CHILI FINGER
Section: Narrative Spotlight
Director: Edd Benda, Stephen Helstad
Screenwriter: Stephen Helstad
Logline: When Jessica Lipki discovers a severed human finger in her bowl of chili, she recognizes an opportunity to seize control of her stagnating life. Jess blackmails the regionally-beloved fast-food chain for $100,000 in return that she and her blissfully ignorant husband, Ron, keep quiet about the incident. Unbeknownst to Jess, her stunt has caught the attention of “the” Blake Junior, the plutocratic founder behind the Blake Junior’s food empire. He recruits his ex-marine buddy, Dave, to investigate Jess and discover the truth behind the chili finger…
Panelists: Edd Benda, Stephen Helstad, Judy Greer, John Goodman
Sales Agent: Gersh
Premiered: March 14, 2026
Key Quote: Noting she has been “giddily in love” with co-star John Goodman since starring together in What Planet Are You From? (2000), Judy Greer said, “I’m not gonna spoil anything, but I’ll say that there’s a scene where my directors let our two-shot play, that’s one of my proudest acting moments. To be able to be in a very long two-shot with John Goodman, where we just got to play our scene together and not have it interrupted by magical editing was a real honor.”
Deadline Studio at SXSW presented by Redbreast Irish Whiskey.
