Bootleg Betty
Sophie von Haselberg Has A New Movie Short, The Waddles
By Mister D
June 12, 2026
The Waddles is a 12-minute comedy short film from 2026, directed by (and starring) Max Jenkins in his directorial debut. Sophie von Haselberg stars as Joy and also serves as a producer and co-writer.
Plot Summary
A photo plunges Joy (von Haselberg) into despair. Her friend Max (Jenkins) convinces her to get a cosmetic procedure and then hide away in Palm Springs over the holidays to recover. Their friendship evolves in unexpected ways during the trip. It’s described as a “quippy, clever” story exploring friendship, self-image, and change.
Key Details
Writers: Sophie von Haselberg, Max Jenkins, along with Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik (the Oscar-nominated screenwriters of May December).
Cast includes Richard Perez, Ruby McCollister, Betsey Brown, Emily Davis, Karan Brar, Marcia Jean Kurtz, and Terrence Williams Jr.
Production: It’s the first production from Champion (linked to von Haselberg).
Premiere and Screenings
It had its world premiere at Frameline50 (the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival) on June 21, 2026, at the Castro Theatre, as part of the “Fun in Shorts” program (a laugh-out-loud package of comedies). Additional screenings followed, including at the Roxie Theater.
As of now (mid-2026), it’s a very recent project with limited additional press or reviews beyond festival listings. Von Haselberg has shared promotional content on Instagram, and it’s generating buzz in queer film circles.
This fits with her pattern of producing and acting in intimate, independent shorts (like her previous Poreless in the same Frameline shorts program).
Sources: Frameline50, IMDB, Instagram, Roxie
