Experiencing Interruptions?

Apocalypse Love Story

After losing her father during an undisclosed apocalyptic event that wipes out all of humanity, Samantha finds an abandoned military base where she lives in complete solitude. Having learned how to hunt and trap animals from her father, Sam is in every sense of the word a survivor. While foraging for food in one of the hundreds of abandoned military houses, Sam encounters an 8 year old boy named James. After showing James an old abandoned movie theater and sharing candy and stories with him, the two become friends, exploring this strange land of abandoned buildings together. As the two share more and more about themselves, their hopes, their fears, their secrets, over time their friendship evolves into something more. When their supply of fresh water begins to run dry, they are faced with the reality that their oasis on this military base has always been temporary. Eventually they would have to leave, for good.

  • Justin Wilder Neese
    Director
    My Melancholy Baby, Hummingbird, Dopamine, Glass of Scotch, I Miss Her Too
  • Justin Wilder Neese
    Writer
    My Melancholy Baby, Hummingbird, Dopamine, Glass of Scotch, I Miss Her Too
  • Justin Wilder Neese
    Producer
    My Melancholy Baby, Hummingbird, Dopamine, Glass of Scotch, I Miss Her Too
  • Kayden Brenna Tokarski
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
    My Melancholy Baby, I Miss Her Too
  • Byron Pierre McCray
    Key Cast
    "James"
    South Central Love, Station 19
  • Katherine Sage Kirkpatrick
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Holland"
    Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Dexter, Donna Stronger Than Pretty,
  • Jena Michelle Sims
    Key Cast
    "Adult Sam"
    Now and Then, Sharknado, Kill the Messenger
  • Corey Calliet
    Key Cast
    "Adult James"
    Creed, Black Panther, Fantastic Four, Starwars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
  • Scout Lord
    Key Cast
    "Marianna"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Science Fiction, Apocalypse
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 3 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K, RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Tournadeau Music and Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • The Independent Film and Art Festival

    Winner: Best Drama
  • Ekurhuleni International Film Festival-EIFF 22

    Nominee (Best Director)
  • Busan New Wave Short Film Festival

    Finalist
  • SATX Cinema Showdown

    Official Selection
  • Ekurhuleni International Film Festival-EIFF 22

    Nominee (Best International Feature Film)
  • LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV & AWARDS - World Cine Fest

    Best Feature Film
  • Las Cruces International Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • Monza Film Fest

    Award Winner
  • Actress Universe

    Winner: Best Actress
  • Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival - HRIFF 2023

    Official Selection
  • AmiCorti International Film Festival

    Winner: Best Film
  • Denver Monthly Film Awards

    Finalist: Best Feature Film
  • Georgia Latino International Film Festival 2023

    Honorable Mention - Best Feature Film
  • Canada's Yes! Let's Make a Movie Film Festival

    Nominee - Best Feature Film
  • Phoenixville Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • LANE DOC FEST

    Official Selection
  • Cinema of the World International Film Festival

    Winner: Best Motion Picture (Feature)
  • Leonid Khromov International Film Festival

    Winner: Best Feature Film
  • Aasha International Film Festival

    Winner: Best Feature Film
  • Long Key International Film Awards 2023

    Winner: Best Feature Film
  • Long Key International Film Awards 2023

    Winner: Best Screenplay
  • Kwanzaa Film Festival 2023

    Official Selection
  • SATX Cinema Showdown

    Official Selection
  • Kalaburagi International Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • Venus Italian International Film Festival

    Honorable Mention: Director Feature
  • Kalaburagi International Film Festival

    Semi-Finalist
  • Fort Smith International Film Festival

    Winner: Best Narrative Feature Film
  • A Pecan Pickling Film Festival

    Winner: Best Dramatic Feature
  • Hunter Mountain Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • Southeast Asian International Film Festival '24

    Official Selection
  • Dream Catchers Film Festival

    Nominee - Best Director
  • Dream Catchers Film Festival

    Finalist: Best Director
Director Biography - Justin Wilder Neese

Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Justin Wilder Neese moved to Los Angeles in March of 2014. Entranced by the abundant creativity found in Los Angeles, Justin began gaining experience on film sets as a production assistant. Over the years, Justin developed a desire to write and direct his own film projects, the first being a multiple award winning short film entitled "Glass of Scotch" completed in May 2019. Justin continued writing, directing and producing award winning films such as Hummingbird, Dopamine, My Melancholy Baby, and I Miss Her Too. Justin recently finished production for his first feature length film entitled "Apocalypse Love Story" which has just completed the post production stage, set to be released in the summer of 2023. Justin's current focus is producing and directing a film written by Cate Whitlatch and Haley Leanne Johnson entitled "How to Kill a Butterfly". Production began in July 2022 and is currently in the post production phase.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

To create original pieces of art through the medium of film that shed light on the unseen niches of society and provoke audiences to ask unanswerable questions.