Sister Claire

Her Faith Was Unshakeable… Until Now.

Project type: Fiction Short
Project status: Production
Writer/Director: Zegan Doyle
Producer: Selena Leoni

Email: selena@littlepawspictures.com
Website: littlepawspictures.com
Instagram: @sisterclairefilm
 
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Logline

A devout nun believes that she can guide a struggling teenager through their crisis of faith.

Synopsis

SISTER CLAIRE (70) is a devout nun whose faith remains unshakeable. Sister Claire leads a retreat in the mountains for teens as they prepare for Confirmation, a holy sacrament in which Catholics accept responsibility for their faith. She meets mysterious newcomer KIT (15) who asks Sister Claire to be their Confirmation sponsor. Sister Claire reluctantly agrees to sponsor Kit because she believes that she can guide Kit, whom she considers a lost sheep, back to the flock. During the retreat, the two grow close. But when Kit reveals that they believe themself to be Sister Claire’s long-deceased sister, Sister Claire begins to doubt her faith.

Meanwhile, SISTER ANITA (40) finds newspaper articles about Sister Claire in Kit’s backpack. Sister Anita confronts Sister Claire about Kit’s seeming obsession with Sister Claire and accuses Sister Claire of believing Kit. Sister Claire denies the accusation. But on the day of Confirmation, Sister Claire must face her beliefs head on. Will Sister Claire believe Kit? Will she stand up for what she believes in at the risk of everything?

This is a story of longing and belonging, of faith and connection.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Zegan Doyle – Writer/Director
Zegan Doyle (they/them) is a non-binary Irish-American filmmaker and film programmer with a global perspective. Zegan is a Fellow for the Storytelling Institute in Cannes with Canal+, the City of Cannes, and the Cannes Film Festival. They received the William J. and Lee Phillip Bell’s The Young and the Restless Fellowship in 2020. Zegan has programmed for organizations including Baby Teeth Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Rubin Museum of Art, and the Fine Arts Film Festival in Bridport, England. Additionally, Zegan traveled around the world to consult on dozens of international television series of US formats for Paramount International. They earned their MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. Zegan can be found reading Turkish romance literature at the park and spending time with their two beautiful cats.
zegandoyle.com

Selena Leoni – Producer
Selena Leoni is a transnational producer and executive with over a decade of interdisciplinary experience in film, television, and multimedia. Shaped by her upbringing in Italy and China, Selena offers a unique perspective, fostering a profound understanding of globalized storytelling. With a stellar track record, she has led diverse projects across genres that reached various platforms, including STARZ, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV. Notably, her works have earned recognition at prestigious festivals. Bienvenidos a Los Angeles earned a spot on the Shortlist for the 2024 Academy Awards, while Eid Mubarak received an Honorable Mention on the 2024 Gold List. Her second feature film, Young King, the debut feature of Emmy-winning director Bryant Griffin, premiered at the renowned African American Film Festival in June 2024. As a member of BAFTA Connect, Berlinale Talents, Gold House Futures, and Film Independent’s Project Involve, Selena actively advocates for social inclusion and amplifies historically marginalized voices within the industry.
selenaleoni.com

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.