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Logline

After delivering news of a soldier’s death, a by-the-book casualty assistance officer must guide a grieving teenage daughter through her own mother’s funeral preparations.

Synopsis

In Arizona, circa 2018, casualty assistance officers Captain Cara Bukowski and Sergeant Randall Norris inform Josephine Rabinowitz, a teenage girl, that her mother, RHONDA, a soldier, was killed in Afghanistan. The following day, Cara and a relatively terse Josephine go to a synagogue with Phoebe, Josephine’s estranged Aunt, where they meet with a Rabbi to go over funeral details. However, when Cara informs Josephine that she won’t see her mother’s body (due to the damage), Josephine becomes angry and combative, before she breaks down crying – empathizing with Josephine, Cara reluctantly promises her that she can see her mother’s body if she wishes. Later, as Cara, Phoebe and Josephine leave the synagogue to go to the cemetery, Josephine calls “shotgun” before going into the car.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Justin Horowitz — Director/Writer/Producer
When Justin was in elementary school, his speech therapist rewarded him for his work by letting him tell fantastical and exciting stories. Inspired by his love for movies like SPIDER-MAN, he channeled that storytelling into filmmaking, and created tragicomic stories that revealed themselves, over time, to be mirrors of his own struggle with self-acceptance. These screenplays and short films have been recognized by such organizations as Roadmap, ScreenCraft, Final Draft, Slamdance, Launch Pad, the PAGE Awards, and the Los Angeles Lift Off Film Festival. In addition, he is a recent screenwriting graduate from the AFI Conservatory. Outside of his filmmaking, Justin works as a script reader for The Black List, a substitute teacher for LAUSD, and a private tutor.

Joseph Gonzales — Producer
Joseph Gonzales is a Los Angeles–based producer known for bringing structure and clarity to fast-paced productions. Growing up in San Diego, he developed a strong instinct for observing people and understanding how things work behind the scenes—an approach that naturally led him to storytelling. After studying at UC San Diego and serving as a Primary School English teacher in South Africa with the Peace Corps, Joseph built a foundation in leadership, adaptability, and working with limited resources. He later earned his MFA in Producing from the American Film Institute Conservatory. He has worked across short films, podcasts, music videos, and vertical series, often in high-pressure environments where systems must be built in real time. His experience includes large-scale productions with over 100 cast and crew, as well as projects connected to Charlie Puth, ENHYPEN, and Sony. Joseph approaches producing as both creative and operational, focused on supporting teams, protecting the process, and helping projects reach the finish line with intention.

Olivia Kimmel — Cinematographer
Olivia is a cinematographer! A graduate of the AFI Conservatory Cinematography Program, she’s had many adventures on camera teams around the world, including on the Oscar-winning film Colette, shot in concentration camps in Germany and France, as well as Get Out, Russian Doll, After Yang, and A Different Man. Her latest two feature films as a DP, 5 Days at Zooblin’s Bar and Steakhouse, an absurdist comedy based in a run-down Red Lobster, and Big Sky Country, an experimental documentary about the music of Montana, were both shot on 16mm Kodak film and are in post production. Her AFI thesis film Cherubs was selected for the prestigious CAA’s Moebius Showcase. She is a member of the ICF⁺C collective of professional cinematographers. Her narrative cinematography work has screened at AFI Fest, Austin Film Fest, Maryland Film Fest, Oldenburg, Aesthetica, and more. Her music video work has been featured in The Fader, Nylon, Ladygunn, and Live Nation’s Ones To Watch. Her commercial clients include Nike, Dicks Sporting Goods, and Parents Magazine

Ariana Topke — Editor
Ariana Topke is a Guatemalan-born, Los Angeles based editor with over a decade of experience across scripted, documentary, and marketing projects.Her work spans creative direction, offline and online editing, and script development, often leading projects from concept through final delivery. She studied at the University of Texas at Austin, where she developed a deep interest in independent filmmaking and a collaborative, hands-on approach to storytelling. She is particularly drawn to character-driven stories that capture the human experience with depth and authenticity. Her credits include The Stories of West Side Story, the behind-the-scenes documentary for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, and the Austin Film Festival Audience Award-winning American Baby. Through her work, Ariana aims to craft stories that feel intimate, immersive, and emotionally grounded, using editing as a tool to deepen connection between the audience and the characters on screen.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact [email protected].