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Logline

Following a sixteen-year exodus to San Francisco, and the untimely death of his partner, Jack returns home to rural Nebraska to care for his ailing grandmother, where he must face his grief while reconciling his past.

Synopsis

Winters tells the story of Jack, a 35-year-old gay man, who returns to his hometown in rural Nebraska, following an extended absence in San Francisco.

Upon returning home, Jack must not only deal with the weight of his grief, he must also confront the strained relationships within his family, particularly those with his mother and sister. Winters follows Jack as he picks up with past relationships, including his much younger brother, his high school girlfriend and the immeasurable bond he shares with his grandmother. During this time, he not only struggles to move through his grief, but he begins to understand that home never really leaves you, and for the first time, he truly becomes his own person.

Winters weaves the challenging themes of excepting one’s self, dealing with deep loss and grief, and of being authentic within relationships with the stunning backdrop of the Nebraska panhandle with its open prairies, spotty Ponderosa forests, and the monolithic chalk bluff monument that served as a landmark for many pioneers along the westward expansion trails.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Eric Delehoy – Writer/Director/Producer
Eric Delehoy (he/him) holds an MFA in Creative Writing, Fiction, from Antioch University Los Angeles. He has been a leader within the queer community for four decades, serving as Executive Director of the Lambda Community Center, a non-profit community organization serving northern Colorado/southern Wyoming, later as President of the Board. In 1999, he founded Gertrude, a literary arts journal and eventual press. Most recently he served as Chair of the Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC Board–an organization that raises money for and supports queer candidates for public office. He ran for Oregon State Representative in 2022.

His fiction and poetry have appeared in the following publications: The Armchair Aesthete (Issues 18 & 23), Coal City Review, Cranial Tempest, Emerging Voices, HazMat Review, Kaleidoscope, northVIEW, Onthebus, Rockford Review, Seedhouse, 10th Street Miscellany, Upstairs at Duroc, and Weird Sisters. Eric is the writer/director/producer of Cowboy Boots, a short film that is currently doing well in the film festival circuit, where is has been accepted to over 40 festivals to date, along with garnering seven nods for Best LGBTQIA Short and six awards for Best Actor. Additionally, it has been named a six-time award semifinalist. Eric lives in Portland, Oregon.

Bruce James Bales – Director of Photography
Bruce James Bales is an award-winning cinematographer working in film, television, and commercial video production. He has served as a director of photography on more than 30 short films and three feature-length narrative films. He has also contributed his cinematography skills to the Amazon Prime documentary Chiefsaholic and Freshwater, a critically acclaimed independent documentary.
As a freelance cinematographer, Bruce has worked with national brands like Xfinity, Pella Windows and Doors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Bank of America. His cinematic approach is story focused, and he prides himself on good communication, planning, and preparation. Bruce is based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Marissa Vonn – Assistant Director
Marissa loves telling compelling stories with unexpected protagonists and moments that tug on your heartstrings. Family dramas, cerebral thrillers, and anything with an authentic lead character are Marissa’s preferred projects. She has a passion for creating complex roles that challenge actors and absolutely loves collaborating with her cast to bring performances that feel authentic and powerful.

Marissa grew up in Iowa and still returns frequently. Her past few films (Next of Kin, Domicile, and Knee High) were all filmed in Iowa with frequent collaborators, DEFT. She loves bringing together crews that turn into friends and keeps a strict “no a******s” policy. She is currently prepping for her next short, DRYLAND.
On a day-to-day basis, Marissa can be found in the credits of feature and short films as a First Assistant Director. She is not currently represented.

Michael Ridley – Lead Actor (Jack)
Michael Ridley made his professional debut in a production of All My Sons as Chris Keller, earning an Irene Ryan Award nomination for the role. He has appeared on stage in productions including Spring Awakening and A Doll’s House, and in films including July Rising, Dial Up, Cowboy Boots and the upcoming films Nate and Moriah in Venice, Heavy, and Knee High. For the latter, he won the Madrid Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2024.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.