Short · 2026 · released
Self Custody
When a struggling father discovers he unknowingly received a Bitcoin bonus back in 2014—now worth millions—his desperate attempt to reclaim the lost fortune sends him spiraling into a high-stakes world of encrypted wallets, forgotten passwords, and dark web danger. With time running out and his family on the line, he must outsmart hackers and confront secrets buried in his past.
Cast
The Bitcoin angle
Explores Bitcoin self-custody: owners bear sole responsibility for their coins. Depicts the real-world problem of millions in Bitcoin lost to forgetfulness or fraud each year. Inspired by a friend's experience losing millions in Bitcoin due to forgotten wallet access. The film illustrates both the advantages (decentralization, peer-to-peer, unregulated by government) and dangers (irreversible transactions, sole responsibility for security) of Bitcoin self-custody.
Trailer
If the embedded trailer does not load, Watch on YouTube →
Overview
Self Custody is a 31-minute Bitcoin action-thriller directed by Garrett Patten and Fernando Ferro, released March 3, 2026 across AVOD platforms (Tubi, Plex) and March 10, 2026 on Amazon Prime Video. Described as a “micro-feature” by Patten, the film blends high production values with a timely exploration of Bitcoin’s self-custody paradox: decentralization and individual sovereignty carry the burden of sole responsibility.
Plot & Themes
The film follows Scott (Garrett Patten), a struggling father and business owner facing financial troubles. When he discovers an old job had granted him a Bitcoin bonus in 2014—now worth millions—he sees a path to redemption. But there’s a catch: the Bitcoin is locked in a wallet, and he cannot remember the password.
Desperate to access his fortune, Scott turns to his former friend and boss (Adrian Grenier), who connects him with a clandestine operation specializing in breaking into crypto wallets. This decision sets off a cascade of disastrous consequences involving hackers, dark web threats, and the resurfacing of buried secrets.
The film’s central tension articulates the double edge of Bitcoin ownership: the technology that liberates users from centralized control simultaneously abandons them to the consequences of their own security failures. Inspired by a real case—a friend of Patten’s who lost millions in Bitcoin because he couldn’t access the wallet—Self Custody examines a phenomenon affecting millions globally: cryptocurrency lost to forgotten passwords, misplaced seed phrases, or simple forgetfulness.
Production & Cast
Directors: Garrett Patten (also star and producer; directorial debut) and Fernando Ferro (Emmy-nominated Venezuelan filmmaker)
Cast:
- Garrett Patten as Scott, the struggling father
- Adrian Grenier (Entourage) as a distant chaos agent and Scott’s former boss—a self-identified Bitcoin maxi who accepted the role partly for his personal Bitcoin convictions
- Henry Cejudo (Olympic gold medalist, two-time UFC champion) in his acting debut as one of the heavies behind the crypto wallet scheme
- Odette Annable (House) in a strong, persuasive performance
- Michael Monks, Patten’s acting teacher, in a key supporting role
Production Companies: TBK Productions, Tucci & Company, and LA Familia Productions
Distributor: Inaugural Entertainment (acquired at Sundance 2026)
Filming Location: Austin, Texas (shot primarily with local crew and equipment)
Reception & Visibility
The film premiered at SXSW in March 2026, where Patten participated in a THR Presents Q&A alongside Grenier and Cejudo. Critics and audiences praised its smart tension, high production values, and prescient exploration of Bitcoin’s central paradox. On Letterboxd, reviewers noted the film’s effective 31-minute pacing and Trezor hardware wallet integration as part of its broader self-custody narrative.
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
Audience Response: At SXSW, when polled on whether to expand Self Custody into a feature film or TV series, audience members voted almost unanimously for a television adaptation. Feature and series adaptations are currently in discussion with Hollywood studios.
Bitcoin Angle
Self Custody is one of the few narrative films that seriously examines Bitcoin’s ownership model and its human consequences. Rather than fetishizing Bitcoin as a technological marvel or a get-rich-quick scheme, the film presents both sides: the genuine freedom of peer-to-peer, government-resistant currency and the terrifying vulnerability of irreversible transactions and sole responsibility for security.
The film’s tagline—redemption, technology, and the price of lost access—captures the emotional core: Bitcoin offers escape from institutional control only for those capable of managing absolute self-custody. For millions of users, that capability is elusive.
Patten noted in interviews: “There are thousands of stories like this around Bitcoin.”
Future
A feature-length adaptation of Self Custody is reportedly in development, with interest from multiple Hollywood studios in expanding the narrative into either a feature film or limited series. The 31-minute short has proven compelling enough to warrant deeper exploration.
Last Verified: September 23, 2026
File Created: 2026-09-23
Verified Streaming Platforms: Amazon Prime Video (active), Tubi (active), Plex (active)
Sources
IMDbMovieMaker — Garrett Patten's 'Self Custody' Shows Two Sides of BitcoinHollywood Reporter — SXSW Q&A InterviewLetterboxdDeadline — Release Dates & Feature Adaptation
