Anne

Two actresses have made it to the final callbacks for the role of a lifetime: to play Anne Frank in an upcoming staged production. But as the topic of color-blind casting makes its way into the audition room, the controversial question emerges: who is best suited to portray Anne Frank?

  • Desiree D Abeyta
    Director
    An Invitation to Tea, Not It, FabUless
  • Adi Eshman
    Writer
  • India McKinney
    Producer
    The Truck, The Drive Thru Therapist, Just a Step Away, For Forever
  • Natasha Roland
    Key Cast
    "Lauren"
  • Samanthia Nixon
    Key Cast
    "Mia"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Social Commentary
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 31, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital - Alexa Mini
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • City of New York Artist Corp Grant Recipient
    New York
    United States
    Project Grant
  • Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    April 15, 2022
    Audience Choice Award / Diversity in the Arts Award
  • Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
    Philadelphia
    United States
    November 12, 2022
    Audience Choice Award
  • Mill Valley Film Festival
    Mill Valley
    United States
    October 7, 2022
  • Austin Jewish Film Festival
    Austin
    United States
    November 12, 2022
    Texas Premiere
  • Boston Jewish Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    November 8, 2022
  • Joyce Forum Short Film Festival
    San Diego
    United States
    October 14, 2022
  • San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    July 26, 2022
    US Premiere
  • Toronto Jewish Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    June 16, 2022
    World Premiere
  • Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
    Atlanta
    United States
    February 8, 2023
  • Denver Jewish Film Festival
    Denver
    United States
    March 12, 2023
  • Sacramento Jewish Film Festival
    Sacramento
    United States
    March 17, 2023
Director Biography - Desiree D Abeyta

Desirée is a multifaceted Hispanic Creative born and raised in Las Vegas, NV (yes, hard to believe, people are actually born there), known for exploring feminist and social themes through a magical/hopeful lens. She is the proud Executive Producer of the Telly Award-Winning (2020) comedic web series “FabUless“, which was also nominated for eight Indie Series Awards, including Best Comedic Series. Her first venture into filmmaking as a writer/director, “An Invitation to Tea” (for which Desiree was one of 5 recipients of the inaugural Inwood Art Works Filmmakers Grant), has garnered several Audience Choice, Excellence in Filmmaking, and Best New Director awards at various festivals. Her second film “Anne” explores the racial tensions of color blind casting and questions the true importance of story telling when a white Jewish actress and a Black actress compete for the role of Anne Frank.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Now that we are finally in a place within our industry where the call for diversity is at the forefront, I think it is important to propel the conversation to include nuances like the ones in ANNE. Is the push for diversity being narrowed down to simply diversity of culture, ignoring the diversity within culture? And/Or, as Hamilton showed us, is there relevance in opening up our minds to how a story is applicable outside the boundaries of historical accuracy? When casting someone like Anne: how she is best remembered? As a monument cast in stone? Or as a persona with impressions that are most impactful when left open to interpretation?

This is what we aim to discuss in ANNE, through the eyes of two women both “right” for the role.