Aromcom

Tagline:
A platonic meet-cute

Logline:
While stranded in a small Icelandic town during a winter storm, a nosy woman develops a squish—a platonic crush—on the badass, aloof owner of a found GoPro who starts to open up once they discover they’re both on the asexual and aromantic spectrums.

Synopsis:
A travel center cafeteria in the small Icelandic town of Vik is packed with tourists stranded by a winter storm. Merida looks for the owner of a GoPro she and her friends found on a glacier near Jökulsárlón. And then... there’s Parker, looking just as intimidatingly cool as they did in their GoPro videos. Brandon and Trey force Merida to go talk with the person she wouldn’t shut up about in the car. But Parker initially seems aloof and uninterested. Parker’s and Merida’s story explores themes of isolation and community, bravery and fear, and how we can seem so different on the outside from how we feel on the inside.

  • Katrina Jackson
    Director
    Director/Editor: "Behind the Name: James Webb Space Telescope" Editor: Senses, Gloria's Birthday, Blind Justice
  • Katrina Jackson
    Writer
  • Catherine Bobalek
    Producer
    The Portsmouth Project, Cupcake, Crossfire, Lavende
  • Samantha Panchèvre
    Producer
  • Ziaire Mann
    Key Cast
    "Parker"
    Ultrablack
  • Elena Anderson
    Key Cast
    "Merida"
  • MarQuis Fair
    Key Cast
    "Trey"
  • Garrett Matthews
    Key Cast
    "Brandon"
    Loving, Federation Temple
  • Madeleine Becker
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romcom, LGBTQ
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 22, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Busboys and Poets Books Presents Aromcom
    Washington, DC
    United States
    June 22, 2025
    Film Premiere
  • ImageOut LGBTQ+ Film Festival
    Rochester, NY
    United States
    October 11, 2025
    New York Premiere
    Audience Award: Best Short Film
Director Biography - Katrina Jackson

Katrina comes from a space science and digital video production background. She was previously the lead video producer for the Hubble Space Telescope at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and was the lead editor for the Webby-award-winning live broadcasts surrounding the launch and commissioning of the James Webb Space Telescope. Katrina even has an asteroid named after her — 120353 Katrinajackson — for her video production work on the OSIRIS-REx mission. In 2022, she researched, wrote, produced, narrated, and edited “Behind the Name: James Webb Space Telescope” — a YouTube documentary for the JustSpace Alliance that aired on Democracy Now. The documentary discussed the experiences of queer astronomers, James Webb’s leadership during the Lavender Scare and Cold War, and why many people petitioned to change the name of the telescope. Currently, Katrina is an associate science producer for NHK and a freelance video editor and science communicator. She recently edited the narrative films SENSES (directed by Alyscia Cunningham), Gloria’s Birthday (directed by Robin Noonan-Price), and Blind Justice (directed by Morgen Whiteman). Katrina has been involved in community theatre over the years as a performer, director, choreographer, producer, and publicity coordinator. Aromcom is Katrina’s narrative film directorial and writing debut.

Website: Katrina-Jackson.com
Social Media: @Katrina13J

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Director Statement

We believe platonic relationships are just as important as romantic relationships, and that there are many ways to experience attraction and love. In a world often centered on couples, we want to show two characters on the aromantic and asexual spectrums who find companionship and connection.