" represents his deepest collaboration yet with an actor. The film aims to provide an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a working artist in Chicago's vibrant theater and film communities.

The details

"Hekla" follows the title character, a Chicago actress, as she races through auditions, personal relationships, and self-doubt over the course of a single day, all while striving to claim her voice and step fully into her identity as an artist and woman. The film features narration by Wendy Robie ("Twin Peaks") and a cameo by renowned photographer/filmmaker Sandro Miller.

  • "Hekla" will have its world premiere on March 6, 2026 at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Alabama.

The players

Michael Glover Smith

A Chicago-based filmmaker who has earned acclaim for his indie dramas, including "Mercury in Retrograde" and "Rendezvous in Chicago". "Hekla" is his latest film.

Elizabeth Stam

The lead actress in "Hekla", who co-wrote and co-produced the film with Smith after working with him on his 2022 feature "Relative".

Wendy Robie

An actress who provides narration for "Hekla".

Sandro Miller

An internationally renowned photographer and filmmaker who makes a cameo appearance in "Hekla".

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What they’re saying

“Hekla is the fulfillment of a dream born in my head in 2016. While holding auditions for my second feature, the Roxane Mesquida-starring Mercury in Retrograde (2017), I conceived the idea of creating a project about a day in the life of an actor. I wanted to make a movie that would simultaneously be a love letter to Chicago's theater and film communities as well as an exploration of the inner world of a single artist: going inside their brain, showing their 'process,' and the difficulty they have in achieving a balance between their personal and professional lives.”

— Michael Glover Smith, Director (thefilmstage.com)

“After making my fourth feature, Relative (2022), with the brilliant Elizabeth Stam, I decided to refashion this script as a vehicle for her, inviting her to board the project not only as lead performer but also co-writer and co-producer. The result is the deepest collaboration I've ever had with an actor, yielding the kind of intense, Gena Rowlands-esque performance that every director dreams of eliciting.”

— Michael Glover Smith, Director (thefilmstage.com)

What’s next

The world premiere of "Hekla" is scheduled for March 6, 2026 at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Alabama.

The takeaway

"Hekla" represents a deeply personal collaboration between director Michael Glover Smith and lead actress Elizabeth Stam, aiming to provide an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a working artist in Chicago's vibrant theater and film communities.