Private Project

The Meaning of February

The Meaning of February is an experimental short film that weaves together poetry, movement, and landscape to explore grief's transformation through the lens of time itself. Set against the backdrop of a rural farm in winter, the film follows a young woman's journey through loss, using February as both metaphor and medium for processing profound grief. Through deeply personal narrative and the rhythm of seasons, The Meaning of February reveals that grief is not linear but cyclical - as eternal as the passage from winter to spring.

  • Peace Tree Collective
    Producer
  • Maile Crowder
    Performer
  • Kat Freya
    Writer
  • Brady Heinsoo
    Original Score
  • Cory Standridge
    Cinematography
  • Project Type:
    Experimental
  • Genres:
    Dance, Landscape, Short, Experimental, Poetry, Movement
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Blackmagic RAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Portland, OR
    United States
    February 22, 2025
    The Meaning of February: Film Premiere and Community Art Event
Director Biography

Based in Portland, Oregon, Peace Tree Collective is an artist-led organization dedicated to transforming grief through creative expression and community connection. Co-founded by Maile Crowder, Kat Freya, and Alicia Ralls in 2024, the collective welcomes all people to honor grief through creative practices. Peace Tree’s intimate, zero-budget film "The Meaning of February" emerges from their mission of weaving art and movement into collective healing. Through seasonal retreats, workshops, and community events, Peace Tree Collective creates sacred spaces where individuals can process loss while being witnessed and supported by others - recognizing that grief and healing are fundamental to our shared human experience.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Meaning of February emerged from the depths of raw grief, created in the wake of Maile Crowder's brother's passing at age fifteen. This project evolved as an intimate collaboration between Crowder (dancer), Kat Freya (writer), Cory Standridge (cinematographer), and Brady Heinsoo (composer), each contributing their unique artistic voice to honor how grief impacts all of our lives. Shot on a rural farm with zero budget, this work emerges through Peace Tree Collective's mission to heal from grief through community, nature, and art. We chose to work without conventional directorial roles, allowing the project to develop organically through shared creative decision-making. This approach reflects our belief that grief, like art, belongs not to a single voice but to the collective human experience.