Abigail is a 2019 American short drama film directed and produced by Max Hechtman and Christonikos Tsalikis. The film served as Hechtman's senior thesis for his Bachelor of Science in Film and Media at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It is influenced by a one-scene screenplay of the same name by writer Jason K. Allen and is inspired by a true story dealing with the subject matter of end-of-life decisions.[1]
| Abigail | |
|---|---|
 Official film poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Screenplay by | Jason K. Allen Max Hechtman Meryl Hechtman |
| Story by | Jason K. Allen |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Edited by | Max Hechtman |
| Music by | Andrés Soto |
Production company | Max Hechtman Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 23 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30,000 |
It was first screened as part of the FIT Film and Media Program's senior show on May 17, 2019 and was a year later named a quarterfinalist in Stage 32's 5th Annual Short Film Contest.[2] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its first public screening took place virtually on October 6, 2020 at the 2020 Long Island International Film Expo, where it won the Audience Award, and was nominated for Best Short Film, Best Long Island Short Film and Best Director.[3] This was followed by screenings at the Point Lookout Film Festival on March 31, 2021, the Golden Door Film Festival on April 24, 2021, the Long Beach International Film Festival on July 27, 2021 and the Portland Film Festival on October 6, 2021.[4][5]
Premise
editA lonely and elderly widower struggles to come to terms with the loss of his wife and the circumstances surrounding her death. When he visits her grave, he encounters a little girl who shows him the path to healing and fills him with hope.[6][7]
Cast
edit- Richie Allan as Elmer
- Elvira Tortora as Abigail
- Lauren Hart as Woman at Cemetery
- Leilani Marie Vasquez as The Girl
Production
editDevelopment
editJason K. Allen's original script for the film was of just the cemetery scene. When Max Hechtman optioned the script, documentary filmmaker Josh Koury, his professor at the time, encouraged Hechtman to expand upon it in order to fit the requirements of the senior thesis assignment. Hechtman worked closely with his mother, Meryl Hechtman, co-director Christonikos Tsalikis and script editor Miscelleana Tsalikis to make the story fit the required 15-20 minute length limit of the assignment. This involved incorporating the plot details on how Abigail dies and the use of non-linear flashbacks, using the film adaptation of The Notebook (2004) and the opening "Married Life" sequence from the Disney/Pixar film Up (2009) as sources of inspiration.[8]
It is Hechtman's first narrative short to feature professional actors in the roles, with Elvira Tortora and child actress Leilani Marie Vasquez making their screen debuts as Abigail and The Girl respectively.
Filming
editFilming took place in Merrick, NY and at All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village, NY from November 21, 2018 to April 25, 2019.[8]
Post-production
editPost-production on the film was completed in August 2019.[8]
Reception
editJenna Reilly of Take 2 Indie Review gave the film 4 stars and wrote that it "not only explores the emotional toll of grieving a loved one – it also gives the viewer a powerful message of hope. If we are open to receiving the signs that surround us – we realize that our loved ones are always with us and that love – never dies."[6]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Film Festival | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Quarterfinalist | Stage 32 5th Annual Short Film Contest | Abigail | Won |
| Audience Award | Long Island International Film Expo | Won | ||
| Best Short Film | Nominated | |||
| Best Long Island Short Film | Nominated | |||
| Best Director | Max Hechtman Christonikos Tsalikis |
Nominated | ||
| 2021 | Best Film | Point Lookout Film Festival[9] | Abigail | Won |
| Best Local Film | Nominated | |||
| Best Director | Max Hechtman Christonikos Tsalikis |
Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Richie Allan | Nominated | ||
| Best Produced Script | Jason K. Allen Max Hechtman Meryl Hechtman |
Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Joe Daniele Joe DeFelice |
Nominated | ||
| Best Drama | "Hang Onto Your Shorts" Film Festival[10] | Abigail | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Stieglitz, Brian (22 September 2020). "East Meadow filmmaker nominated for three awards at local festival". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
- ^ LLC, Stage 32. "5th Annual Stage 32 Short Film Program Contest". Stage 32. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Archives". The Long Island International Film Expo. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
- ^ "March 2021 Lineups". Point Lookout Film Festival.
- ^ "PDXFF21 Program" (PDF). Portland Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ a b Reilly, Jeanna (2020-10-14). "ABIGAIL". Take 2 Indie Review.
- ^ "Abigail (2019) Film Press Kit" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ a b c Stieglitz, Brian (18 July 2019). "East Meadow filmmaker wins Best Documentary at local festival". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
- ^ "March 2021 Award Winners". Point Lookout Film Festival.
- ^ "Home". "Hang Onto Your Shorts" Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-05-05.