SYNOPSIS
FINLEY (Laura Vandervoort) is a woman adrift, her life smashed to pieces by a recent tragedy. But now she’s been sober for a handful of months and feels ready to make amends to the one person she hurt the most. Because of their traumatic history, her sponsor is vehemently opposed, but after talking with a sober friend, WES (Rainbow Sun Francks) she decides the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. As Fin approaches FRED (Gordon Pinsent) at the diner he frequents, she braces for his reaction when he sees her - but to her shock, Fred doesn’t react at all. In fact, he tells her to sit down. Beckons the waitress - orders her “the usual”. And Fin realizes that Fred, struggling with Alzheimer’s, believes Fin to be his wife, Stella. Unsure how to correct him, and relieved he doesn’t recognize her for who she is yet, Fin plays along - with consequences more devastating than Fin could ever have imagined.
AGE OF DYSPHORIA is a short film that examines memory – the joy of it, the curse, and the unpredictability of what we find ourselves remembering the longest. It examines healing and the need for human connection.
dys.pho.ri.a
noun
a state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with life.
"adolescents with depression, dysphoria, mania, and anxiety disorders."
Cast
LAURA VANDERVOORT, “FIN”
Born in Toronto, Canada, Laura Vandervoort is a versatile actress who not only crosses over genres, but also transforms from character to character embracing the essence of every role she plays. Best known for her roles on the television shows "Smallville" as Supergirl, and "V," Laura has built an international fan base of men and women of all ages. Between her beauty, experience, and stellar acting chops, Laura has been consistently working as an actress since she was thirteen years old.
Most recently, Laura brings her dramatic acting to Netflix’s “V-Wars” (December 2019.) Starring alongside Ian Somerhalder, Laura portrays ‘Mila Dubov,’ a key character whom, as a vampire herself is tortured by what she has become and helps fight off the vampire species. The series based on Jonathan Maberry’s best-selling books about a genetic mutated outbreak.
Laura first began her career in background work as a child on Canadian commercials and TV shows. This led her into the hands of Disney, where she starred in a now classic Halloween movie as well as several kids tv series.
Laura’s career has taken off from there and the consistently working actress can be seen in many projects such as "The Lookout,” starring Joseph Gordon Lovitt and Jeff Daniels, "Smallville,”"The Entitled,” alongside Ray Liotta and many more. Laura then booked a series regular spot for ABC's sci-fi series "V" among Elizabeth Mitchell ("Lost") and Scott Wolf ("Party of Five”) and then booked feature films including a role in "This Means War" starring Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine and "Ted" directed by Seth Macfarlane, starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. Laura would soon after star in “Jigsaw,” (Number one at the box office for it’s first run) the most recent of the horror film series “Saw.”
Laura led the sci fi-action series "Bitten" for Syfy and the Space network. The series ran for three successful seasons and is now a popular stream on Netflix. With high praise critically and a large fan following the series gained strength and praise for both performance and cinematography.
Laura has been developing and producing films and has found another passion working behind the camera. In 2019, Laura developed, executive produced and starred in film festival favorite, ‘Age Of Dysphoria’ alongside Canadian icon Gordon Pinsent. Laura recently had her directorial debut with ‘My Soul To Take,’ a short film Laura also wrote, starring Colm Feore. During the 2020 pandemic, Laura shot 5 feature films and an anticipated guest spot on the critically acclaimed series ‘Handmaid’s Tale.’ Laura wrapped the lead role in a feature film thriller entitled ‘Black Bags’ in Oklahoma at the end of 2021 and her production company currently has three films in development. Most recently, Laura has released her first children’s book worldwide on Amazon. The book, ‘Super-Duper Deelia’ marks her entry as a published writer in the children literary world.
INSTA: @supervandie WEBSITE: www.lauravandervoort.com IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0888882/
GORDON PINSENT, “FRED”
GORDON PINSENT, CC, FRSC is an award-winning, internationally revered actor, writer and director. At age 89, the indelible characters that Gordon Pinsent has created in popular culture have woven themselves into the fabric of the Canadian consciousness. Born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Gordon began his career at the Manitoba Theatre Centre, which led to roles at the Stratford Festival. Gordon has received two ACTRA awards for his television work; four GENIE awards for achievements in Canadian film; five GEMINI awards, a DORA award for the stage, as well as honorary doctorates at Queen’s University; the University of Prince Edward Island; Memorial University of Newfoundland; Lakehead University; the University of Windsor and an honorary degree from Humber College. He was made Officer of the Order of Canada in 1979, and promoted to Companion within the Order in 1998. In 2012, Gordon received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Selected television credits include - the title role of Quentin Durgens, MP, the stuffed-shirt Member of Parliament; Edgar Sturgess, the scarlet-coated militiaman in the TV series, A Gift to Last, written by Pinsent; Sgt. Bob Fraser Sr. in Due South; and his GEMINI award winning performance as Duff in Powerplay. Has been seen as Corky Dillems in Corner Gas and the recurring character of Maurice Becker in Republic of Doyle, and Nevin Ainslie on Private Eyes. Gordon also played the long running character of Hap Shaughnessey in The Red Green Show; and Warren Wentworth in the television film Fallen Angel (CBS). In 2006 Gordon wrote, directed and acted in the made-for-television film Heyday, (a period piece set during the end of World War II), in co-ordination with Triptych Media Inc./Pope Productions. Gordon lent his voice as King Babar in Babar and the more recent Babar and the Adventures of Badou.
Selected feature film credits include - Jamie in The Thomas Crown Affair ; The President of the United States in the cult movie: Colossus: The Forbin Project; Will Cole in The Rowdyman, a sort of Tom Jones let loose in Newfoundland; John in John and the Missus; Swiftwater, the Card shark in Klondike Fever; John Fredrickson in Silence of the North; charming Dame Judi Dench as Billy Pretty in the feature film, The Shipping News; Father Fitzpatrick in Saint Ralph for Alliance Atlantis, and a critically lauded performance as Grant Andersen in Sarah Polley’s Oscar-nominated, Away From Her (2008 Gemini Award – Best Actor).
More recently, Gordon was profiled in the 2016 documentary THE RIVER OF MY DREAMS: A PORTRAIT OF GORDON PINSENT, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Gordon conquered the internet thanks to his appearances on “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” with hilarious segments reading the memoirs of Justin Bieber that instantly went viral, as well as paying homage to his Newfoundlander roots with a memorable turn as “The Codfather”. Gordon has continued to lend his many talents to foster up and coming Canadian filmmakers by writing and acting in several short films.
Crew
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JESSICA PETELLE, DIRECTOR
Jessica Petelle (she/her) is a Director and a Producer of film, television and digital content.
Her directorial debut film, ALL GOOD, world premiered at Palm Springs International Short Fest. Her second short drama, ELLIE & SAM, premiered at the Vancouver Women in Film Festival the following year. AGE OF DYSPHORIA, a psychological drama starring Laura Vandervoort and Gordon Pinsent can be seen in Canada on CBC Gem. The film allowed Jessica to utilize her unique skill set of working in action-drama television to the short film medium. She is an alumna of the Women In the Director’s Chair Career Advancement Module in Toronto, Alliance of Women Directors, Directing the Actors Lab and is a fellow in the HBOACCESS Directing Fellowship.
Jessica was an Executive Producer and 2nd Unit Director on the action thriller TRIGGER POINT (Barry Pepper, Colm Feore) now playing HULU in US.
As a digital content producer, she worked with Merman to produce the award-winning interactive digital film OUTAGE for IBM. Other clients include Volkswagen, Comedy Central, GaiamTV.com, Fox, SyFy, BlackBoxTV, among others.
She has served as a production consultant on FOX’s WAYWARD PINES, and SYFY/SPACE Channel series BITTEN, as a Co- Producer for two seasons of THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES for Viacom, and as a Co-Executive Producer for the Netflix Original Series, V- WARS (Ian Somerhalder, Adrian Holmes).
A graduate of Indiana University (Theatre and Telecommunications), she is a member of the Producers Guild of America serving on the International Committee, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, Alliance of Women Directors, and Women in Film and Television (LA and Toronto).
Jessica is developing several narrative projects including the fantasy/sci-fi feature film THE UNVEILING, and a full-length version of her award-winning short film AGE OF DYSPHORIA.
INSTA: @jessicatography IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1536060
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