Experiencing Interruptions?

Vanitas

A woman hires an amateur photographer to document her estranged family's last day with their dying matriarch.

  • Lucy Gamades
    Director & Writer
    A Little Tent, Is That a Mime?
  • Alexa Carroll
    Director of Photography
    Let Liv (Tribeca), Best Summer Ever (SXSW)
  • Michael Spencer
    Producer
  • Ryan Leibowitz
    Line Producer
    Nobody's Home (DWF NY)
  • Loni Ackerman
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
    Evita on Broadway
  • Megan Greener
    Key Cast
    "Monica"
  • Nicole Onyeje
    Key Cast
    "Lily"
    Andrew Bujalski's Support the Girls
  • Julianna Zinkel
    Key Cast
    "Melissa"
    Mare of Easttown, Fleischman is in Trouble
  • Hudson Paul
    Key Cast
    "Matthew"
  • Allegra Novikov
    Key Cast
    "Madison"
  • Michael Bakkensen
    Key Cast
    "Ted"
  • Jacqueline O'Rene
    Key Cast
    "Jackie"
    The Lion King on Broadway
  • Esiri Madagwa Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Jake the Nurse"
  • Joshua Michael Payne
    Casting
    The Third (Chattanooga FF)
  • Michael Spencer
    Executive Producer
    Is That a Mime?, The Promotion (Nitehawk Shorts), A Little Tent
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    35,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    S16
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Lone Star Film Festival
    Fort Worth, TX
    United States
    November 2, 2024
    Texas Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Bushwick Film Festival
    Brooklyn, NY
    United States
    October 27, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • New York International Film Awards
    New York
    United States
    May 27, 2024
    Best Young Actor
  • ScreenCraft Film Fund

    January 17, 2023
    Second Rounder
  • The Script Lab Free Screenplay Competition

    April 8, 2023
    Quarterfinalist
Director Biography

Lucy is a Brooklyn-based writer, director and producer with a style that has been called "cheerfully macabre."

She has worked full time for A+E Networks and Condé Nast, overseeing post on projects for clients like Revlon, Ulta, Pfizer, the History Channel, Starbucks, Toyota, and more. Her writing has been recognized by ScreenCraft, the Inroads Fellowship, Boston University, and the Script Lab. Her latest script was called "deliciously disturbing" by Slamdance.

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Director Statement

At a time of unprecedented posting, we can say anything to pretty much anyone, whenever we want. We have complete access to each other, and yet, three in five Americans report feeling lonely.

I stumbled down a rabbit hole one day and discovered a something called "#grieftok," where people share bare-faced diary entries about the deaths of loved ones online. Sometimes they are sobbing. Sometimes they post Ring camera footage of an EMT taking a body out of their house as they caterwaul nearby, while Coldplay collects a few cents for the song cooing over the video.

Shot on 16mm, 'VANITAS' is a black comedy about grief in the age of social media, generational disconnect, the motivation behind the moments we choose to share with others, and what we do when we lose control.