PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST 2026 REVIEW! I’m always amazed at how much emotion and story can be conveyed in a well-made short film. Filmmaker Jay Pendarvis Jr.’s See You, Soon is only about nine minutes long, but there are layers within it of love (both romantic and brotherly) and revenge.
The film follows Amari (Asante Blackk) and his brother Dominique (Isaiah John) as they have a late-night conversation in a diner. Amari has a crush on the waitress named Kayla (Myko Lyric), but is too shy to say anything until his brother prods him to. It’s a tender romantic scene of vulnerability between the two, until the story takes a shocking twist.
“The performances of all three leads are captivating, turning a diner conversation into emotional dynamite.”
See You, Soon opens with a stylish tracking shot, and the short itself is composed of both style and substance. The performances of all three leads are captivating, which is a good omen for the feature film titled Brother’s Keeper that writer/director Jay and his two male leads are planning to create based on this short.
I can’t wait to see the feature due to the skill of everyone involved and the fact that the short has a cliffhanger, although it’s still a satisfying watch in its own right.
See You, Soon screened at the 2026 Palm Springs International Shortfest.
"…Filmmaker Jay Pendarvis Jr.’s See You, Soon is only about nine minutes long, but there are layers within it of love (both romantic and brotherly) and revenge. "
