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Logline

A Southern gothic reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, Annabel Lee set in 1920s Mississippi. Two blueswomen in love enter a supernatural dance marathon, tempted by angels with fame, fortune, and passage North.

Synopsis

The Blues meets Edgar Allan Poe in this haunting geopolitical blues folktale.

Heavily influenced by African-American folk archival songs, images, and the historical reality of the 1920s, the film explores the heavy price of ambition and freedom in the Jim Crow South. The film delves into the journey of two blueswomen in love, Makenna Davis and Annabel Lee, who share a deep personal and artistic bond in 1920s Mississippi.

However, their passionate romance is put to the ultimate test when celestial seraphs tempt them with an irresistible offer: musical immortality and a ticket to escape the South. Delivered through a hypnotizing song, the angels lay out a single rule: if your knees touch the ground, you are disqualified.

As the line between passion and survival blurs, the two women must confront the predatory nature of the divine, forcing Makenna to learn the true cost of pursuing visibility in a world stacked against her. Like many African Americans struggling with the decision to leave the South and migrate, the promise of better living feels like a myth in itself.

Annabel Lee Blues is a timeless, allegorical tragedy that is not only about a couple’s supernatural struggle, but also about the universal heartbreak of the Great Migration, where leaving one’s home often meant leaving a piece of one’s soul behind.

This film encourages audiences to question historical tropes surrounding Black queer relationships, utilizing mixed-media folklore and a haunting blues score to explore women’s desire, sacrifice, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Meet the Filmmakers

Tatiana Tift — Writer/Director
Tatiana Tift grew up immersed in dance and performance, learning to approach the world through the language of movement and music. Driven by a deep curiosity about girlhood and folklore, she focuses her work on bringing Black women into fantastical stories, a passion that roots her background and constantly shapes her artistic vision.

Her proven track record includes acclaimed shorts like el campo, DAWN, and Penny for Your Thoughts, which have screened at festivals including NoBudge and the Garden State Film Festival. Her recent short, Annabel Lee Blues, a queer blues reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe, has laid the groundwork for an exciting slate of upcoming projects. Tatiana is currently developing the longer version of Annabel Lee Blues, and the coming-of-age horror short, Scratch-Off.

Beyond directing, she is a dedicated New York City media arts educator and the founder of Circadian Summer; a multidisciplinary creative house. Funding Tatiana’s work directly supports an innovative, multi-hyphenate artist committed to boundary-pushing storytelling and community mentorship.

Her recent proof of concept, Annabel Lee Blues – a queer blues reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee”- serves as the foundation for her next creative evolution. The upcoming Annabel Lee Blues will be her most ambitious directorial challenge yet as a longer short film.

David Paige — Music Composer
David has been a touring blues pianist, jazz composer and performer – both as a solo jazz pianist and as music director of thee NY Standard Jazz Ensemble.

He has performed at Sardi’s and Per Se in New York, as well as for gallery openings, intimate parties and at fundraising events.

David also works with jazz vocalists to develop technical skills for performance. He is also proud to donate his time to community organizations to bring jazz to everyone!

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact [email protected].