LOS ANGELES – Aug. 18, 2025 – Actor and writer Laura Ricci, alongside an all-women creative team, has launched a crowdfunding campaign for Starflare, a fantasy romance short film that blends the heart of The Princess Bride, the intensity of Game of Thrones and the nostalgia of Ever After.
Set in the crumbling kingdom of Alendar, Starflare follows Vera, the ambitious daughter of a royal advisor who risks everything to steal a dragon egg — a final hope for her dying world. Alongside Damien, the king’s alluring tracker, she discovers that the closer you get to the truth, the harder it is to turn back.
“At its heart, Starflare is about the choices we make to protect the people we love when the systems around us are failing,” says Ricci. “Fantasy allows us to explore universal struggles about grief, courage and hope through an epic, magical lens.”
Ricci is joined by Academy-qualified director Christine Chen (ERZULIE), CEO of Moth to Flame Productions and co-author of Get Reelisms. Also on board is award-winning producer Emma Steiger (RUNAWAYS), a junior executive at Billy Magnussen’s HappyBad Bungalow.
Key Highlights:
Supporters can back the campaign now on Seed&Spark, gaining access to exclusive perks including custom artwork, playlists, behind-the-scenes updates and even on-set experiences.
“Romantasy is one of the fastest-growing genres in publishing,” says Ricci. “Which means we’re poised to see more of it on screen in the coming years. With Starflare, we’re not just telling a story; we’re proving that women-led teams can bring these epic, emotional worlds to life in ways audiences are hungry for.”
The campaign is live now and runs through noon Aug. 29.
seedandspark.com/fund/starflare
@starflare_film
@the.laura.ricci@cchenmtf@emma.steiger
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