Better halves, even better stories.

Portrait of Sarah and Samuel, founders of Better Half Pictures

Meet Better Half Pictures, the husband-and-wife filmmaking team from Austin, TX, on a mission to create unforgettable films that make a difference. Founded in 2022 by writer/director Sarah Joy Byington (Labor + Justice, Somewhere You Feel Free) and editor Samuel Butler (Age Out, American Dollhouse).

The duo have since created four films together, the award winning short film Labor+Justice which premiered at HollyShorts in 2023, a comedic short film entitled Play Thing, Deserteur debuting later this year, and the short excerpt film Let Me Do Right By You based off of the feature screenplay of the same name.

DESERTEUR

After escaping a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied France, a refugee encounters a Nazi deserter standing on a landmine rigged to explode.

PLAY TRAILER

A black background with white hand-drawn feathers forming a heart shape, containing the text 'Official Selection Austin Film Festival 2025'.

A person standing in a grassy field with a forest in the background and a blue sky with clouds and birds flying overhead. Overlaid text indicates a movie poster titled 'Deserteur' directed by Sarah Joy Byington.

WATCH LABOR+JUSTICE BELOW

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WATCH LABOR+JUSTICE BELOW 〰️

LABOR + JUSTICE

Set in a dystopian United States, pregnant persons are required by law to give birth in front of a panel of judges. Failure to birth a living baby sentences the mother to immediate execution. The everyday, mundane births/deaths have zero effect on the judges as they devour their lunch like animals.

This dark and surreal, genre-bending drama contrasts a calamitous political system against women cruelly stripped of any reproductive rights and body autonomy. Featuring stunning black and white cinematography and powerful, gripping performances, Labor and Justice delivers a thought-provoking exploration of women’s rights intersecting with themes of race, class, and religion.

WINNER: Best Director - Austin Spotlight Film Festival 2024

WINNER: Best Dramatic Short - ATX Short Film Showcase 2024

WINNER: Best Director - ATX Short Film Showcase 2024

WINNER: Audience Award - ATX Short Film Showcase 2024

WINNER: Best Expressionist Film - Arthouse Film Festival 2024

WINNER: Audience Award - WIFT Austin Member Showcase 2024

Line graph showing data points over time with labels on axes, colored lines representing different categories, and a legend describing each category.

Black and white outdoor scene of a swamp or marsh with tall grasses and a tree line in the distance.

Letter X made of interwoven chains with a metallic appearance, on a white background.

Black-and-white map showing the United States with a pink heart in the southeastern region.

A black and white silhouette of a dog with a collar, walking to the left.

A close-up of an eagle with its wings extended, perched on a branch against a cloudy sky.

Black and white illustration of a city skyline with skyscrapers and buildings.

A black silhouette of a cat sitting and looking to the right against a white background.

A black silhouette of a laurel wreath with a blank space in the center.

Award-winning short film Labor and Justice from Better Half Pictures - Movie poster

Podcast cover art with a woman with brown hair and a gentle smile, set against a grey background. The title is 'rePRO Podcast, Vol. 23' with a focus on 'Labor + Justice'. Guest information includes Sara Joy Byington in conversation with Asha Dahya, and the website 'REPROFILM.ORG' at the bottom.

PLAY THING

A woman hires a specialist who uncovers the missing link in her and her partner's relationship.

Black oval emblem with laurel leaves border and gold border text that reads 'Best in Business 2023' in the center.

A black silhouette of a person holding a book, standing on a podium, with a large audience in front.

Austin Comedy Film Festival official selection for Fall 2024. Illustration of a smiling face wearing a jester hat with red and black stripes, and a red neck scarf, surrounded by a black laurel wreath.

Silhouette of a woman holding a basketball.

Poster for the film 'Play Thing' featuring images of a man and woman sitting in a car, with awards and the title prominently displayed.

LET ME DO RIGHT BY YOU

After the tragic loss of her husband and her job, Julia is left alone to raise her one-year-old, Phoebe. Eviction forces her to move back to her small town and back in with her estranged mother.

Let Me Do Right By You, portrays a raw and honest depiction of one woman’s struggle with grief, alcoholism, and postpartum depression. It is a dark, dramatic story with ironic humor peppered throughout. The short film is an excerpt drawn from the 105-page feature screenplay that is currently gaining momentum at festivals.