S H A L L O W E N D

written & directed by

María de la Cruz Rudloff

specs

run time: 15 minutes

genre: drama / coming of age

language: spanish & english

festivals & awards

REEL SISTERS OF THE DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL

Brooklyn, NY
In competition ‘Best Short Film’
Academy Award® Qualifying Festival
WINNER - Best Short Narrative Film
KATRA LATINX FILM FESTIVAL

New York, NY
Honorable Mention for Best Narrative Short Film
IMAGINE THIS WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

New York, NY
Official Selection
BUSHWICK FILM FESTIVAL

Brooklyn, NY
Official Selection
NEW YORK LATINO FILM FESTIVAL

New York, NY
Official Selection
NYLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

New York, NY & Los Angeles, CA
WINNER - Award of Excellence
NEW FACES NEW VOICES FESTIVAL

New York, NY
Official Selection
ART OF BROOKLYN FILM FESTIVAL

Brooklyn, NY
IMDB Qualifying Festival
Official Selection

log line

A young woman comes home from rehab in hopes of reconnecting with her childhood best friend, only to discover that their relationship wasn’t as idyllic as she remembered.

director’s statement

I believe that the complexity of platonic female friendships is often oversimplified. Our best friends form us. They become our secret keepers, our drinking buddies, our therapists, our family. But somewhere along the way, we begin to grow up. And sometimes, we grow apart. We have all been close to someone and then drifted. We all have someone who was once an irreplaceable friend who we now know nothing about — and that loss can be devastating.

It’s not surprising that there is such a lack of content that explores platonic relationships. I wanted to write a story of a distilled female experience, free of sexualization and male interference. The only three characters in the script are the protagonist, her best friend,and her mother. All three characters go through their own arc and come out different women by the end.

What struck me the most about writing this story was the gasp and, “This happened to me too,” that people whispered to me as I finished telling them about the script. In making this film, I hope that we can see a part of ourselves. I hope that I can contribute a small part to fill in the narrative gap in the industry. Above all, I hope this film provides closure to those of us who have grown up differently than the younger version of themselves once imagined.

the cast

Sojourner Brown as

“MAGGIE”
Soujourner was recently seen in PURPOSE on Broadway, HADESTOWN on Broadway, Elsbeth on CBS, and an upcoming feature film called The Snare. In addition to acting, Sojourner is currently recording her debut indie/folk EP and is a former Walt Disney Records recording artist.
Camila Rivera as

“AGATHA”
Camila is a bilingual Puerto Rican actress based in NYC and graduate from Pace University’s International Performance Ensemble Acting Program. Her recent theater credits include “The Dugans,” “The Laramie Project,” and “Kat and Eliza.” Film credits include “An Indulgence,” Step by Step Flirtation Guide for Socially Inept Girls,” and “Fish in Murky Water.”
Vivia Font as

“ELLIE”
Vivia is a bilingual actress with Latin American and U.S. roots. She has performed with leading theatres including PlayCo, Rattlestick, The Public, Atlantic Theater, The Old Globe, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and has appeared on Law & Order, FBI: Most Wanted, For Life, and in the films Love, Repeat and Sarbanes Oxley.

the crew

María de la Cruz Rudloff

WRITER, DIRECTOR, & CO-PRODUCER
María is a Chilean-Mexican producer, writer, and director based in New York City. She has worked with Netflix, Amazon, Miramax, and Disney, as well as on independent projects. Her work explores themes of the female experience, immigration, trauma, and family.
Her short documentary Just Surviving (2021) screened at the Lift-Off Film Festival, and her latest short, Shallow End (2025), which she wrote, directed, and co-produced, is currently on the festival circuit. She works full-time as a producer in NYC and is passionate about telling bold, authentic stories.
Adam Schmidt

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & PRODUCER
Adam Schmidt is an Executive Producer from Philadelphia, PA. He’s held a passion for film since the very first time he saw a movie on the big screen and has been working with independent filmmakers to bring their vision to life. His credited films have been official selections of the Chelsea Film Festival, the Venice Shorts Film Awards, the NY Latino Film Festival, the Imagine This International Women’s Festival, the Art of BKLYN Film Festival, and the NYLA International Film Festival.
Janet Valentina Manina

PRODUCER
Janet is an independent film producer based in New York City. She is currently the lead producer of The Adam Friedland Show and a recurring freelance producer at Gummy Films.
W. Ian Ross

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Ian is an Emmy nominated Producer and Assistant Director with a decade of experience leading low-budget film productions. His projects have brought him to SXSW four times. His most recent project was with commercial director, Salomon Ligthelm, and in 2021 he made Julia Garner laugh one time.
Seana Rogvin

CINEMATOGRAPHER
Native to New York City and the Hudson Valley, Seana has a profound appreciation for live event, fashion, commercials, beauty, story-telling, and the arts. As Seana grows as a filmmaker and collaborator, she approaches every project with a keen artistic eye, methodical perspective, and an intuitive sense of balance, elevating the creative process. Her versatile nature makes her a great asset to any project, big or small, New York City or beyond.