Filmmaker Attaches Director and Casting Director for Short Film "The Final Fight"

The powerful proof-of-concept short is inspired by a true story about an aging boxer's family guardianship battle.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Filmmaker Todd J. Stein has officially attached director Steven Feder and casting director Adrienne Stern to his short film project "The Final Fight". The film is inspired by Stein's father's real-life case of being placed under an unwarranted guardianship, which was the subject of a 2021 New York Times cover story. The short is being developed as a proof-of-concept for a feature film that aims to bring awareness to the crisis of elder guardianship abuse while delivering emotionally grounded storytelling.

Why it matters

The Final Fight explores an urgent and often overlooked crisis facing aging Americans, where vulnerable elders can become trapped in abusive guardianship arrangements that strip them of their rights and autonomy. By dramatizing this real-world issue through an intimate family story, the film hopes to shed light on this systemic problem and inspire action.

The details

The short film centers on an aging Golden Gloves boxing champion who is pulled into a brutal tug-of-war between his estranged son and his mafia-connected in-laws over his guardianship, money, and control. As loyalties fracture and power shifts behind closed doors, the story becomes a reckoning with love, authority, and the consequences when moral certainty outpaces legal clarity.

  • The Final Fight short film project was launched in 2021.
  • A 2021 New York Times cover story highlighted the true story that inspired the film.
  • The short film is now entering a pivotal new phase with the attachment of director Steven Feder and casting director Adrienne Stern.

The players

Todd J. Stein

The filmmaker who created The Final Fight, inspired by his father's real-life case of being placed under an unwarranted guardianship.

Steven Feder

The director who has been attached to the short film The Final Fight.

Adrienne Stern

The casting director who has been attached to the short film The Final Fight.

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What they’re saying

“What drew me to The Final Fight is that it's based on a true story about something that happens all too often. As our loved ones age, they become vulnerable. This is a story of real depth and consequence. Once I read the script, I was immediately drawn to it.”

— Steven Feder, Director of The Final Fight

“What excites me about The Final Fight is how actor-driven it is. These aren't symbolic roles, they're lived-in, emotional characters inside a story that matters right now. It's socially relevant while still giving actors real moments to shine. This isn't just a film, it's a story with real-world consequences, told through complex, human characters. I'm excited to bring this to actors who want to be part of something socially relevant and artistically serious.”

— Adrienne Stern, Casting Director of The Final Fight

What’s next

Casting is officially underway for the short film, with conversations beginning around lead and supporting roles. The filmmaker hopes to sign on prestigious actors who can elevate the essential lead performances.

The takeaway

The Final Fight short film aims to shine a light on the urgent crisis of elder guardianship abuse, using an intimate family drama to inspire awareness and action around this often overlooked systemic problem facing aging Americans.