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Life of Riley

Riley’s world is finally starting to feel safe again—until one moment of doubt sets off a chain of events that could destroy everything she loves. RILEY is a gripping, intimate story of love, trust, and the secrets that can change everything in an instant.

  • Lisa Datz
    Director
    As Actor - TV: Elementary w Lucy Liu, Castle, Bones, Law & Order, Hope & Faith, The West Wing; Film: Time Out of Mind (Richard Gere/Oren Moverman), The Perfect Holiday (Queen Latifah, Gabrielle Union); Broadway/Off-B'way: Titanic (original cast), The Full Monty (opp. Patrick Wilson/original cast), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (w John Cameron Mitchell); LA/SXSW: For the Record: Tarantino
  • Lisa Datz
    Writer
    Please see DIRECTORS
  • Erin Glass
    Producer
    NBC, CBS, A&E, Nickelodeon, VICE, Yahoo!, UCWarrior Poets, GIVE (NBC - Emmy Award), ​ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (feature film), ​AMERICAN TAKEDOWN​ (A&E), NIGHTGOWNS (Quibi), ​LOSING IT with John Stamos​ (Yahoo), ​A DAY IN THE LIFE (Hulu), ​HALO (Nickelodeon), CRAFTED (short film - Amazon), ​MANSOME (Yahoo)
  • Lisa Datz
    Producer
    Please see DIRECTORS
  • Dan Lawler
    Producer
    CLEMENCY (2019 Sundance Grand Jury Prize), THE FRIEND​, JUNGLELAND (Scott Free Productions), SILENT RETREAT(​ Miramax), NIGHTSTALKER (Netflix)
  • Silas Weir Mitchell
    Key Cast
    "Simon"
    PARADISE FOUND, GRIMM (NBC), PRISON BREAK (FOX)
  • Sergio Carlo
    Key Cast
    "Juan Carlos"
    Film: THE SUICIDE SQUAD , Andy García's THE LOST CITY opposite Michelle Rodriguez, TRÓPICO DE SANGRE, CUBAN BLOOD w actor Gael García Bernal, LA MALDICIÓN DEL PADRE CARDONA (The Curse of Father Cardona) opposite Zoe Saldana
  • Dionne Gipson
    Key Cast
    "Danielle"
    FOUND (NBS), CRIMINAL MINDS, NCIS, GREENLEAF
  • Akende Munalula
    Key Cast
    "Jeremy"
    DEPUTY (FOX), COUNTERPART (Starz), Tyler Perry’s Boo2; A Madea Halloween
  • Lisa Datz
    Key Cast
    "Riley Taylor"
    FBI: MOST WANTED (CBS), ELEMENTARY (CBS), BONES (Fox), CASTLE (ABC), "The Perfect Holiday" (film)
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Los Angeles International Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    November 2, 2023
    U.S and Los Angeles Premiere
    Jury Prize Winner - Best Short Film
  • Edmonton Short Film Festival
    Edmonton Alberta
    Canada
    October 15, 2023
    World & Canadian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • City of Angels Film Festival
    Sherman Oaks
    United States
    November 9, 2023
    Nominee - Best Short Film
  • New York Short Film Festival
    New York, NY
    United States
    November 15, 2023
    New York Premiere
    Award Finalist - Best Short Film
  • London Independent Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    April 20, 2024
    European Premiere
    Winner - Best International Short Film
  • Chicago Women Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    June 7, 2024
    Chicago Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
    Idyllwild
    United States
    March 7, 2024
    Winner - Best Ensemble Cast, Indie Spirit Award
  • Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival
    Uxbridge
    United States
    July 5, 2024
    Official Selection
  • California Women's Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    January 5, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Austin International Film Festival
    Austin
    United States
    April 27, 2024
    Texas Premiere
    Nominee - Best Short Film, Best Director (Lisa Datz), Best Lead Actress (Lisa Datz), Best Supporting Actor (Silas Weir Mitchell), Best Supporting Actress (Dionne Gipson), Best Score (Carson Rammelt)
  • Sunscreen Film Festival
    St. Petersburg
    United States
    April 25, 2024
    Florida Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Winter Film Festival NYC
    New York
    United States
    February 24, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Chandler International Film Festival
    Chandler
    United States
    January 7, 2024
    Arizona Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Romford Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    May 24, 2024
    Award Finalist - Best Short Film
Director Biography - Lisa Datz

Lisa Datz is an award-winning actor, director, writer, and producer, hailed by American Film Market’s Just Cinema International as “a dynamic force in the entertainment industry.” Her critically acclaimed directorial debut, LIFE OF RILEY, has earned widespread festival recognition—winning the Jury Prize for Best Short Film at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, Best International Short at the London Independent Film Festival, the Indie Spirit Award and Best Ensemble Cast at the Idyllwild Festival of Cinema—and was an Award Finalist at the New York Short Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and Romford Film Festival (UK).

A University of Michigan B.F.A. graduate, Lisa originated roles in the Broadway hits TITANIC and THE FULL MONTY and starred Off-Broadway in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (opposite John Cameron Mitchell). Her television credits include FBI: Most Wanted, Elementary, Bones, and Castle, and she is widely known in the gaming world for creating the role of Jessica LeClerk in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Named one of AFM’s “Rising Female Directors to Discover” and “10 Filmmakers to Watch” at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, Lisa recently shadowed acclaimed television director Ken Girotti (FBI: Most Wanted), further expanding her directing career. She divides her time between Los Angeles and New York.

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Director Statement

LIFE OF RILEY is, at its heart, a love story—one that asks what happens when old wounds and unconscious fears collide with the person we love most. While intimate and personal, the story reflects larger truths about trust, trauma, and the invisible biases that shape how we see each other. As the writer as well, it taps into themes that have only become (for better or worse) more timely now.

Set in New York City, it follows two people from different cultural backgrounds—deeply in love, but caught in the fragile space between hope and fear. There are no clear heroes or villains here, only real people doing their best in moments that can change everything.