This Land Is Cursed
Charles Town, West Virginia | Film Short
Drama, Romance
Somewhere in West Virginia, three teenage girls navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery. When emotions run high, their idyllic summer takes an unexpected turn – challenging their bond.
This Land Is Cursed
Charles Town, West Virginia | Film Short
Drama, Romance
2 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $7,677 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
54 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Somewhere in West Virginia, three teenage girls navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery. When emotions run high, their idyllic summer takes an unexpected turn – challenging their bond.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
This Land Is Cursed is set during a sweltering summer in the heart of West Virginia, where the river holds secrets, and every moment feels like it could last forever—or shatter in an instant.
The story begins with a group of friends - Devin, Cherry, and Ollie - in the midst of a melancholic August. Devin finds herself entangled in a romance with a boy that shares the same name as her. As the relationship unfolds, Devin begins to question her own emotions and the nature of love.
The narrative weaves through moments of joy, embarrassment, and heartbreak as the girls grapple with their desires and confront the harsh realities of adolescence. Amidst it all, an unexpected turn of events prompts the girls to confront the mortality and the transient nature of their teenage years.
Growing up as a brown girl in West Virginia was a journey filled with contradictions. The isolation of the mountains often felt suffocating, and yet, there was a strange comfort in it—a quiet clarity that came from the river and untouched landscapes. At times, it felt like the mountains were alive, listening to my hopes, fears, and questions when no one else could. That duality—the difficulty of existing in a place that also offers a sense of grounding—has stayed with me and serves as the emotional backbone of This Land Is Cursed.
This story is important because it challenges the stereotypes that often define West Virginia in the cultural imagination. Appalachia is far more than its caricatures, and to undo those damaging narratives, we need to amplify voices that have been historically underrepresented. By telling a story about identity, love, and friendship through the lens of young women of color, This Land Is Cursed seeks to redefine what it means to belong in a place like this. It’s a story for anyone who has ever felt out of place yet tethered to the land they call home.
This Land Is Cursed will be shot on 16mm film, lending the story a tactile, nostalgic quality that mirrors the fleeting nature of adolescence. The grain and texture of film bring a sense of intimacy and nuance, perfectly complementing the raw emotions of growing up.
Through natural light and muted tones, we aim to immerse viewers in a world that feels both personal and universal. This is a story of self-discovery, connection, and the abrupt, unknowing end of youth—told with honesty and sensitivity to its transformative power.
The budget for This Land Is Cursed is thoughtfully designed to ensure every aspect of the production is supported while maintaining financial responsibility. Every detail has been carefully planned to bring our vision to life, from supporting our talented cast and crew to securing the tools and resources needed to craft a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film. We’ve also included a contingency fund to cover any unforeseen expenses, ensuring we stay on schedule and deliver a polished final product.
Cast & Crew ($18,050): Fair compensation for the talented professionals who will bring this story to life.
Equipment Rentals ($6,200): High-quality cameras, lenses, and lighting to capture the beauty and rawness of the story on 16mm film.
Production Design ($1,050): Creating an authentic, immersive world that reflects the heart of Appalachia.
Wardrobe & Makeup ($350): Styling to enhance the characters and bring authenticity to every frame.
Catering & Transportation ($2,855): Meals and transportation to keep our hardworking team energized and on the move.
Post-Production & Distribution ($1,180): Editing, sound design, and festival submissions to ensure the film reaches its audience.
Contingency & Overhead Costs ($4,524): A safety net for unforeseen expenses to keep the production on track and on budget.
This Land Is Cursed is more than just a short film—it’s the first step in a larger journey. We’re treating this project as a proof of concept for a feature-length film, and this is just the beginning of bringing our vision to life on a broader scale.
We are committed to being mindful and intentional about where we submit this short. We want this film to go where it will be truly seen—festivals that champion underrepresented voices and have created space for stories like ours. We’re not just submitting a film; we’re opening a conversation, building a bridge, and inviting people to experience a world they might not otherwise know.
If we exceed our funding goal, the additional support will go towards better compensating our cast and crew, and improving production quality.
If we don't raise a minimum of 80% of our Seed&Spark funding goal, we won't receive any of our funding.
Creating This Land Is Cursed is a labor of love, but bringing our vision to life requires your support.
PLEDGE to our campaign–every contribution, no matter the size, gets us closer to creating something meaningful and memorable.
SHARE & FOLLOW our Seed&Spark page–by hitting the little heart button at the top right of the page, you help us get closer to accessing things like film festival waivers, production gear, and so much more!
FOLLOW US on Instagram and Facebook @ThisLandIsCursedFilm to stay connected and join our growing community–and follow this page for updates!
LIKE, COMMENT, AND SHARE our posts to help amplify our story.
Share the love with these pre-written messages!
I’m so excited to support @ThisLandIsCursedFilm, a beautiful story about love, friendship, and self-discovery set in the heart of Appalachia. Join @jillysobrino in bringing this story to life. Support now on @seedandspark: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
I just pledged to @ThisLandIsCursedFilm, a powerful exploration of youth, love, and identity in Appalachia. Please consider supporting and sharing: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
By telling a story about identity, love, and friendship through the lens of a young woman of color in Appalachia, @ThisLandIsCursedFilm is a story for anyone who has ever felt out of place yet tethered to the land they call home. This story is long overdue and needs your support: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
@ThisLandIsCursed is a beautiful, honest film about love, loss, and self-discovery. Support now: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
Every interaction brings us closer to making this dream a reality—thank you for being a part of this story’s future!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Festival Submissions & Distribution
Costs $500
Festival Submissions and distribution costs.
Camera & Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Essential for capturing stunning visuals that bring the story’s vision to life with cinematic precision.
Transportation
Costs $500
Covers travel for crew from NYC to WV, ensuring everyone and everything arrives safely for production.
Catering & Crafty
Costs $500
Keeps cast and crew fed, energized, and focused during long production days.
Cast & Crew Compensation.
Costs $3,000
Supports talented actors who bring authenticity and depth to the characters, making the story resonate.
Production Design & Costumes
Costs $750
Ensures each character feels authentic with styling that enhances the film’s visual storytelling.
Post-Production
Costs $1,250
Funds editing, sound, and color grading to deliver a polished, professional final film.
Location Fees & Permits
Costs $500
Creating a personal, lived-in space that reflects Devin’s character through carefully selected decor, bedding, and personal items.
Share this update!
About This Team
This film is proudly brought to life by a women-led team.
Jillian Sobrino is a director based in NYC. She earned her master's in film directing from the School of Visual Arts and holds a bachelor's in digital filmmaking from Shepherd University. Her master’s thesis, Killing Myself, premiered at the Academy-qualifying film festival, Out On Film, and is now streaming globally on iWantTFC.com. In addition to her work as a director, Jillian is a full-time video editor, dedicating her off hours to creating independent films and music videos that push creative boundaries.
Ilona Cazorla is a French producer and actress based in New York. She is co-running Insouciant Films, a creative production house specializing in short and feature films, as well as commercials. Renowned for her commitment to exceptional visual quality and professional service, Ilona collaborates with top-tier creatives to bring compelling stories to life. As a producer, her projects often explore themes of feminism, LGBT representation and social issues, reflecting her passion for inclusive storytelling. In addition to her production work, Ilona is an actress and has appeared in several short and feature films. She has won the Best Performance Award at the Toronto LGBT Film Festival. Ilona continues to bridge creativity and activism, using her artistry to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.
Mariana Soares is the Production Designer. Brazilian born, Brooklyn based, Mariana is a production designer and art director that has been working in the art department in New York for over 10 years. She designed and collaborated with several major brands such as Spotify, Mattel, Steven Madden, Google, Penguin books, and so on and with musicians such as Paul McCartney and a Place to bury strangers. Mariana has received the Thiborough Film Festival Award, Maverick Movie awards for best production design, and a Mattel award for best Latin American design. She did the Production Design for 8 indie films including the sci-fi feature film, ReEntry, starring Sam Trammel (true blood) and Emily Deschanel (bones) premiering in 2024.
Caroline Pommert-Allegrante & Joanna Levinger are Casting Directors & Executive Producers with over 15 years of experience in the French and American film and television industries. Over the course of their careers they have worked with acclaimed directors, such as Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Gianni Amelio and David Fincher.
They recently wrapped casting on Adam Sander’s Happy Gilmore 2 and Amy Schumer’s Kinda Pregnant for Netflix/Happy Madison Productions. They had a banner year in 2024 with films and series at Cannes, SXSW, Tribeca and Dances with Films. Selected upcoming series include Before (Apple TV), The Residence (Netflix) and Teacup (Peacock).
Separately, they have worked on a variety of projects, from blockbusters like Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, Joe Wright’s The Woman in the Window to indie films, Susie Searches, The Only Living Boy in New York and Hot Air and TV series such as ABC's Emergence, Hulu's Reprisal, Apple's The Morning Show, HBO’s White House Plumbers, MGM’s Godfather of Harlem and Paramount’s Tulsa King.
As casting partners, Caroline and Joanna offer a well-rounded perspective with their combined backgrounds and experiences, enriching any project they cast.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
This Land Is Cursed is set during a sweltering summer in the heart of West Virginia, where the river holds secrets, and every moment feels like it could last forever—or shatter in an instant.
The story begins with a group of friends - Devin, Cherry, and Ollie - in the midst of a melancholic August. Devin finds herself entangled in a romance with a boy that shares the same name as her. As the relationship unfolds, Devin begins to question her own emotions and the nature of love.
The narrative weaves through moments of joy, embarrassment, and heartbreak as the girls grapple with their desires and confront the harsh realities of adolescence. Amidst it all, an unexpected turn of events prompts the girls to confront the mortality and the transient nature of their teenage years.
Growing up as a brown girl in West Virginia was a journey filled with contradictions. The isolation of the mountains often felt suffocating, and yet, there was a strange comfort in it—a quiet clarity that came from the river and untouched landscapes. At times, it felt like the mountains were alive, listening to my hopes, fears, and questions when no one else could. That duality—the difficulty of existing in a place that also offers a sense of grounding—has stayed with me and serves as the emotional backbone of This Land Is Cursed.
This story is important because it challenges the stereotypes that often define West Virginia in the cultural imagination. Appalachia is far more than its caricatures, and to undo those damaging narratives, we need to amplify voices that have been historically underrepresented. By telling a story about identity, love, and friendship through the lens of young women of color, This Land Is Cursed seeks to redefine what it means to belong in a place like this. It’s a story for anyone who has ever felt out of place yet tethered to the land they call home.
This Land Is Cursed will be shot on 16mm film, lending the story a tactile, nostalgic quality that mirrors the fleeting nature of adolescence. The grain and texture of film bring a sense of intimacy and nuance, perfectly complementing the raw emotions of growing up.
Through natural light and muted tones, we aim to immerse viewers in a world that feels both personal and universal. This is a story of self-discovery, connection, and the abrupt, unknowing end of youth—told with honesty and sensitivity to its transformative power.
The budget for This Land Is Cursed is thoughtfully designed to ensure every aspect of the production is supported while maintaining financial responsibility. Every detail has been carefully planned to bring our vision to life, from supporting our talented cast and crew to securing the tools and resources needed to craft a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film. We’ve also included a contingency fund to cover any unforeseen expenses, ensuring we stay on schedule and deliver a polished final product.
Cast & Crew ($18,050): Fair compensation for the talented professionals who will bring this story to life.
Equipment Rentals ($6,200): High-quality cameras, lenses, and lighting to capture the beauty and rawness of the story on 16mm film.
Production Design ($1,050): Creating an authentic, immersive world that reflects the heart of Appalachia.
Wardrobe & Makeup ($350): Styling to enhance the characters and bring authenticity to every frame.
Catering & Transportation ($2,855): Meals and transportation to keep our hardworking team energized and on the move.
Post-Production & Distribution ($1,180): Editing, sound design, and festival submissions to ensure the film reaches its audience.
Contingency & Overhead Costs ($4,524): A safety net for unforeseen expenses to keep the production on track and on budget.
This Land Is Cursed is more than just a short film—it’s the first step in a larger journey. We’re treating this project as a proof of concept for a feature-length film, and this is just the beginning of bringing our vision to life on a broader scale.
We are committed to being mindful and intentional about where we submit this short. We want this film to go where it will be truly seen—festivals that champion underrepresented voices and have created space for stories like ours. We’re not just submitting a film; we’re opening a conversation, building a bridge, and inviting people to experience a world they might not otherwise know.
If we exceed our funding goal, the additional support will go towards better compensating our cast and crew, and improving production quality.
If we don't raise a minimum of 80% of our Seed&Spark funding goal, we won't receive any of our funding.
Creating This Land Is Cursed is a labor of love, but bringing our vision to life requires your support.
PLEDGE to our campaign–every contribution, no matter the size, gets us closer to creating something meaningful and memorable.
SHARE & FOLLOW our Seed&Spark page–by hitting the little heart button at the top right of the page, you help us get closer to accessing things like film festival waivers, production gear, and so much more!
FOLLOW US on Instagram and Facebook @ThisLandIsCursedFilm to stay connected and join our growing community–and follow this page for updates!
LIKE, COMMENT, AND SHARE our posts to help amplify our story.
Share the love with these pre-written messages!
I’m so excited to support @ThisLandIsCursedFilm, a beautiful story about love, friendship, and self-discovery set in the heart of Appalachia. Join @jillysobrino in bringing this story to life. Support now on @seedandspark: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
I just pledged to @ThisLandIsCursedFilm, a powerful exploration of youth, love, and identity in Appalachia. Please consider supporting and sharing: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
By telling a story about identity, love, and friendship through the lens of a young woman of color in Appalachia, @ThisLandIsCursedFilm is a story for anyone who has ever felt out of place yet tethered to the land they call home. This story is long overdue and needs your support: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
@ThisLandIsCursed is a beautiful, honest film about love, loss, and self-discovery. Support now: seedandspark.com/fund/thislandiscursed
Every interaction brings us closer to making this dream a reality—thank you for being a part of this story’s future!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Festival Submissions & Distribution
Costs $500
Festival Submissions and distribution costs.
Camera & Equipment Rentals
Costs $2,000
Essential for capturing stunning visuals that bring the story’s vision to life with cinematic precision.
Transportation
Costs $500
Covers travel for crew from NYC to WV, ensuring everyone and everything arrives safely for production.
Catering & Crafty
Costs $500
Keeps cast and crew fed, energized, and focused during long production days.
Cast & Crew Compensation.
Costs $3,000
Supports talented actors who bring authenticity and depth to the characters, making the story resonate.
Production Design & Costumes
Costs $750
Ensures each character feels authentic with styling that enhances the film’s visual storytelling.
Post-Production
Costs $1,250
Funds editing, sound, and color grading to deliver a polished, professional final film.
Location Fees & Permits
Costs $500
Creating a personal, lived-in space that reflects Devin’s character through carefully selected decor, bedding, and personal items.
Share this update!
About This Team
This film is proudly brought to life by a women-led team.
Jillian Sobrino is a director based in NYC. She earned her master's in film directing from the School of Visual Arts and holds a bachelor's in digital filmmaking from Shepherd University. Her master’s thesis, Killing Myself, premiered at the Academy-qualifying film festival, Out On Film, and is now streaming globally on iWantTFC.com. In addition to her work as a director, Jillian is a full-time video editor, dedicating her off hours to creating independent films and music videos that push creative boundaries.
Ilona Cazorla is a French producer and actress based in New York. She is co-running Insouciant Films, a creative production house specializing in short and feature films, as well as commercials. Renowned for her commitment to exceptional visual quality and professional service, Ilona collaborates with top-tier creatives to bring compelling stories to life. As a producer, her projects often explore themes of feminism, LGBT representation and social issues, reflecting her passion for inclusive storytelling. In addition to her production work, Ilona is an actress and has appeared in several short and feature films. She has won the Best Performance Award at the Toronto LGBT Film Festival. Ilona continues to bridge creativity and activism, using her artistry to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.
Mariana Soares is the Production Designer. Brazilian born, Brooklyn based, Mariana is a production designer and art director that has been working in the art department in New York for over 10 years. She designed and collaborated with several major brands such as Spotify, Mattel, Steven Madden, Google, Penguin books, and so on and with musicians such as Paul McCartney and a Place to bury strangers. Mariana has received the Thiborough Film Festival Award, Maverick Movie awards for best production design, and a Mattel award for best Latin American design. She did the Production Design for 8 indie films including the sci-fi feature film, ReEntry, starring Sam Trammel (true blood) and Emily Deschanel (bones) premiering in 2024.
Caroline Pommert-Allegrante & Joanna Levinger are Casting Directors & Executive Producers with over 15 years of experience in the French and American film and television industries. Over the course of their careers they have worked with acclaimed directors, such as Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Gianni Amelio and David Fincher.
They recently wrapped casting on Adam Sander’s Happy Gilmore 2 and Amy Schumer’s Kinda Pregnant for Netflix/Happy Madison Productions. They had a banner year in 2024 with films and series at Cannes, SXSW, Tribeca and Dances with Films. Selected upcoming series include Before (Apple TV), The Residence (Netflix) and Teacup (Peacock).
Separately, they have worked on a variety of projects, from blockbusters like Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, Joe Wright’s The Woman in the Window to indie films, Susie Searches, The Only Living Boy in New York and Hot Air and TV series such as ABC's Emergence, Hulu's Reprisal, Apple's The Morning Show, HBO’s White House Plumbers, MGM’s Godfather of Harlem and Paramount’s Tulsa King.
As casting partners, Caroline and Joanna offer a well-rounded perspective with their combined backgrounds and experiences, enriching any project they cast.