Can Physical Pain Heal Emotional Wounds? ‘BLEEDER’ Premieres at HollyShorts Film Festival
Bleeder by Jeremy Max
Los Angeles, CA (August 3rd, 2026). BLEEDER is the new short film from writer-director Jeremy Max. The short film will make its World Premiere at the HollyShorts Film Festival. The psychological drama follows a man who earns a living by enduring brutal beatings.
Only to find himself confronting the emotional wounds he has spent years trying to outrun. Through an intimate portrait of self-destruction and redemption, the film explores trauma, masculinity and the difficult journey towards healing.
The film was written and directed by Jeremy Max. A New York-based filmmaker and graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His work explores the complexities of the human condition through emotionally rich character studies that blend realism with elements of surrealism and catharsis.
Following acclaimed shorts including Dream Girl and The Second Oldest Man Alive. BLEEDER continues Max’s exploration of identity, emotional crisis, and personal transformation. The project also serves as a proof of concept for an upcoming feature adaptation currently in development.
Produced by Scott Aharoni, co-founder of Curious Gremlin and recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BLEEDER builds on a body of work that has screened at major international festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Berlin, and Tribeca. Aharoni’s recent producing credits include They Follow, The Chronology of Water, The Carpenter’s Son, The Wrong Girls, and Our Hero, Balthazar.
The film stars former professional boxer John Duddy, whose own journey from the ring to the screen echoes many of the emotional themes explored within the film. Once known as “The Derry Destroyer,” Duddy built a celebrated boxing career before transitioning into acting, bringing authenticity and emotional depth to the role of a man whose greatest battle is no longer physical but internal.
He is joined by Natalie Roy, whose nuanced performance brings warmth and humanity to a story ultimately centred on the restorative power of love. Cinematography is by David Foy, whose empathetic visual style reinforces the film’s intimate exploration of vulnerability and resilience.
Making its World Premiere at the HollyShorts Film Festival, BLEEDER offers a powerful reflection on the hidden emotional burdens many people carry beneath the surface. Through its exploration of trauma, self-worth, and the belief that suffering must be endured alone, the film ultimately argues that healing is not found through punishment, but through human connection.
In a story where violence gives way to vulnerability, BLEEDER reminds audiences that sometimes the smallest gesture of compassion can become the first step towards forgiveness.
