A Santa Monica College student and former Amazon product manager will see his directorial debut premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival next month.
Adam Byrnes' film "Two Lie Together" will screen Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. during the festival's 41st edition. The film, which Byrnes co-wrote, produced and directed, was selected from thousands of worldwide submissions.
"As a first-time director, I am thrilled to have 'Two Lie Together' premiere in Santa Barbara," Byrnes said. "This film is so personal to me and something I am excited to share with an audience."
The suspenseful family drama explores generational trauma, past choices and the consequences of secrets. The story follows Ben and Anne, a couple whose seemingly perfect life unravels when a home intruder takes them hostage and uncovers a shattering truth.
Byrnes' path to filmmaking represents a dramatic career shift. He previously worked as a product manager at Amazon, where he led the consumer team at Amazon Care, a service connecting customers virtually with medical professionals in under 60 seconds.
The pandemic prompted his career change.
"They say that your dreams always come to you as a whisper," Byrnes said. "But until the pandemic, it was always drowned out by other priorities, like earning a paycheck or climbing the ladder. The pandemic was the first time it was quiet enough to hear the whisper that has been there throughout my life."
In 2022, Byrnes took a sabbatical and enrolled in Santa Monica College's film production program. In 2025, he was selected from eight competing students to direct the program's capstone film. He has since made multiple short films and is developing ideas for his first feature with producing partner Matt Ippolito, who also produced and stars in "Two Lie Together."
"It's never too late to start something," Byrnes said. "And just because you've been doing something for a long time doesn't mean you can't change. Life is too short not to try."
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival screening is open to the public. Tickets and festival passes are available at sbiff.org. A Q&A session with the filmmaker will follow the screening.
Edited by SMDP Staff