Out of My Comfort Zone

Josh and Rachel's close friendship is tested when a high school cyberbully with a hidden past threatens to expose secrets in this feature film musical comedy about finding the courage to be who you are.

  • Ivy Vale
    Writer
  • Rick Reil
    Writer
  • Ivy Vale
    Director
  • Deb Robicheau
    Producer
  • Dalila Costa-Leroy
    Producer
  • Whitney Dunn
    Producer
  • Ivy Vale
    Producer
  • Rick Reil
    Producer
  • Will Ehren
    Key Cast
    "Josh"
  • Violet Vale
    Key Cast
    "Rachel"
  • Sara Kinney
    Director of Photography
  • Whitney Dunn
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Musical, Family, Comedy, LGBTQ
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 24, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    500,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • UK Film Festival Feature Script Competition 2021
    London, UK
    Winner, Best Family Feature Screenplay
  • Hollywood International Diversity Film Festival 2021

    Winner, Best Feature Screenplay
  • WRPN Women's International Film Festival 2021

    Winner, Gold Award for Scriptwriting
  • Brite International Film Festival 2021

    Winner, Best Feature Screenplay
  • ScreenCraft Film Fund 2021

    Finalist
  • ScreenCraft Family Screenplay Competition 2021

    Finalist, in consideration
  • Cannes Film Awards 2021

    Winner, Best First Time Screenwriter
  • Cannes Film Awards 2021

    Winner, Best LGBTQ Screenplay
  • LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival 2021

    Winner, Platinum Award (Screenplay)
  • International World Film Awards 2021

    Winner, Best First Time Screenwriter
  • Dallas International Film Festival Screenplay Elements of Story Fall 2020

    Finalist
  • Hollywood Blvd. Film Festival

    April 30, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Canadian Diversity Film Festival

    April 30, 2021
    Official Selection
  • New York Cinematography Award (for Best Screenplay)

    April 30, 2021
    Finalist
  • Inroads Fellowship (4th) 2021

    Quarterfinalist
  • Paris Play Film Festival 2021

    Winner, Best Feature Screenplay
  • New York Independent Cinema Awards 2021

    Official Selection (screenplay)
  • Prix Royal Paris Screenplay Awards - Pantheon, 2021

    Nomine au Pantheon (current)
  • Big Apple Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    November 8, 2023
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Manhattan Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    June 18, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Golden State Film Festival
    Hollywood
    United States
    February 28, 2024
    West Coast
    Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium, Official Selection
  • Boomtown Film & Musical Festival
    Beaumont
    United States
    February 24, 2024
    Texas Premiere
    Official Selection/Finalist Best Feature Film
  • Stratford on Avon
  • Manhattan Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    June 18, 2024
  • Festival of Cinema NYC
    Forest Hills
    United States
    August 2, 2024
    Queens premiere
Distribution Information
  • Giulia Prenna, Mind the Gap Productions
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Ivy Vale

Ivy Vale is a multi-award winning writer, musician, artist and native New Yorker. She wrote the book, lyrics and co-wrote the music (with husband, Rick Reil) for Out Of My Comfort Zone, which premiered off-Broadway, co-directed by Vale, and in London, UK. Ms. Vale's work appears in One Minute Plays: A Practical Guide to Tiny Theater (Routledge, 2017). Her plays have been selected and produced by GI60: The World’s First International 60 Second Playwriting Festival, in New York and the UK. She is a singer/songwriter and founding member of The Wyld Olde Souls, a female-fronted psychedelic folk band, including The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) and The Indie Music Channel. Her songs have been included in film and theatre.

Rick Reil is an accomplished singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and recording engineer. He is co-writer (with Ivy Vale) of the award-winning musical Out of My Comfort Zone. He is a member of The Grip Weeds, a popular psychedelic pop-rock band who have garnered significant radio/internet airplay, including songs on Little Steven’s Underground Garage and SiriusXM. The song “What’s in Your Mind” (written by Rick) was licensed by CBS Television to promote its critically acclaimed series Criminal Minds

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Director Statement

Out of My Comfort Zone is a coming of age, coming out, family musical comedy set in a NYC school. It was created to address the bullying epidemic, for 'tweens, teens and families to watch together, to open up dialogues about gender and sexuality, and provide a safe way for kids to talk to their parents about how they are treated at school. Our mission is to promote positive social change through diverse, relatable characters, humor and original music.