After Moonrise
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
When a crisis erupts during a sacred fast, a devoted widow must confront the grief that estranged her from her controlling daughter. A tense, intimate mother-daughter drama explores the complexities of grief, caregiving, and how love requires embracing and expressing our messiest emotions.
After Moonrise
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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When a crisis erupts during a sacred fast, a devoted widow must confront the grief that estranged her from her controlling daughter. A tense, intimate mother-daughter drama explores the complexities of grief, caregiving, and how love requires embracing and expressing our messiest emotions.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
During the first Karva Chauth since the death of her husband, a grief-stricken Priya is on a mission to complete the ceremony, despite having just left the hospital. Meanwhile, her estranged daughter Simran arrives to figure out what's wrong with her mother, but Priya won't accept her held (despite her worsening condiiton). As mother and daughter battle over Priya's medical situation, they're forced to confront the grief that's torn them apart.
Tonally, this film is a tug-of-war between quiet intimacy and rigid control, reflecting the inner worlds of the two characters: Priya’s nostalgic yet melancholic dream-like state and Simran’s controlled, grounded reality. The constant conflict and hidden agendas create mounting tension and an unsettling feeling, resulting in a gut-wrenching confrontation which resolves into a quiet, poignant reconciliation.
Ultimately, this is a story for adult children of immigrant parents who want to understand their parents better, and for those parents to see themselves authentically represented on screen. It is a family story.
Mental health struggles are sky high in the diasporic community, especially for older generations. But they don’t talk about it. Meanwhile, as the younger generation ages into caretakers, we’re independently managing our mental health journey while caring for parents whom we don’t understand.
This shows up in our cinema: current mother-daughter stories are often “a battle of the generations.” They also highlight the younger generation's independent healing journey while the parents are sidelined (or stereotyped)—even though parent and child are inextricably linked.
“After Moonrise” shows how we can heal from grief with our parents, rather than in spite of them—and how to empower them without taking away their agency.
It explores the messy caretaking shift faced by our generation: how we need to care for our parents while still relying on them to care for us, all while navigating the resistance for support, even in moments of crisis.
Our three primary influences- "Girls Will Be Girls" (dir. Shuchi Talati), "His Three Daughters" (dir. Azazel Jacobs), and "Shiva Baby" (Dir. Emma Seligman)
Priya: 50s, Indian, female, store clerk. Priya survived a difficult childhood through two things: her faith (especially rituals) and Samir (her dead ex-husband). They escaped to America to start over, except nothing went according to plan. With his passing, she feels incomplete, stuck, and lost. Instead of fighting through, she’s given up, especially as her body deteriorates. She deeply misses her estranged daughter, but she’s too proud to admit it.
Character moodboard for Priya, grabbing stills from films like "Mom," "Sex Education," and "Aadai."
Simran: 20s, Indian American, female, PhD candidate. As an only child, Simran carries the burden of her family’s legacy heavily: her father's inability to “make it” in America has become her burden to overcome. This has resulted in deep loneliness, which she masks through hypercompetence and control (until the panic attacks force her to let go). Her estrangement from her mother, the only person who could understand her pain, only deepens her isolation.
Character moodboard for Simran, grabbing stills from films like "Dil Se," "Moonsoon Wedding," and "Gulaboo Sitabo."
We are aiming to shoot in October; here's a detailed timeline:
- July: we plan to finish casting and lock locations.
- August: Lock rest of crew, finish fundraising, and rehearse with actors
- September: Build out rest of crew and finalize logistics + shooting schedule
- October: shoot!
Breakdown of our budget.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera package
Costs $2,500
Quality cameras and lenses to help us capture stunning visuals that bring our story to life with cinematic quality.
Grip & Electric crew
Costs $1,500
Proper lighting and camera support equipment ensures every shot looks polished and professional.
Set design
Costs $1,000
Extra budget for props and set design will create an authentic, immersive world for our characters.
Locations
Costs $1,000
Access to ideal filming locations will enhance the story's authenticity and visual impact.
Sound (mixing and soundtrack)
Costs $1,000
High-quality audio and original music will elevate the emotional impact of every scene.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
About the team
We've assembled an all-star team that's working incredibly hard behind the scenes to bring this story to life.
Vinamrata Singal, writer/director
Vinamrata is a Stanford Computer Science grad and Google Product Manager turned filmmaker. She's a self-identified "third culture kid" and grew up across India, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and the US. Her fiction has been published in the Wilderness Literary House Review and longlisted for the Disquiet Literary Prize in 2022. This is her first microbudget short film debut, and she is incredibly excited to bring this story to life.
Maria Palacio, producer
Maria is a filmmaker, writer, and producer from New York City. She is also the founder of Revolution Me Film Festival, which nurtured filmmakers from around the world. Her shorts have premiered in various film festivals, such as Slamdance, Big Apple Film Festival, Chelsea Film Fesival, and NewFest.
Michael Parrella, Director of Photography
Michael is a Brooklyn-based cinematographer and visual artist. He has 10+ years of experience working behind the camera for companies like Vice, BBC, and ABC. His narrative projects have screened at Rhode Island International Film Festival, New Fest, Bushwick Film Festival, and Hudson Valley Film Fest.
Rhea Solanki, Production Designer
Rhea is a LA-based production designer, who has worked on hit TV shows like "Dahmer-Monster: the Jeffrey Dahmer Story" (Netflix), "Surfside Girls" (Apple TV+), "Home Economics" (Hulu). Her work has received appreciation at worldwide film festivals, including Tribeca, Sundance, HollyShorts, and Berlin Film Festival.
Medha Jaishankar, Executive Producer
Medha is an LA-based filmmaker and media entrepreneur, and the President of Omnivations (formerly Virtual Sonics), a leader in spatial audio and immersive media tech. She was an Executive Producer on Please Don’t Feed the Children (dir. Destry Allyn Spielberg, Tubi), He Went That Way (starring Jacob Elordi, Hulu) and the award winning short Night of the Bride among other projects. She previously worked at BBC World and Reliance Entertainment.
India Witkin, Executive Producer
Based in New York, India is a versatile storyteller and multimedia producer. India’s creativity and success lies in weaving compelling human narratives for a diverse clientele that includes renowned names such as TIME, Sony, Discovery, Participant Media and VICE. She’s passionate about creating impactful, human-centered content across various formats and mediums.
Additional Support from:
This script was developed in the RIckshaw Film Foundation's Writer's Lab and supported by the AZN Americana mentorship program.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
During the first Karva Chauth since the death of her husband, a grief-stricken Priya is on a mission to complete the ceremony, despite having just left the hospital. Meanwhile, her estranged daughter Simran arrives to figure out what's wrong with her mother, but Priya won't accept her held (despite her worsening condiiton). As mother and daughter battle over Priya's medical situation, they're forced to confront the grief that's torn them apart.
Tonally, this film is a tug-of-war between quiet intimacy and rigid control, reflecting the inner worlds of the two characters: Priya’s nostalgic yet melancholic dream-like state and Simran’s controlled, grounded reality. The constant conflict and hidden agendas create mounting tension and an unsettling feeling, resulting in a gut-wrenching confrontation which resolves into a quiet, poignant reconciliation.
Ultimately, this is a story for adult children of immigrant parents who want to understand their parents better, and for those parents to see themselves authentically represented on screen. It is a family story.
Mental health struggles are sky high in the diasporic community, especially for older generations. But they don’t talk about it. Meanwhile, as the younger generation ages into caretakers, we’re independently managing our mental health journey while caring for parents whom we don’t understand.
This shows up in our cinema: current mother-daughter stories are often “a battle of the generations.” They also highlight the younger generation's independent healing journey while the parents are sidelined (or stereotyped)—even though parent and child are inextricably linked.
“After Moonrise” shows how we can heal from grief with our parents, rather than in spite of them—and how to empower them without taking away their agency.
It explores the messy caretaking shift faced by our generation: how we need to care for our parents while still relying on them to care for us, all while navigating the resistance for support, even in moments of crisis.
Our three primary influences- "Girls Will Be Girls" (dir. Shuchi Talati), "His Three Daughters" (dir. Azazel Jacobs), and "Shiva Baby" (Dir. Emma Seligman)
Priya: 50s, Indian, female, store clerk. Priya survived a difficult childhood through two things: her faith (especially rituals) and Samir (her dead ex-husband). They escaped to America to start over, except nothing went according to plan. With his passing, she feels incomplete, stuck, and lost. Instead of fighting through, she’s given up, especially as her body deteriorates. She deeply misses her estranged daughter, but she’s too proud to admit it.
Character moodboard for Priya, grabbing stills from films like "Mom," "Sex Education," and "Aadai."
Simran: 20s, Indian American, female, PhD candidate. As an only child, Simran carries the burden of her family’s legacy heavily: her father's inability to “make it” in America has become her burden to overcome. This has resulted in deep loneliness, which she masks through hypercompetence and control (until the panic attacks force her to let go). Her estrangement from her mother, the only person who could understand her pain, only deepens her isolation.
Character moodboard for Simran, grabbing stills from films like "Dil Se," "Moonsoon Wedding," and "Gulaboo Sitabo."
We are aiming to shoot in October; here's a detailed timeline:
- July: we plan to finish casting and lock locations.
- August: Lock rest of crew, finish fundraising, and rehearse with actors
- September: Build out rest of crew and finalize logistics + shooting schedule
- October: shoot!
Breakdown of our budget.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera package
Costs $2,500
Quality cameras and lenses to help us capture stunning visuals that bring our story to life with cinematic quality.
Grip & Electric crew
Costs $1,500
Proper lighting and camera support equipment ensures every shot looks polished and professional.
Set design
Costs $1,000
Extra budget for props and set design will create an authentic, immersive world for our characters.
Locations
Costs $1,000
Access to ideal filming locations will enhance the story's authenticity and visual impact.
Sound (mixing and soundtrack)
Costs $1,000
High-quality audio and original music will elevate the emotional impact of every scene.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
About the team
We've assembled an all-star team that's working incredibly hard behind the scenes to bring this story to life.
Vinamrata Singal, writer/director
Vinamrata is a Stanford Computer Science grad and Google Product Manager turned filmmaker. She's a self-identified "third culture kid" and grew up across India, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and the US. Her fiction has been published in the Wilderness Literary House Review and longlisted for the Disquiet Literary Prize in 2022. This is her first microbudget short film debut, and she is incredibly excited to bring this story to life.
Maria Palacio, producer
Maria is a filmmaker, writer, and producer from New York City. She is also the founder of Revolution Me Film Festival, which nurtured filmmakers from around the world. Her shorts have premiered in various film festivals, such as Slamdance, Big Apple Film Festival, Chelsea Film Fesival, and NewFest.
Michael Parrella, Director of Photography
Michael is a Brooklyn-based cinematographer and visual artist. He has 10+ years of experience working behind the camera for companies like Vice, BBC, and ABC. His narrative projects have screened at Rhode Island International Film Festival, New Fest, Bushwick Film Festival, and Hudson Valley Film Fest.
Rhea Solanki, Production Designer
Rhea is a LA-based production designer, who has worked on hit TV shows like "Dahmer-Monster: the Jeffrey Dahmer Story" (Netflix), "Surfside Girls" (Apple TV+), "Home Economics" (Hulu). Her work has received appreciation at worldwide film festivals, including Tribeca, Sundance, HollyShorts, and Berlin Film Festival.
Medha Jaishankar, Executive Producer
Medha is an LA-based filmmaker and media entrepreneur, and the President of Omnivations (formerly Virtual Sonics), a leader in spatial audio and immersive media tech. She was an Executive Producer on Please Don’t Feed the Children (dir. Destry Allyn Spielberg, Tubi), He Went That Way (starring Jacob Elordi, Hulu) and the award winning short Night of the Bride among other projects. She previously worked at BBC World and Reliance Entertainment.
India Witkin, Executive Producer
Based in New York, India is a versatile storyteller and multimedia producer. India’s creativity and success lies in weaving compelling human narratives for a diverse clientele that includes renowned names such as TIME, Sony, Discovery, Participant Media and VICE. She’s passionate about creating impactful, human-centered content across various formats and mediums.
Additional Support from:
This script was developed in the RIckshaw Film Foundation's Writer's Lab and supported by the AZN Americana mentorship program.