The Funeral
Fishkill, New York | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
While visiting their grandmother Ingrid's funeral home, two children notice that a prepared corpse has disappeared. After a wild chase, the children find a Mexican immigrant facing his final Green Card interview. His plan? Stage his own death to escape capture.
The Funeral
Fishkill, New York | Film Short
Drama, Comedy
1 Campaigns | New Jersey, United States
8 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,355
Goal: $16,450 for production
While visiting their grandmother Ingrid's funeral home, two children notice that a prepared corpse has disappeared. After a wild chase, the children find a Mexican immigrant facing his final Green Card interview. His plan? Stage his own death to escape capture.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Funeral is a dark comedy with heart about the unexpected places where compassion can be found. When two curious children discover a man hiding inside one of their grandmother's caskets, their ordinary day at the family funeral home turns into an extraordinary journey. As fear, humor, and humanity collide, the family must decide whether following the law matters more than saving a life. Inspired by the filmmaker's childhood visits to her grandmother's funeral home, The Funeral reminds us that sometimes the greatest act of courage is simply choosing compassion.
In this day and age when people are divided, disconnected and angry, The Funeral aims to make us see how connected we really are. People from different cultures and communities around the world are all human beings. We share our love of our families, music, food and work--and we need each other. Inspired by my grandmother, we are telling a story of courage. A story of how children often identify important things long before adults do.
Written by Kristin Samuelson, The Funeral has already received significant recognition on the international festival circuit, demonstrating the story's emotional impact and universal appeal before production has even begun. The screenplay has earned Grand Prize: Best Short Screenplay at the Berlin International Screenwriting Festival, Best Drama Script at Hollywood Just 4 Shorts, Best Short Screenplay at the Madrid Shorts Film Festival, and Best Social Justice Screenplay at the Cannes World Film Festival. It has also been recognized as a Semi-Finalist at Indie Shorts Fest Los Angeles, a Quarter-Finalist at both the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards and the New York Metropolitan Screenwriting Competition, received an Honorable Mention from The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, and an Award of Excellence from the Accolade Global Film Competition.
Every contribution helps bring The Funeral to life. As you might imagine, this is an unusually complex and ambitious short film. The items listed on our Seed&Spark wishlist represent only about half of our total production budget. We have intentionally limited the wishlist because Seed&Spark requires campaigns to reach 80% of their funding goal before funds are released to the project. By setting a realistic crowdfunding goal, we increase our chances of unlocking those funds and moving into production.
We still have one third of our shoot to finish on Sept. 10. Blessed with credit cards, we are moving forward -- but we still need your help!! Finishing everything by early-November will require dedication, determination and dollars. Although production has been expensive, post-production is also a costly part of making a film. We need: Video editing, sound design, sound mix, music, color correction, titles & graphics, DCP or final copies of the film for submission and a little extra just in case!
If you would like to make a larger impact, you may also choose to make a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, The Gotham. Gifts made through our fiscal sponsorship go directly toward completing the film and help cover the remaining production expenses not included in our Seed&Spark campaign. Every donation—whether through Seed&Spark or our fiscal sponsor—brings us one step closer to sharing this story with audiences. Tax-deductible donations can be made here: https://fiscal.thegotham.org/film/5822/the-funeral
Our ambitious budget looks like this:
As our way of saying thank you for supporting The Funeral, we've put together a collection of meaningful rewards for our backers. Whether you're making a small contribution or becoming one of our biggest champions, we want you to feel like you're part of this filmmaking journey.
Our rewards include early access to the completed film, exclusive behind-the-scenes updates, signed posters, and other keepsakes that celebrate the making of The Funeral. For those who choose to contribute at higher levels, we've also created unique opportunities—including screen-used memorabilia and the chance to receive an Executive Producer credit in recognition of your extraordinary support.
Every reward is our way of sharing this experience with the people who help make it possible. We can't wait to bring you behind the scenes and celebrate the film's journey together.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Director of Photography & Crew
Costs $7,500
Our amazing Director of Photography & crew will capture the shadows, humor, tension, and unexpected warmth of a story set in a funeral home.
Location: Funeral Homes
Costs $3,250
Our locations happen to have coffins! Authentic funeral homes provide the atmosphere, mystery, and realism that bring comedy & heart to this
Actors
Costs $3,150
A great script comes alive through great performances. Our cast will use their artistry to bring the humor, fright and heart to The Funeral
Lodging
Costs $1,300
After spending all day in a funeral home, our team needs a comfortable place to recharge between long shooting days—keeping everyone ready!
Food
Costs $800
Lights. Camera. Lunch! Making The Funeral takes long hours, lots of energy—and a well-fed cast and crew. Your support keeps everyone fueled.
Transportation
Costs $450
No hearses are available for our transportation! This funding helps keep our cast & crew on schedule, and moving in the right direction.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Every film is the result of passionate people working toward a shared vision. Our team is made up of dedicated actors and creatives who believe in the power of empathy, authentic storytelling, and meaningful human connection. From pre-production through post-production, each member brings their unique expertise and creativity to help bring The Funeral to life.
The Funeral features Carlos Santos (Manuel), who is widely recognized for his role as a series regular on Gentefied on Netflix. He has also been cast in the Prime series Primo, as well the animated series Undone, working alongside Rosa Salazar and Bob Odenkirk. Carlos starred in The Valet on Hulu Eugenio Derbez, Vacation Friends 2 with John Cena, and the Blumhouse film There's Something Wrong with the Children. We he's not acting, he is touring the nation as a standup comedian.
Starring as the grandchildren are Colin Czornobil (Adam) who makes his film debut in The Funeral--woohoo! and Blair Newman (Grace), best known for her performances in The Artist and The Drive.
The spirited Josh Cohen joins the cast as Freddy, and is known for The Plot Against America (HBO), Snap (AMC+), The Tonight Show (NBC), as well as feature films, Love Language and The Toast expecting 2027 releases. He is also a touring stand up comedian, recently awarded Best Next Comedian by Stand Up NY.
Edoardo Miranda, our venerable Priest, starred as Sal De Leon in For: Lila for which he was nominated as Best Actor for his stand out performance. Other credits include Eating with the Enemy and his Broadway Debut in The Last Boy.
Samantha Rivers Cole charms as Jessica, the mother of Adam and Grace. She is known for The Deuce (HBO), The Blacklist (NBC), Blindspot (NBC) and The Plot Against America (HBO).
Matthew Napoli brings a touch of cynicism to Donald, who is Adam and Grace's dad. Matthew is known for Graveyard Shift, One Hell of a Day and The Joy is in the Work: Remembering Ann Reinking.
Kristin Samuelson (Writer, Director, Producer and Ingrid) is an award-winning filmmaker whose work spans film, television, theater, and music. Her debut screenplay, Extradition, earned multiple awards at film festivals across the United States and Europe, and her latest script, The Funeral, continues her focus on stories that explore controversial social themes. She holds a doctorate from Columbia University and her research has been published in academic journals. Her multidisciplinary background informs her work as a female filmmaker. 
Peter Garajzski (Director of Photography) started filming extreme sports in Budapest Hungary, then worked as a one man band Videographer and an assistant for Korda Film Studios. After moving to to the UK, Peter was able to grow in the direction of narrative projects. Peter simultaneously worked as a Gaffer for various television series, while doing more and more short films as a DP. Peter is currently in New York, working on various feature films. He has now worked on over 100 short films. 
Lauren Ashley Orlando (Producer) is an accomplished producer, production manager, actor and singer widely recognized in the film and theatre industries. Lauren’s production company Dead Zone Productions, LLC. produced and managed So It Goes, Her Longest Way Back Home, Warning! The Greatest Demon Hunter is Out!, and Apostasy Blues. As an actor, she has starred in HBO’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark and In Between. She recently completed a feature length film titled Ms. Julie.
Michael Wilson Morgan (Scene Designer and Costumes Designer) is an actor and stuntman best known for his roles in Homicide City (2019), Gotham (2018) and My Dirty Little Secret (2015). Michael is also an accomplished artist, often designing and building sets, costumes, puppets and masks for film, TV and theatre. Michael attended SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design, earning a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media and Performing Arts with a focus in Performance (2001) and a Masters of Fine Arts in Media and Performing Arts with a focus in Production Design (2002).
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Funeral is a dark comedy with heart about the unexpected places where compassion can be found. When two curious children discover a man hiding inside one of their grandmother's caskets, their ordinary day at the family funeral home turns into an extraordinary journey. As fear, humor, and humanity collide, the family must decide whether following the law matters more than saving a life. Inspired by the filmmaker's childhood visits to her grandmother's funeral home, The Funeral reminds us that sometimes the greatest act of courage is simply choosing compassion.
In this day and age when people are divided, disconnected and angry, The Funeral aims to make us see how connected we really are. People from different cultures and communities around the world are all human beings. We share our love of our families, music, food and work--and we need each other. Inspired by my grandmother, we are telling a story of courage. A story of how children often identify important things long before adults do.Written by Kristin Samuelson, The Funeral has already received significant recognition on the international festival circuit, demonstrating the story's emotional impact and universal appeal before production has even begun. The screenplay has earned Grand Prize: Best Short Screenplay at the Berlin International Screenwriting Festival, Best Drama Script at Hollywood Just 4 Shorts, Best Short Screenplay at the Madrid Shorts Film Festival, and Best Social Justice Screenplay at the Cannes World Film Festival. It has also been recognized as a Semi-Finalist at Indie Shorts Fest Los Angeles, a Quarter-Finalist at both the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards and the New York Metropolitan Screenwriting Competition, received an Honorable Mention from The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, and an Award of Excellence from the Accolade Global Film Competition.
Every contribution helps bring The Funeral to life. As you might imagine, this is an unusually complex and ambitious short film. The items listed on our Seed&Spark wishlist represent only about half of our total production budget. We have intentionally limited the wishlist because Seed&Spark requires campaigns to reach 80% of their funding goal before funds are released to the project. By setting a realistic crowdfunding goal, we increase our chances of unlocking those funds and moving into production.
We still have one third of our shoot to finish on Sept. 10. Blessed with credit cards, we are moving forward -- but we still need your help!! Finishing everything by early-November will require dedication, determination and dollars. Although production has been expensive, post-production is also a costly part of making a film. We need: Video editing, sound design, sound mix, music, color correction, titles & graphics, DCP or final copies of the film for submission and a little extra just in case!
If you would like to make a larger impact, you may also choose to make a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, The Gotham. Gifts made through our fiscal sponsorship go directly toward completing the film and help cover the remaining production expenses not included in our Seed&Spark campaign. Every donation—whether through Seed&Spark or our fiscal sponsor—brings us one step closer to sharing this story with audiences. Tax-deductible donations can be made here: https://fiscal.thegotham.org/film/5822/the-funeral
Our ambitious budget looks like this:
As our way of saying thank you for supporting The Funeral, we've put together a collection of meaningful rewards for our backers. Whether you're making a small contribution or becoming one of our biggest champions, we want you to feel like you're part of this filmmaking journey.
Our rewards include early access to the completed film, exclusive behind-the-scenes updates, signed posters, and other keepsakes that celebrate the making of The Funeral. For those who choose to contribute at higher levels, we've also created unique opportunities—including screen-used memorabilia and the chance to receive an Executive Producer credit in recognition of your extraordinary support.
Every reward is our way of sharing this experience with the people who help make it possible. We can't wait to bring you behind the scenes and celebrate the film's journey together.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Director of Photography & Crew
Costs $7,500
Our amazing Director of Photography & crew will capture the shadows, humor, tension, and unexpected warmth of a story set in a funeral home.
Location: Funeral Homes
Costs $3,250
Our locations happen to have coffins! Authentic funeral homes provide the atmosphere, mystery, and realism that bring comedy & heart to this
Actors
Costs $3,150
A great script comes alive through great performances. Our cast will use their artistry to bring the humor, fright and heart to The Funeral
Lodging
Costs $1,300
After spending all day in a funeral home, our team needs a comfortable place to recharge between long shooting days—keeping everyone ready!
Food
Costs $800
Lights. Camera. Lunch! Making The Funeral takes long hours, lots of energy—and a well-fed cast and crew. Your support keeps everyone fueled.
Transportation
Costs $450
No hearses are available for our transportation! This funding helps keep our cast & crew on schedule, and moving in the right direction.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Every film is the result of passionate people working toward a shared vision. Our team is made up of dedicated actors and creatives who believe in the power of empathy, authentic storytelling, and meaningful human connection. From pre-production through post-production, each member brings their unique expertise and creativity to help bring The Funeral to life.
The Funeral features Carlos Santos (Manuel), who is widely recognized for his role as a series regular on Gentefied on Netflix. He has also been cast in the Prime series Primo, as well the animated series Undone, working alongside Rosa Salazar and Bob Odenkirk. Carlos starred in The Valet on Hulu Eugenio Derbez, Vacation Friends 2 with John Cena, and the Blumhouse film There's Something Wrong with the Children. We he's not acting, he is touring the nation as a standup comedian.
Starring as the grandchildren are Colin Czornobil (Adam) who makes his film debut in The Funeral--woohoo! and Blair Newman (Grace), best known for her performances in The Artist and The Drive.
The spirited Josh Cohen joins the cast as Freddy, and is known for The Plot Against America (HBO), Snap (AMC+), The Tonight Show (NBC), as well as feature films, Love Language and The Toast expecting 2027 releases. He is also a touring stand up comedian, recently awarded Best Next Comedian by Stand Up NY.
Edoardo Miranda, our venerable Priest, starred as Sal De Leon in For: Lila for which he was nominated as Best Actor for his stand out performance. Other credits include Eating with the Enemy and his Broadway Debut in The Last Boy.
Samantha Rivers Cole charms as Jessica, the mother of Adam and Grace. She is known for The Deuce (HBO), The Blacklist (NBC), Blindspot (NBC) and The Plot Against America (HBO).
Matthew Napoli brings a touch of cynicism to Donald, who is Adam and Grace's dad. Matthew is known for Graveyard Shift, One Hell of a Day and The Joy is in the Work: Remembering Ann Reinking.
Kristin Samuelson (Writer, Director, Producer and Ingrid) is an award-winning filmmaker whose work spans film, television, theater, and music. Her debut screenplay, Extradition, earned multiple awards at film festivals across the United States and Europe, and her latest script, The Funeral, continues her focus on stories that explore controversial social themes. She holds a doctorate from Columbia University and her research has been published in academic journals. Her multidisciplinary background informs her work as a female filmmaker. Peter Garajzski (Director of Photography) started filming extreme sports in Budapest Hungary, then worked as a one man band Videographer and an assistant for Korda Film Studios. After moving to to the UK, Peter was able to grow in the direction of narrative projects. Peter simultaneously worked as a Gaffer for various television series, while doing more and more short films as a DP. Peter is currently in New York, working on various feature films. He has now worked on over 100 short films.
Lauren Ashley Orlando (Producer) is an accomplished producer, production manager, actor and singer widely recognized in the film and theatre industries. Lauren’s production company Dead Zone Productions, LLC. produced and managed So It Goes, Her Longest Way Back Home, Warning! The Greatest Demon Hunter is Out!, and Apostasy Blues. As an actor, she has starred in HBO’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark and In Between. She recently completed a feature length film titled Ms. Julie.
Michael Wilson Morgan (Scene Designer and Costumes Designer) is an actor and stuntman best known for his roles in Homicide City (2019), Gotham (2018) and My Dirty Little Secret (2015). Michael is also an accomplished artist, often designing and building sets, costumes, puppets and masks for film, TV and theatre. Michael attended SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design, earning a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media and Performing Arts with a focus in Performance (2001) and a Masters of Fine Arts in Media and Performing Arts with a focus in Production Design (2002).