After an unforeseen and heartbreaking loss in Elena's life, she is left emotionally exhausted and with the burden of caring for her family. A scientific breakthrough that occurred many years ago allows loved ones to be brought back to life, with sufficient evidence to suggest that they could be a valuable citizen who contributes to society's repair. Despite being worn down by grief, she sees The Lazarus Program as a way forward to restore what has been taken from her family. Unfortunately, challenges in this pursuit show early on when the lawyer she meets with expresses the biotech company's differing views on eligibility.

Director's Note

In 2022, I signed a consent form confirming my participation as the sole patient in a Phase 1 gene-editing clinical trial. The process led to a stem cell transplant later that August, followed by a recovery that unfolded over several years. Those years became some of the most transformative of my life.

I learned many things from that experience, but the discovery I return to most, and the one I hope to bring to this film, is the profound sense of impersonalization and clinical distance that can arise while pursuing a treatment that is deeply personal. Our protagonist, Elena, finds herself in a similarly vulnerable position, allowing a biotech company to determine the fate of the one she loves. It’s disorienting to occupy such a fragile space while navigating the machinery of vast institutions. My hope is that my own experience within a clinical trial will lend this story—centered on a science-fictional medical innovation—a sense of realism, grounding, and emotional truth.

Why This Film Matters to Bright Future Pictures

At Bright Future, we’re passionate about championing bold, high-concept stories that also carry emotional and societal weight. This story is everything we stand for which is smart, stylized genre storytelling, social commentary that demands conversation, and especially inclusive filmmaking that gives underrepresented artists a platform.

We’re ecstatic to be supporting this project and helping it evolve from a proof-of-concept into a full feature. As a company founded by emerging women filmmakers, we know how hard it is to tell the stories that reflect our communities, our trauma, and our futures. This project does all three, and we believe it deserves to be seen.

The Look

This story unfolds in a world where the greatest threats are psychological, bureaucratic, and existential. To reflect that, we lean into a cold, clinical aesthetic—an atmosphere shaped by the meeting rooms and institutional spaces where the characters confront impersonal systems. We hope these visuals highlight the isolation that arises when one is forced to navigate structures designed to feel indifferent.

Within this stark environment, color becomes a vital counterpoint. Hues of blue, green, and orange punctuate the frame, each carrying specific emotional weight. Blue evokes grief, guilt, and loneliness; orange signals transformation, warning, or even destruction; and green suggests cycles of life, death, and renewal. These deliberate bursts of color act as traces of life within an otherwise muted world. We aim to translate this idea by working with our set designer and a colorist in post-production to keep hues that might otherwise feel vibrant more grounded and restrained. All of this serves as evidence that life exists here but only in forms that are controlled and calculated.

The timeline above outlines our projected journey from pre-production through post-production, with our goal to begin festival submissions in late 2026. We also plan to continue submitting into 2027 as the film gains momentum. We’re excited to take these next steps!

We’re currently deep in pre-production—scouting locations, sharing updates on social media, and building a team of passionate filmmakers. To move into production, we need your support to reach Green Light Status. Seed & Spark releases funds only when we reach 80% of our budget goal—the threshold for achieving that milestone. Help us reach the next stage in our production timeline and bring this film into principal photography!

We’re working toward a budget goal of $10,035 to complete this film. The pie chart above highlights our four largest expense areas, which make up most of our costs. Your support helps us reach this goal and make the project possible!

How to Get Involved

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about The Lazarus Program — your belief in this project means the world to us. Here are a few meaningful ways you can be a part our journey:

• Pledge — Every pledge, big or small, helps us move this film forward. By pledging, you’re also making a statement of support for high-concept independent filmmaking and helping bring bold, original stories to life.
• Share the campaign — Spreading the word is just as powerful as donating. We’re so grateful to anyone who helps get our story in front of new eyes.
• Follow us on social media — TikTok/Instagram: @thelazarusprogramfilm. Stay connected, catch updates, and join us on the filmmaking journey as it unfolds.

If you would like to reach out feel free to contact us by email at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you. Thank you for being part of this project — your support truly makes all the difference.