Ephemera (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Ephemera is a 2026 action science-fiction film about a national security agent whose pyrotechnic abilities become complicated by a devastating fear of fire. After experimental procedures give her new powers, she returns to action while pursuing revenge against those responsible for destroying her life.

Ephemera is a 2026 action science-fiction film written and directed by Bil Richardson. Set in a strange future shaped by advanced technology, it follows a national security agent whose unusual abilities and traumatic injuries place her at the center of a revenge-driven story.

Anita Shekar Akerkar leads the cast as Ephemera and also plays Ivy. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes, with a premise that combines pyrotechnic powers, experimental procedures and futuristic action.

Ephemera movie details

Story without spoilers

The central character is a national security agent with pyrotechnic abilities who is severely burned during battle. Although she survives and returns to action, she develops a fear of fire that directly conflicts with the nature of her powers.

Seeking a way to overcome her limitations, she undergoes experimental procedures designed to give her new abilities. Her return to the field is also tied to a personal mission: finding revenge against the people who destroyed her life. The supplied premise places the story in a future setting connected to artificial intelligence, virtual reality, video games and cyberpunk technology.

What to expect

Ephemera is positioned as a compact action and science-fiction film built around a heightened futuristic premise. Its ingredients include a cyberpunk-influenced world, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, video-game elements and a protagonist whose pyrotechnic powers are complicated by trauma and fear.

The story also brings together military-style action, experimental power enhancement and a revenge objective. The film’s premise has been described as reminiscent of science-fiction classics such as Blade Runner and Ready Player One, providing context for its futuristic and technology-focused setting without indicating that it follows either film’s story.

Cast and creative team

Anita Shekar Akerkar plays both Ephemera and Ivy. Steven Kelly appears as Director Jim Cabot, while Sky Soliel plays Sergeant. Bil Richardson, who wrote and directed the film, also appears as Bald Man.

• Anita Shekar Akerkar as Ephemera
• Anita Shekar Akerkar as Ivy
• Steven Kelly as Director Jim Cabot
• Sky Soliel as Sergeant
• Bil Richardson as Bald Man

Release and production context

Ephemera is listed as a 2026 film with a release date of September 4, 2026. It is classified as Action and Science Fiction and runs for 1 hour and 27 minutes. Bil Richardson is credited as both director and writer. The supplied information does not specify a country, spoken language or production company.

Movies Dock view

With its futuristic setting, unusual central ability and revenge-focused premise, Ephemera centers on the conflict between power and fear. Its short runtime and mix of action, cyberpunk concepts, artificial intelligence and virtual reality give the film a clearly defined science-fiction profile without revealing how its story concludes.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb