When the Party's Over

Party now, apocalypse later.
What would you do if the world was about to end? These friends decide to throw a party, but not all of them are ready to go. Some are sad, or angry, or in denial, and some even willing to bargain with fate—all before the fire comes crashing in.

  • Peer Wahlquist
    Director
    Trapped in a Musical, The Making of a Winter Assembly Film, Sammy Shepherd is Missing, The Only Night of Your Life, The Norman Show, A BearCastmas Carol
  • Emelia Auster
    Director
    The Making of a Winter Assembly Film, Sammy Shepherd is Missing, BearCast Goes to Hollywood
  • Peer Wahlquist
    Producer
  • Emelia Auster
    Writer
    The Making of a Winter Assembly Film, Sammy Shepherd is Missing, The Only Night of Your Life, Suits and Fruits, The Norman Show, Trapped in a Musical
  • Peer Wahlquist
    Editor
    Trapped in a Musical, The Making of a Winter Assembly Film, The Only Night of Your Life, Sammy Shepherd is Missing, A BearCastmas Carol, BearCast Goes to Hollywood, Suits and Fruits, The Norman Show, The Fourth Cup
  • Lia Grodzinski
    Key Cast
    "Dani"
    Trapped in a Musical, a BearCastmas Carol
  • Julie McEvoy
    Key Cast
    "Maggie"
    A BearCastmas Carol, Trapped in a Musical, BearCast Goes to Hollywood
  • Rowan Watson
    Key Cast
    "Polly"
    Trapped in a Musical, BearCast Goes to Hollywood
  • Mandy Cacic
    Key Cast
    "Ash"
    Sammy Shepherd is Missing, A BearCastmas Carol, The Norman Show, BearCast Goes to Hollywood
  • Aviva Goad
    Key Cast
    "Georgia"
  • Zach Kritzer
    Key Cast
    "Alex"
    Sammy Shepherd is Missing
  • Charlotte Rouse
    Key Cast
    "Clara"
    The Making of a Winter Assembly Film, The Only Night of Your Life, Trapped in a Musical, Sammy Shepherd is Missing, A BearCastmas Carol, BearCast Goes to Hollywood
  • Madison Daum
    Key Cast
    "Heather"
    Trapped in a Musical, Sammy Shepherd is Missing, BearCast Goes to Hollywood
  • Laura Sheldon
    Assistant Writers
    The Fourth Cup
  • Dante Fopoussi
    Assistant Writers
    The Fourth Cup
  • Zach Kritzer
    Assistant Writers
  • Ethan Martin
    Assistant Writers
    Tilar Dryphtt: The Making of Dyphtin'
  • Aristeides Theodoropoulos
    Camera Operators
  • Peer Wahlquist
    Camera Operators
  • Ewan Mann
    Sound Capture
  • Ethan Martin
    Sound Capture
  • Charlotte Rouse
    Production Design
  • Beatrice McBoyle
    Production Design
  • Lia Grodzinski
    Production Design
  • Ashton Poirier
    Production Design
  • Aristeides Theodoropoulos
    Production Design
  • Madison Daum
    Production Design
  • Rowan Watson
    Production Design
  • Peer Wahlquist
    Production Design
  • Emelia Auster
    Production Design
  • Peer Wahlquist
    Storyboarding
  • Laura Sheldon
    Storyboarding
  • Dante Fopoussi
    Storyboarding
  • Emelia Auster
    Storyboarding
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Sci-fi, Coming of Age
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 16, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    20 CAD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Peer Wahlquist, Emelia Auster

Peer Wahlquist has been directing short films throughout high school and before. He founded Stratford District Secondary School's award-winning film club, BearCast, and has directed nine short films in this club. He is an aspiring director and editor set to pursue a bachelor's degree in film at Sheridan College.

Emelia Auster has always shown an interest in film, even before her directing journey at Stratford District Secondary School. Emelia is a talented writer at heart, and has written every script for BearCast, the school's award-winning film club. Emelia is set to pursue English literature at the University of Edinburgh.

The two work closely and have created many films together.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Many of the cast and crew of When the Party's Over are in grade twelve. And for many of us, graduation feels like the end of the world we know—and come September, we'll be in new cities, with new friends, school, and lifestyle.

So, what do we do now in our last days of this world? Try to do something memorable? Abandon everything as it will be gone soon anyway? Or do we not change anything? All we know is that this, this life we have, works. So why can't we go out this way, knowing we were happy the way things are?

When the Party's Over is not a story about the apocalypse. It's a story about real friendships. Friendships on a time limit. One that's ticking away in front of our own eyes.