short screenplay
‘tis the damn season
written & co-directed by Amelia Bartlett
Two childhood friends reluctantly reunite for the weekend, unsure if they have the right words to repair their broken relationship - and if the time has finally come to define it.
I imagined this story while listening to Taylor Swift’s song ’tis the damn season, from her evermore album. Tacky as it may seem to choose the same name, the title perfectly encapsulates the complex liminal time between Christmas and New Years, when many of us are avoiding the family we trekked home to see while facing ghosts from our past at every intersection.
In a perfect world, the film’s aesthetic and score would echo the original tune; ethereal and moody with an undertone of restrained passion. This is a film without dialogue so it relies on attention to detail from the whole team. Think: atmospheric audio, poetic cinematography, luscious post-processing, and two actresses who can hold space without holding conversation.
Won: Best Short Screenplay, Austin Under the Stars
Honorable Mention: Santa Barbara Diverse Voices Outreach