Mary Pat Bentel is a filmmaker who tells socially relevant stories that drive audiences to laughter and tears while challenging them to reconsider their convictions. On the television side, Mary Pat most recently Executive Produced both seasons of THIS CLOSE (Sundance Channel), a series about two best friends, who happen to be deaf, adulting in Los Angeles; which she built from the ground up with first time creators. The series was nominated for Peabody and GLAAD awards, and won the PGA George Sungha award. In film, she most recently produced the psychological thriller WHO INVITED THEM, about a housewarming party that turns into a home invasion; which The Hollywood Reporter named one of The Best Horror Movies of 2022. After launching countless careers, Mary Pat is taking her shot as a writer/director, starting with THE COCKROACH, inspired by her own story about rediscovering herself after enduring life-changing injuries.