Experiencing Interruptions?

Miss You Mom

*** Winner of 25 screenings and awards since June 2024! ***
Kelsey and Julian meet Marcella, an odd antique store owner, who overhears Kelsey's regrets about her mom. Marcella offers her a mysterious building permit contained in a curious wooden box. The permit allows them to build anywhere they want, up to an astonishing 68 floors high. They start building the house as described in the permit, much to Julian's dismay. But what may be driving the insane construction may be something Kelsey has yet to realize about her mom's death.

  • Steve Sugarman
    Director
  • Steve Sugarman
    Writer
  • Steve Sugarman
    Producer
  • Miriam Korn
    Key Cast
    "Kelsey"
  • Thomas Hagena
    Key Cast
    "Julian"
  • Carrie Drovdlic
    Key Cast
    "Marcella"
  • Wild Strawberries - Roberta Harrison
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Other
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 8, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    7,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Animation
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Markham International Film Festival
    Markham
    Canada
    July 20, 2024
    Honorable Mention - Animated Film
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    January 25, 2025
    Honourable Mention - Best Animation Film
  • MegaFlix Film Awards

    September 2, 2024
    Award Winner - Best Animated Film
  • WILDsound FEEDBACK Film and Screenplay Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    August 30, 2024
    Award Winner - Best Animation
  • Crown Point International Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    October 2, 2024
    Best Animation Short
  • New York Animation Film Awards (NYAFA)
    New York
    United States
    November 28, 2024
    Finalist - Best Animation Short Film (under 30 minutes)
  • Mindfield Film Festival • Albuquerque
    Albuquerque
    United States
    August 23, 2024
    Finalist - Animation Short (Main Category)
  • Canada Shorts Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    December 14, 2024
    Award of Commendation / Quarter FInalist
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    July 21, 2024
    Semi-Finalist - Best Animation Short
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 22, 2024
    Semi-Finalist - Best Original Song
  • IndieX Film Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 25, 2024
    Semi-Finalist - Best Animation Short
  • Festival De Cine Antigua
    Antigua Guatemala
    Guatemala
    December 5, 2024
    Semi-Finalist - Premio ACA mejor cortometraje de Animación
  • Golden Bridge İstanbul Short Film Festival
    Istanbul - Asya
    Turkey
    September 15, 2024
    Official Selection
  • 6th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival
    Kathmandu
    Nepal
    January 30, 2025
    Official Selection - Best International Animation Film
  • Toronto Shorts International Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    August 22, 2024
    Official Selection - Canadian Shorts
  • 100 Films Retreat
    Rancho Cucamonga
    United States
    August 16, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Ural Shorts
    Nizhny Tagil
    Russian Federation
    September 25, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Sunscreen Film Fest NORTH
    Chisholm, MN
    United States
    October 24, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Anthology Film Festival
    Burbank
    United States
    September 24, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Pickering Canada International Film Festival
    Pickering
    Canada
    July 27, 2024
    Official Selection - Animated Film
  • Symbiotic Film Festival
    Kiev
    Ukraine
    June 28, 2024
    Official Selection - Best Animation Film
  • Crown Point International Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    October 2, 2024
    Official Selection
  • MUSES FILM AWARDS - Levadia International Film Festival (L.I.F.F.)
    Livadia
    Greece
    April 4, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Artist Emerged International Film Festival (Ethos Film Awards)
    Santa Monica
    United States
    November 15, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Steve Sugarman

Somewhere between light and sound, there is Steve. A multimedia artist from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Steve has several decades of work circling photography, video, web, music - and most recently - 3D animation.

Starting photography when he was only 11 years old, he has grown that love to being recognized as a Hollywood nominated director for his trailer 'Collider'. He is a published music producer and plays bass guitar in several bands.

His short documentary in 2023, 'Chad Valyear - Up From The Dark', received 9 awards, and was a finalist in several other festivals. His current animation project 'Miss You Mom' is touring the film festival circuit to reach a wide audience with his compelling story about grief.

He lives in 'a state of constant total amazement' in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada with 2 cats, 11 fish, and 1 wife.

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Director Statement

"We were honoured when Steve Sugarman asked to use one of our songs in his animated short, ‘Miss You Mom’. Grief is something we all face to varying degrees but we don’t always know how to handle it or how to help others who are struggling. His film is a wonderful way into the conversation.” - Roberta Harrison, singer/composer of the music track "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" headlined in film.