Mysteries, thrillers, psychological dramas are not limited to the printed page. Early in its history, Hollywood was producing and distributing mystery films such as “The Thin Man” or darker, “39 Steps,” for the public. And this genre continues into the 21st century. Next week, the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema (IIFC) will offer several of these.

One of these, “Bläckfisk,” was written by, directed by and stars Idyllwild resident Sarah Hanner. This short feature premieres at the IIFC Thursday, March 9 at the Rustic Theater.

Hanner’s work is able to leave the viewer with that unsettling feeling of “what’s wrong here?” It is not always obvious, and one asks, “What did I miss?” Other times, we might see the crime or dreadful step, but wondered what the cause or origin of this character’s behavior was.

Similar to many successful and good filmmakers, Hanner began preparing for this profession in childhood. “Growing up, I’ve always loved films,” she admitted. “But it is only in the last five years that I’ve committed to making films fulltime.”

She grew up in Washington state and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing. Her next stage was “onto LA to pursue film,” she added.

While she did some writing and acting (“Relativity” in 2012), as many who enter the film industry, the early stages don’t necessary provide an adequate living. She also worked at an art consulting firm. There she learned to use art for interior design.

Like many of her life’s stages, this step “… was beautiful education in visual arts. I learned aesthetics for directing,” she noted.

Eventually, she earned a master’s degree in psychology and became a full-time therapist, although she never abandoned writing and continued some acting while building a client base.

“I started a practice,” Hanner said, that grew from parttime to fulltime. “It was calling to me.”

As a psychologist therapist, she took notes during her sessions with patients. “I was drawn to the words I needed to use because I have always been a writer,” she stated. Naturally and organically, her writing was compelled by the aspect of shadows in human behavior.

Then, her life began to change when a friend invited her to Idyllwild for Thanksgiving 2017. “The second I arrived, I could feel this was a beautiful, magical, heavenly place,” Hanner said. “And I sensed I wasn’t pursuing my film career.”

She had a full agenda of psychology clients. This limited her acting and writing, but time on the Hill had affected her. While she grew up near Seattle, she was born in Denver, “the Mile High City,” and Idyllwild’s elevation is 5,500 feet. She began making small adjustments in her life in order to focus on her craft.

By the fall of 2019, before COVID, she had transitioned all of her clients to online and began searching for a home to rent in Idyllwild. She moved into it the first week of March 2020, just as the 11th IIFC was beginning.

Coincidently or cosmically, Hanner had an entry in the new media category. “Don’t Fear the Healer” is a music video, which she wrote and directed for Sarah Gerritsen, a Seattle singer and songwriter. And when the screenings ended and the IIFC’s awards were announced, Hanner’s music video won for Best New Media.

Psychology clients online, moving from Los Angeles to rustic Idyllwild, winning an award, her life had changed, and she was dedicated to this new path. Hanner has talent and perseverance.

“I love Idyllwild. The snow, the weather, this house,” she said happily.

She made another music video, “Alexandra — Gentry.” In 2022, this artistic creation also won awards at film festivals in Seattle, Austin, Rome, Barcelona and IIFC. She wrote the lyrics and melody of “Alexandra” alongside musician Rob Gentry.

“I’ve written songs before, and I’ve directed music videos before, but this was the first time that I got to do both, and it was fun to witness the evolution of the original song idea from concept to song to video,” she said. “And how inspired I was to take the concept and themes of the video to a darker place than I’d imagined when I wrote lyrics.”

Her goal to direct a feature film is in the future. But after “Alexandra,” many encouraged her to direct a nonmusical film to expand her accomplishments.

In 2017, while living in Los Angeles, a friend invited her on trip to a private island in the Swedish archipelago.

“The second I stepped on the island I was inspired,” she exclaimed. “I had a wild dream to shoot a film here. And the island would be one of the characters. There would have to be an element of mystery and I would explore the darker scenes.”

The origin of “Bläckfisk” began in the moment. Albert Einstein has described these moments as, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”

“Bläckfisk” tells the story of a young woman, Claire, who happily announces her pregnancy as a surprise during the birthday party of her husband’s mother. The older couple are her husband Ander’s parents, Kristoffer and Matilda. The mother is one of the darker moments throughout the film without uttering a syllable of dialogue.

Another critical and speechless character is young Claire. And an octopus and its ink, a metaphor of Claire’s life, comprise the balance of the cast in this story of “love through the shadows.”

Beyond “Bläckfisk” are other film adventures for Hanner, including a comedy pilot for television.