Mycena doesn’t fit in at school and her parents are never home, she finds refuge only in her books and fantasy stories, pushing away her caring babysitter, Kim. Once night has fallen and all the lights in the house are shut off, Mycena secretly sneaks under the blankets and begins to read. A magical being pops out of her book and beckons her to follow it into the woods where she will make a fantastic discovery.

My goal is to bring more satisfying live action fantasy films to the screen. Sylphvania Grove is not only an exciting piece of entertainment but also a layered, character driven short film. Unique and personal, it doesn’t solely rely on CG and instead creatively uses practical effects to bring a mythological creature to life. It also allows a female actress to shine in a genre in which boys are usually the stars.  

I remember as a kid I wanted to dress like a boy, not because I had trouble identifying with my own sex but because in movies boys were cool, they went on adventures, they were heroes, but girls, more often than not, looked really pretty and that was it. I wanted to be Atreyu, Cole and Elliot, I felt a sort of shame about being a girl because that seemed to mean I was weak and unadventurous. Mycena is a character not only girls and boys can identify with but also adults: her struggles are universal and her inner strength is enough to inspire anyone. 

I know that there is an audience out there for stories with rich, vibrant worlds and relatable characters that don’t treat the fantasy genre as if it’s only of interest to children or those seeking cheesy romance. I want to be a part of the group of filmmakers who re-invent the fantasy genre and are not afraid to break down its conventions.

Stories can change the world, most of us on this project are volunteering our time and talents to create something different. Join us in the making of Sylphvania Grove and become a part of the change.

Our $6 000 goal is the bare minimum needed to shoot the film at a production quality everyone involved can be proud of.

• If we raise $7 000 we’ll be able to cover our post-production, editing and some of the special effects costs.
• If we raise $8 000 we’ll be able to cover our music and sound design costs.
• If we raise $9 000 we'll be able to cover our DCP and Blu-ray cost.
• If we raise $10 000 we’ll be able to cover our festival, distribution and promotional costs, getting the film out to the world and in front of a wider audience.

Maxine Wanderer as Mycena

Mycena is a ten-year-old who loves make-believe, spending most of her time alone, reading fairy tales and adventure stories. She feels pressure to grow up from her classmates and parents but is not willing to abandon her sense of wonder and imagination to fit into their mold of what a proper young woman should be.

Maxine's Reel    Maxine on IMDB

Charlie Gillette as Kim

Kim is a mathematics student in college, she has been Mycena's babysitter since high school. She often sacrifices her social life to babysit so that Mycena doesn't have to deal with constant sitter turnaround. She's aware Mycena is having difficulties with other kids but doesn't know what to do.

Charlie's Website    Charlie on IMDB

Meaghan Bloom Fluitt as Dotoira, the Deer Lady

Dotoira is over a thousand years old, she is part woman, part deer. She hasn't left her house since she was a few years older than Mycena and boys from a neighboring village assaulted her because she was strange. 

Meaghan's Website    Meaghan on IMDB 

Samarah Conley as... a secret character!

We want to give you as much info as possible, but we don't want to spoil the movie! Samarah is an actress with a strong background in singing who also trains in musical theater, piano, ballet, tap and jazz.

Samarah's Backstage    Samarah on IMDB

Jessica Baird as Mother

Jessica on IMDB

Al Pagano as Father

Al on IMDB