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Age of Dysphoria (2019)

A young woman tracks down an elderly man in order to make amends for the tragedy that devastated his life.

  • Jessica Petelle
    Director
    All Good (Short Film), Ellie and Sam (Short Film)
  • Zoe Robyn
    Writer
    Gator Farm (Short Film), BoltCutters in Paris (Short Film), Hawaii Five-0
  • Brad Turner
    Producer
    24, Homeland, Daredevil, Hawaii Five-0, VWARS
  • Emily Andrews
    Producer
    Jessica Jessica, Orchid, Stuck
  • Laura Vandervoort
    Producer
    V, Bitten, Smallville, VWARS
  • Jessica Petelle
    Producer
    Hawaii Five-0, The Shannara Chronicles, VWARS
  • Gordon Pinsent
    Key Cast
    "Fred "
    Away From Her, The Shipping News, Two Lovers and a Bear
  • Laura Vandervoort
    Key Cast
    "Fin"
    V, Bitten, Smallville, VWARS
  • Rainbow Sun Francks
    Key Cast
    "Wes"
    Jett, The Umbrella Academy, The Strain
  • Nola Augustson
    Key Cast
    "Sylvie"
    Cinderella Man, Reign, Damnation
  • Jill Frappier
    Key Cast
    "Stella"
    Polar, Indian Horse, Handmaids Tale,
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 7, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • 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 - Jessica Petelle

Jessica Petelle (she/her) is a Director and a Producer of film, television and digital content. Her debut film, ALL GOOD, world premiered at Palm Springs International Short Fest. AGE OF DYSPHORIA, starring Laura Vandervoort and Gordon Pinsent, allowed Jessica to utilize her unique skill set of working in action drama television to the short film medium. AGE OF DYSPHORIA is currently on the festival circuit. Jessica has been selected by HBO as one of ten emerging directors to participate in the 2020 HBOAccess Directing Fellowship.
As a digital content producer, she worked with Merman and Ogilvy to produce the award-winning interactive digital film OUTAGE for IBM, garnering 4 Global Ace Awards. Other clients include work for Volkswagen, Comedy Central, GaiamTV.com, Fox, SyFy, BlackBoxTV among others.
Over the past several years, she has felt the embrace of the vibrant filmmaking community in Canada, dedicating time and talent toward international co-production. She has served as a production consultant on FOX’s WAYWARD PINES, and SYFY/SPACE Channel series BITTEN, as a Co- Producer for two seasons of THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES for Viacom, and as a Co-Executive Producer for Netflix Original Series, V- WARS.

A graduate of Indiana University with degrees in Theatre and Telecommunications, Jessica represents alumni in the music and entertainment industry on the board of the Indiana University Alumni Association LA. She recently completed the Women in the Directors Chair Career Advancement Module in Toronto and is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, Producers Guild of America serving on the International Committee, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, Alliance of Women Directors, and Women in Film and Television (LA and Toronto).

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Director Statement

I met Laura Vandervoort while consulting on the pilot episode of BITTEN. She was, by all accounts, the only actor who could play the role of Elena - fierce, bold, beautiful and bad ass. We maintained our friendship over the years and when our paths crossed again on a new series, we spent any free moments we had discussing ways to collaborate. I was honored when she shared the idea for AGE OF DYSPHORIA and couldn’t wait to get working on it. We met with writer Zoe Robyn who turned the idea into a script, and then the ladies of FilmCoop came on board to produce. But, when Gordon Pinsent agreed to join us, our team was made whole.

At its core, Age of Dysphoria is a story of redemption. Finley and Fred are at different points in their life cycle, but their shared trauma and inability to process it brings them together for an unexpected conclusion. I truly hope everyone who watches this film feels the passion and sincerity that we brought to making it.