Winner
AWI Short Film Competition

Once Upon A Time… (Trailer)

Through the lens of a fairytale, she presents to her class, a young girl shares the reality of her life living with an alcoholic parent.

Content heads-up: Depiction of alcohol use, child exposed to intoxicated adults, child taking on a parental role

Director: Athena Russell

With over 30+ credits and awards to her name as a producer, Athena has quickly become one of Vancouver’s most sought-after indie filmmakers. She has produced for the likes of CW Seed, The Harold Greenberg Fund, Creative BC, The National Film Board, Tongal, and Telus Storyhive, with her films having screened and won numerous awards at film festivals around the world including Just For Laughs, Fantasia Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Aesthetica Film Festival, Oaxaca International Film Festival, New York Comedy Festival, Atlanta Comedy Festival, Portland Film Festival, and Calgary International Film Festival. Most recently her film FREYA screened and won ‘Audience Choice for Best Short Narrative’ at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

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Substance Use Disorder

Substance abuse refers to the harmful use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and drugs. Substance use can lead to addiction and dependence, creating a condition...

Trauma & PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a response to a traumatic event or series of events. Something that is traumatic for one person might not...

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