Experiencing Interruptions?

SAUDADE

On the day a girl plans to take her own life, she’s confronted by the very person who sent her spiraling to begin with.

  • Ashlyn Nolan
    Director
  • Ashlyn Nolan
    Writer
  • Ashlyn Nolan
    Producer
  • Ashlyn Nolan
    Key Cast
    "Cassie"
  • Joshua Scott
    Key Cast
    "James"
  • Anna Secor
    Key Cast
    "Marissa"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Saudade
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Mental Health, Horror
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 19, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The College of New Jersey
  • NYC Mental Health & Wellness Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    May 3, 2024
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Mental Health Warrior Film Festival
    Madison, Wisconsin
    United States
    May 17, 2024
    Wisconsin Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Golden Door International Film Festival
    Jersey City, New Jersey
    United States
    June 21, 2024
    New Jersey Premiere
    Best Student Film
  • EB Indie Film Festival
    East Brunswick, New Jersey
    United States
    August 3, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Ashlyn Nolan

Hi! I'm Ashlyn! I've been making movies for as long as I can remember. As soon as I got my hands on a camera (starting with my 3DS!) I began to film and document everything around me. You could find nine year-old me dragging my little sister and all of my cousins into my insane productions (as soon as I got my hands on an iPod Touch.)

Now, at 20 years old, I've written and starred in a plethora of student skits, films, and other productions, though SAUDADE is my directional debut and the first film that I've ever had full creative control over!

I'm a queer, New Jersey local and currently an undergraduate student at The College of New Jersey, where I study World Languages & Linguistics and Communication Studies. Balancing school and my creative endeavors has definitely been tricky, but also immensely rewarding, as some of my best friends in college are now the people who appear (voluntarily, kinda) in my projects.

My inspiration for everything that I do boils down to my love for humanity. Film is such a wonderfully human creation, and the magic of filmmaking brings people together from all different walks of life. This is just the beginning of my journey as a filmmaker, and I can't wait to see where this adventure takes me!

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My goal with SAUDADE is to raise awareness about mental illness in a way that's respectful to those that experience it. This premise is incredibly important to me, because my mother, my inspiration and hero, has been living with severe mental illness her entire life. Many of my best friends, the people who make me smile every day without fail, struggle to get up in the morning. This film is dedicated to them. Their input, as well as the input of mental health professionals, meant the world to me during SAUDADE’s creation.

As a filmmaker, I want to foster an inclusive space for anyone that's willing to create. Nearly the ENTIRE cast and crew of SAUDADE consists of women, people of color, as well as mentally ill, neurodivergent, and queer individuals. Prior to SAUDADE, most of them had never taken part in filmmaking before. Many of my wonderful friends are studying in STEM, education, business, and so many other fields. I genuinely believe that movie magic is what brought all of us together.