Evergreen - The short film
Donation protected
EVERGREEN is a short film concerning the stress, fear and paranoia foreigners encounter in the process of applying for residency in the United States, through an experimental, nightmarish lens.
The Story:
When Mia, a Swedish immigrant with a pending Green-card, is invited upstate with her husband to celebrate Labor Day weekend, things take an unexpected turn while she tries to figure out the real intentions of their hosts.
Director's statement:
Malin wanted to tell a story that wasn't just close to her own heart, but a film that could channel many 'Internationals' feelings and fears around the visa process. Also, she wanted to pose a series of questions:
Is this process really fair and respectful? To what extent is the questioning a valid test ore is it an exercise and abuse of control? How do we decide who is welcome to live in a country based on their qualities, skills, nationality or religion or who they love and marry?
Mia, the lead of the film, represents all of us 'internationals' in the sense that she’s on the brim of losing herself in her goal and fight to be accepted and approved. Not only does she find herself struggling with the challenge of being a foreigner on paper, but also the feeling of not fitting in or being accepted by the people and the culture.
GOAL:
We have financed the first half of the production ourselves and now we really need YOUR help with raising funds for our post-production; Editing, scoring, sound, color, festivals and beyond.
Every contribution helps and brings us closer to finishing the film. We want to be able to share this project with everyone, bring an international perspective into the contemporary American conversation!
Malin Barr, Writer /Director /Lead
is a Swedish actress trained at Laine Theatre Arts, London UK, towards a National Diploma, continuing on a scholarship at 2-year conservatory at NYFA in NYC.
EVERGREEN is her second short film as well as her director debut. She is so excited to have taken the role behind the camera as well as in front, creating her story not just on paper but visually with the crew and cast. Her previous short film, Hedda Needs Help is available on Shorts TV EU/UK and received Best Film at Female Feedback FF Toronto, Honorable Mention at New Renaissance Film Festival, Nominated for Best Comedy at London International Story First Film, as well as official selection at Laughlin FF, Hollywood Comedy Shorts, Broad Humor Film Festival, Cannes Metrage.
Malin’s previous credits include Universals ‘SKYSCRAPER’, Supporting lead in Manhattan productions ‘CENTIGRADE’ and lead role in RubberProductions HONEYDEW, as well as various roles on both American and Scandinavian TV series including CBS’s ‘BULL’, Jens Lapidus ‘TOPDOG’ by Filmlance, BEFORE WE DIE ( hailed by Ricky Gervais as “one of the best police dramas of all time”) Theatre credits include ‘Hunyak’ in Columbia Theatricals production of CHICAGO, BAM’s production of LEGEND of YAUNA, Lead in the original production of The Resolute, WYO Theatre.
Christian Hillborg, Co-Director
is a Swedish actor, trained at the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts. Evergreen, makes his first time as a Co-Director.
Christian’s previous credits include: Scandinavian crime series THE BRIDGE (BRON), and endeared himself to THE LAST KINGDOM audiences worldwide with his beloved character ERIK in Season 2 of the BBC/Netflix show. Following a major role in instant Swedish crime classic BEFORE WE DIE (hailed by Ricky Gervais as “one of the best police dramas of all time”), and appearances on numerous American shows like Crossing Lines and Ransom on ABC and Sony/Crackle feature THE THROWAWAYS alongside James Caan and Kevin Dillon, Hillborg starred in the 2017 British period drama ANOTHER MOTHER'S SON opposite Ronan Keating, and can be seen this fall in the fantasy series HIDDEN on Swedish streaming giant Viaplay. Hillborg is currently involved in two major productions filming his first leading film role opposite Malin Akerman in the Swedish romantic comedy musical ”A PIECE OF MY HEART”, and season two of the British cult hit comedy series FLEABAG for BBC and Amazon Studios.
Nick Perron Seigal, Director of Photography
Having over 50 cinematography credits on IMDB, including collaborations with stars such as Robert Pattinson, Nick is an extremely well-versed cinematographer and has done an amazing job capturing our talent on screen.
Kate He, Producer
is a Chinese actress, trained at Fordham theatre program, Stella Adler Studio of Acting and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, who is currently completing her bachelor's degree at New York University.
EVERGREEN is the first professional short film she got to produce, and she is so grateful to work with such an amazing cast and crew!
Zach Appelman
recently starred on FOX’s hit drama series Sleepy Hollow, and has made appearances in numerous other TV shows including The Passage, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Resident, God Friended Me, Blue Bloods, Homeland, Beauty & The Beast, Black Box, Law & Order: SVU, and Bull. His film work includes the Netflix feature Like Father, Kill Your Darlings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Complete Unknown. His stage credits include War Horse (Broadway), the title role in Hamlet (Hartford Stage) and Henry V (Folger Theater), Julie Taymor’s Off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre for a New Audience), The Public Theater’s recent production of Troilus & Cressida (Shakespeare in the Park), Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and Arms & the Man (The Old Globe). Zach has narrated numerous audiobooks including All the Light We Cannot See (Audie Award & Earphones Award winner), The Girl From Venice, Lexicon, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, as well as dramatized audiobooks of Hamlet and Julius Caesar with the Folger Library. Zach is a two-time winner fo the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a Play. He holds a BFA from UC Santa Barbara, and an MFA from Yale School of Drama.
Rana Roy
recently had her Broadway debut in the Tony award-winning play INK. She starred in Facebook Watch’s QUEEN AMERICA opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones with some of her other TV credits including, NBC’s THE NIGHT SHIFT, CW’s LIFE SENTENCE, WGN’s acclaimed series UNDERGROUND and Lifetime’s AMERICAN PRINCESS. Rana began her career as a dancer -- prominently on the BBC show DANCE X, leading her to open RIHANNA’s (UK) UMBRELLA Tour. She was later cast as a series regular on the UK series BRITANNIA HIGH, where she also had a record deal with Universal Records.
Andrew Dits
Regional: God Looked Away (Pasadena Playhouse) with Al Pacino and Judith Light, Murder On The Orient Express (Ogunquit Playhouse), BLOOD (The Complex) with Glenne Headley, The Eccentricities Of A Nightingale (Pacific Resident Theatre), Comedy Of Errors (A Noise Within), Fat Pig (The Hudson Theatre), Fool For Love (Theatre For The New City). His solo show The Ballad Of The Barback played to sold-out houses (Pacific Resident Theatre). Film: Oliver Stone’s Snowden. Television: “Telenovela,” “Jon Glaser Loves Gear,” “The Middle,” and series regular on the Bounce TV sitcom, “My Crazy Roommate.” M.F.A., University of Southern California.
The Story:
When Mia, a Swedish immigrant with a pending Green-card, is invited upstate with her husband to celebrate Labor Day weekend, things take an unexpected turn while she tries to figure out the real intentions of their hosts.
Director's statement:
Malin wanted to tell a story that wasn't just close to her own heart, but a film that could channel many 'Internationals' feelings and fears around the visa process. Also, she wanted to pose a series of questions:
Is this process really fair and respectful? To what extent is the questioning a valid test ore is it an exercise and abuse of control? How do we decide who is welcome to live in a country based on their qualities, skills, nationality or religion or who they love and marry?
Mia, the lead of the film, represents all of us 'internationals' in the sense that she’s on the brim of losing herself in her goal and fight to be accepted and approved. Not only does she find herself struggling with the challenge of being a foreigner on paper, but also the feeling of not fitting in or being accepted by the people and the culture.
GOAL:
We have financed the first half of the production ourselves and now we really need YOUR help with raising funds for our post-production; Editing, scoring, sound, color, festivals and beyond.
Every contribution helps and brings us closer to finishing the film. We want to be able to share this project with everyone, bring an international perspective into the contemporary American conversation!
Malin Barr, Writer /Director /Lead
is a Swedish actress trained at Laine Theatre Arts, London UK, towards a National Diploma, continuing on a scholarship at 2-year conservatory at NYFA in NYC.
EVERGREEN is her second short film as well as her director debut. She is so excited to have taken the role behind the camera as well as in front, creating her story not just on paper but visually with the crew and cast. Her previous short film, Hedda Needs Help is available on Shorts TV EU/UK and received Best Film at Female Feedback FF Toronto, Honorable Mention at New Renaissance Film Festival, Nominated for Best Comedy at London International Story First Film, as well as official selection at Laughlin FF, Hollywood Comedy Shorts, Broad Humor Film Festival, Cannes Metrage.
Malin’s previous credits include Universals ‘SKYSCRAPER’, Supporting lead in Manhattan productions ‘CENTIGRADE’ and lead role in RubberProductions HONEYDEW, as well as various roles on both American and Scandinavian TV series including CBS’s ‘BULL’, Jens Lapidus ‘TOPDOG’ by Filmlance, BEFORE WE DIE ( hailed by Ricky Gervais as “one of the best police dramas of all time”) Theatre credits include ‘Hunyak’ in Columbia Theatricals production of CHICAGO, BAM’s production of LEGEND of YAUNA, Lead in the original production of The Resolute, WYO Theatre.
Christian Hillborg, Co-Director
is a Swedish actor, trained at the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts. Evergreen, makes his first time as a Co-Director.
Christian’s previous credits include: Scandinavian crime series THE BRIDGE (BRON), and endeared himself to THE LAST KINGDOM audiences worldwide with his beloved character ERIK in Season 2 of the BBC/Netflix show. Following a major role in instant Swedish crime classic BEFORE WE DIE (hailed by Ricky Gervais as “one of the best police dramas of all time”), and appearances on numerous American shows like Crossing Lines and Ransom on ABC and Sony/Crackle feature THE THROWAWAYS alongside James Caan and Kevin Dillon, Hillborg starred in the 2017 British period drama ANOTHER MOTHER'S SON opposite Ronan Keating, and can be seen this fall in the fantasy series HIDDEN on Swedish streaming giant Viaplay. Hillborg is currently involved in two major productions filming his first leading film role opposite Malin Akerman in the Swedish romantic comedy musical ”A PIECE OF MY HEART”, and season two of the British cult hit comedy series FLEABAG for BBC and Amazon Studios.
Nick Perron Seigal, Director of Photography
Having over 50 cinematography credits on IMDB, including collaborations with stars such as Robert Pattinson, Nick is an extremely well-versed cinematographer and has done an amazing job capturing our talent on screen.
Kate He, Producer
is a Chinese actress, trained at Fordham theatre program, Stella Adler Studio of Acting and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, who is currently completing her bachelor's degree at New York University.
EVERGREEN is the first professional short film she got to produce, and she is so grateful to work with such an amazing cast and crew!
Zach Appelman
recently starred on FOX’s hit drama series Sleepy Hollow, and has made appearances in numerous other TV shows including The Passage, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Resident, God Friended Me, Blue Bloods, Homeland, Beauty & The Beast, Black Box, Law & Order: SVU, and Bull. His film work includes the Netflix feature Like Father, Kill Your Darlings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Complete Unknown. His stage credits include War Horse (Broadway), the title role in Hamlet (Hartford Stage) and Henry V (Folger Theater), Julie Taymor’s Off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre for a New Audience), The Public Theater’s recent production of Troilus & Cressida (Shakespeare in the Park), Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and Arms & the Man (The Old Globe). Zach has narrated numerous audiobooks including All the Light We Cannot See (Audie Award & Earphones Award winner), The Girl From Venice, Lexicon, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, as well as dramatized audiobooks of Hamlet and Julius Caesar with the Folger Library. Zach is a two-time winner fo the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a Play. He holds a BFA from UC Santa Barbara, and an MFA from Yale School of Drama.
Rana Roy
recently had her Broadway debut in the Tony award-winning play INK. She starred in Facebook Watch’s QUEEN AMERICA opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones with some of her other TV credits including, NBC’s THE NIGHT SHIFT, CW’s LIFE SENTENCE, WGN’s acclaimed series UNDERGROUND and Lifetime’s AMERICAN PRINCESS. Rana began her career as a dancer -- prominently on the BBC show DANCE X, leading her to open RIHANNA’s (UK) UMBRELLA Tour. She was later cast as a series regular on the UK series BRITANNIA HIGH, where she also had a record deal with Universal Records.
Andrew Dits
Regional: God Looked Away (Pasadena Playhouse) with Al Pacino and Judith Light, Murder On The Orient Express (Ogunquit Playhouse), BLOOD (The Complex) with Glenne Headley, The Eccentricities Of A Nightingale (Pacific Resident Theatre), Comedy Of Errors (A Noise Within), Fat Pig (The Hudson Theatre), Fool For Love (Theatre For The New City). His solo show The Ballad Of The Barback played to sold-out houses (Pacific Resident Theatre). Film: Oliver Stone’s Snowden. Television: “Telenovela,” “Jon Glaser Loves Gear,” “The Middle,” and series regular on the Bounce TV sitcom, “My Crazy Roommate.” M.F.A., University of Southern California.
Co-organizers (3)
Kate He
Organizer
New York, NY
Jay Arora
Co-organizer
Malin Barr
Co-organizer