anybody but linda

Linda Santori has been in office FOREVER and, like the rest of the establishment, she seems completely out of touch. Or so says Suresh Palavairayan, the young progressive challenging her. The campaign is a long shot… but Cole has a plan.

Adrift in his mid-20s, stuck in an unfulfilling job and a relationship that's lost its spark, Cole is searching for purpose. His social media addiction keeps him informed and borderline depressed. Suresh's firebrand rhetoric becomes the spark that sends him stumbling into a zany scheme.

Jump-scare the aging Congresswoman so badly she decides to retire. It barely makes sense. It's unlikely to succeed.

But in this impulsive mission, Cole discovers something far more meaningful — belief in himself, in democracy, and in the power individuals have to create change.

This is a story for the doomscroll generation. Politics today feels overwhelming. Social media and 24-hour news cycles bombard us with crisis after crisis. And what are we told we can do? Like. Follow. Donate. Vote.

Cole is politically aware. He's frustrated. He's overwhelmed. He cares deeply but doesn't know what to do. This film speaks directly to a generation caught between outrage and inertia.

Anybody But Linda offers something different. Not blind faith in broken systems. Not cynicism. But belief in the power of individual action.

Across the country, young candidates are challenging entrenched power through grassroots organizing. Their success depends not on corporate money, but on individuals knocking doors, talking to neighbors, and showing up.

This film asks: what role can each of us play not just for democracy, but for ourselves?

Our goal is a thoughtful story beautifully told, and we plan to submit to film festivals. To realize the true message of the film, though, we plan to show the film through ‘grassroots’ community screenings.

Post-screening discussions will invite audiences into meaningful conversations about civic engagement, community organizing, and creative activism. The goal is not division, but connection.

If you are interested in hosting such a community screening, reach out to caseyrwing@gmail.com