SURPRISE!
From the Archives
•
Comedy, Drama, Short Films, 24-Jul-2024
On the evening of her birthday, a young woman hopes to unwind in solitude but is disrupted by her best friend’s good intentions. Caroline Falls writes and directs “SURPRISE!,” a dramatic comedy contending with complex friendships and projected expectations. Kayla, the birthday girl, returns home for a quiet night only to discover that her friend has taken the liberty to set up and host a surprise celebration in Kayla’s own apartment. She’s also invited some “friends” that Kayla may or may not actually know. Baffled by the surprise, Kayla manages to keep it together and entertain the unwanted celebration. That is, until, one too many boundaries are crossed in her personal space and she’s forced to react. Built around strong performances and creeping tension, it’s a sharply drawn cautionary tale on tenuous friendships and forced birthday celebrations. -JM. Director/Writer/Producer: Caroline Falls. Cast: Kayla Foster (producer), Ellyn Jameson (producer), Sarah Grace White, Taylor Trensch, Kenton Chen, Stephen Friedrich. DP: Yoni Shrira. Editor/Producer: Rich Costales. Color: Andre Rivas.
Up Next in From the Archives
-
Limerence
On a laid-back summer day, a young woman spends some time with her casual partner. Irmak Akgur directs “Limerence,” a slice-of-life portrait that flows in uninhibited vignettes. Minimally plotted but tonally sharp, Akgur’s film captures a couple of free spirits in their element — spending the day...
-
Destroyer
A man's compulsion to know his partner's secrets leads into underworld contact with the non-human. Judd Myers directs "Destroyer,” a psychological horror piece where consequence lurks behind insecurity and skepticism. Joan has evening plans with a friend, but her boyfriend, Cary suspects otherwis...
-
Daughter of Wands
On an afternoon at a skatepark, a 17-year-old girl makes an effort to fit in with her edgier friends while also tending to her shaky relationship with her younger sister. Emma Hall-Martin directs “Daughter of Wands,” a coming-of-age story set in the suburbs about teen pressures and the complexiti...
