Experiencing Interruptions?

The Next Chapter

The Next Chapter follows Sophie, a woman in her early thirties rebuilding her life after surviving an abusive relationship. Therapy helps her survive the days, but the past still lingers—in sudden memories, quiet panic, and the constant effort it takes to feel safe in the world again.

Michael, newly divorced and emotionally unmoored, is trying to start over himself. When the two meet through mutual friends, their connection is not immediate romance, but something quieter and more fragile: understanding. As they spend time together, a careful friendship forms—one built on patience, respect, and unspoken wounds.

But healing is rarely linear. As Sophie struggles with triggers from her past and Michael grapples with his own emotional damage, their bond is tested by fear, miscommunication, and the weight of experiences neither fully knows how to share. What begins as comfort slowly becomes something deeper—and more frightening.

The Next Chapter is an intimate, character-driven drama about trauma, trust, and the courage it takes to let someone see you after you’ve been broken. It’s not a story about fixing the past, but about learning how to live honestly with it—and choosing whether opening your heart again is worth the risk.

  • Phillip Lehn
    Director
  • Phillip Lehn
    Writer
  • Phillip Lehn
    Producer
  • Katherine Tevepaugh
    Key Cast
    "Sophie"
  • Phillip Lehn
    Key Cast
    "Michael"
  • Bobby Pimentel
    Key Cast
    "Riley Storm"
  • Patti Roehrig
    Key Cast
    "Michael's Mom"
  • Jessica Barrett
    Key Cast
    "Erin"
  • Connor Johnson
    Key Cast
    "Bryan"
  • Emily Schnars
    Key Cast
    "Toni Keller (Riley's Manager)"
  • Ry Travers
    Key Cast
    "Ethan Hardy (Riley's Head of Security)"
  • Phillip Lehn
    Editor
  • Gavin Brookshire
    Cinematography
  • Thaddeus Shell
    Cinematography
  • Tyler McKenzie
    Graphic Compositor
  • Phillip Lehn
    Sound Design & Post
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Romance
  • Runtime:
    2 hours 27 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 12, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Thilsri International Film Festival

    January 18, 2026
    BEST FEATURE FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST EDITING, BEST CONCEPT
  • Athvikvaruni International Film Festival

    January 18, 2026
    BEST DEBUT FEATURE FILM, BEST PRODUCER, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
  • Tamizhagam International Film Festival

    January 22, 2026
    BEST DEBUT FEATURE FILM, BEST ACTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY
  • Rome Prisma Film Award

    February 5, 2026
    MONTHLY PICK
  • Luleå International Film Festival

    February 6, 2026
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • First-Time Sessions Volume 2

    February 12, 2026
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
Director Biography - Phillip Lehn

Phillip Lehn is an award-winning filmmaker who has been active in North Carolina’s local film community for over a decade. Working across a range of independent productions, he has developed a hands-on approach to storytelling rooted in performance, character, and emotional realism. With The Next Chapter, Lehn makes his feature-length directorial debut, serving as director, writer, actor, and editor. The film reflects his commitment to intimate, character-driven narratives and marks a defining step forward in his work as a filmmaker.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Next Chapter was written during a period of personal transition in my own life, while navigating divorce and the emotional uncertainty that comes with it. That experience shaped the tone and intent of the film — not as autobiography, but as emotional grounding.

I wanted to tell a story about what comes after survival. About the quiet, often uncinematic work of healing. Too often, trauma is portrayed through extremes. I was more interested in restraint — in the pauses, the hesitations, and the careful steps people take when they are trying to trust again.

This film was made with a performance-first approach. The camera remains close, the pacing deliberate, allowing moments to unfold without forcing resolution. Silence is treated as meaning, not absence.

At its heart, The Next Chapter is about love in its most patient form. Not the kind that fixes or saves, but the kind that listens, respects boundaries, and hopes for a new day. My intention was to create something honest, grounded, and quietly hopeful.