The Present

Two young teens, Sam and Ben, find themselves spending an unwelcomed holiday trip with their parents. To make matters worse, they soon discover that they have forgotten their mother’s birthday present, and the two set out into a mysterious, nostalgic little town to find a replacement. When the brother and sister duo think they’ve found the perfect gift, a chance encounter and a sudden impulse lead them to give it away.

  • Jennifer N. Simms
    Director
  • Jennifer N. Simms
    Writer
  • Jennifer N. Simms
    Producer
  • Min Young Bae
    Producer
  • Tiffany Simms
    Key Cast
  • Will Hammond
    Key Cast
  • Talia Dobbins
    Key Cast
    The Sacrament, Where the Mangos Grow
  • Heather Bender
    Key Cast
    Rosie Oh, Life in Between
  • William Casterlin
    Key Cast
  • Kirt Johnson
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Family, Suspense
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 26, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Jennifer N. Simms

Hailing from Nassau, Bahamas, Jennifer grew up playing outdoors with her sisters, dreaming up stories, and creating artwork. She has directed her love for storytelling and the visual arts into the media of film and television. Jennifer has produced over ten short films, and recently completed her Masters of Fine Arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She continues to draw and paint in her free time and is currently working on a documentary film about the heritage of boatbuilding in The Bahamas.

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Director Statement

The Present is a short film that is really dear to my heart, inspired by both my own childhood and my mother's stories. I hope that it will be a fun and inspirational story for all audiences that reminds us to be grateful for friends, family, and the memories we create together.