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Donate to SISTER CLAIRE ⋆
For donations more than $500, please contact us directly for more details at sisterclairefilm@gmail.com
Her faith was unshakeable… until now
Title: Sister Claire
Project type: Fiction Short
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Psychological Thriller
Project status: Pre-Production
Production: May 2025
Writer/Director: Zegan Doyle
Producer: Selena Leoni
Cinematographer: Lucia Rinaldi
Supported by: Film Independent
Production Company: Little Paws Pictures, Row Z Studios
Logline: A devout nun believes that she can guide a struggling teenager through their crisis of faith. But when the teenager reveals their true identity, it is the nun who begins to doubt everything she knows to be true.
Synopsis: SISTER CLAIRE (70) is a devout nun whose faith remains unshakeable. Sister Claire leads a retreat in the mountains for teens as they prepare for Confirmation, a holy sacrament in which Catholics accept responsibility for their faith. She meets mysterious newcomer KIT (15) who asks Sister Claire to be their Confirmation sponsor. Sister Claire reluctantly agrees to sponsor Kit because she believes that she can guide Kit, whom she considers a lost sheep, back to the flock. During the retreat, the two grow close. But when Kit reveals that they believe themself to be Sister Claire’s long-deceased sister, Sister Claire begins to doubt her faith.
Meanwhile, SISTER ANITA (40) finds newspaper articles about Sister Claire in Kit’s backpack. Sister Anita confronts Sister Claire about Kit’s seeming obsession with Sister Claire and accuses Sister Claire of believing Kit. Sister Claire denies the accusation. But on the day of Confirmation, Sister Claire must face her beliefs head on. Will Sister Claire believe Kit? Will she stand up for what she believes in at the risk of everything?
Crew Bios
Although quiet by nature, ZEGAN DOYLE is a writer, director, and film programmer who lives for drama. They are a Storytelling Institute Fellow with Canal+, the City of Cannes, and the Cannes Film Festival. They have been involved in programming at Outfest LA, Fine Art Film Festival in Bridport, England, Baby Teeth Film Festival, and Rubin Museum of Art, and has evaluated scripts at Austin Film Festival and BFI Film London Production Film Market. They earned their MFA in Screenwriting from the University of California, Los Angeles.
SELENA LEONI is an award-winning producer from Italy and China who champions social inclusion and gives a platform to those who have been historically marginalized. She is a BAFTA Connect Member and a Film Independent Project Involve Producer Fellow. Selena's projects have reached platforms including STARZ, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV, and have screened at prestigious film festivals such as Outfest Fusion, NewFest, BFI Flare, Tribeca Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
LUCIA RINALDI is an Italian Cinematographer based in LA and London. She grew up in a small city in Italy where she studied still photography and film restoration. Her background led her to motion-picture, where she found her footing in the camera department. She is an American Film Institute cinematography alumna (class 2019). She has been selected by BAFTA for their renown Newcomers program, as well as being a member of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC) and illuminatrix raising in the UK. Lucia’s work is a combination of technical prowess, sensitivity and identity.
Mood Board
Director’s Statement
SISTER CLAIRE is deeply personal because it is not only inspired by growing up non-binary in the Catholic Church but also because the film embodies the concept of nonbinary storytelling—breaking away from rigid narrative structures and exploring themes that exist outside conventional frameworks. Nonbinary storytelling resists the constraints of "either/or" and embraces fluidity, complexity, and multiplicity. This film challenges the boundaries of traditional cinematic tropes, allowing for a richer and more inclusive tapestry of experiences.
My goal was to craft a narrative that doesn't rely on prescribed arcs or familiar resolutions but instead invites the audience to experience the story in a way that feels open and reflective of real, diverse lives. By embracing ambiguity and celebrating the in-between, I hope this film not only resonates with nonbinary individuals but also expands the horizons of what stories can look like when they’re not confined by binary perspectives.
Film Inspirations
Birth (2004)
Lilies of the Field (1963)
Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
Cries and Whispers (1972)
Target Audience
We have identified four key segments of our target audience:
LGBTQ+ community – Our core audience is the trans community. We will be casting queer and trans people in the leads, and will hire as many people in the LGBT+ community. This is a piece of work made by our community, for our community which is why we will be targeting queer and trans film festivals.
Drama enthusiasts – Fans of emotional and character-driven dramas are likely to be engaged by the film's focus on personal challenges, relationships with siblings, and forgiveness. They appreciate well-developed characters and intricate storytelling.
Visually striking and genre-bending fans – The Catholic imagery including nuns, a goth teenager, and a remote mountainside, contributes to this audience segment. Other elements, including a bloody hand, a haunting and ethereal score speaks directly to this audience.
Film-format aficionados – The short will be shot on film. We are targeting film festivals, film critics, and YouTube tastemakers who regularly contribute the film format dialogue on social media, especially Instagram and TikTok.
Festival Strategy
Our team has built extensive relationships with esteemed festivals over the world and we are excited to SISTER CLAIRE with audiences. Zegan is film programmer and has worked for several film festivals and museums including Outfest LA, Baby Teeth Film Festival, and Rubin Museum of Art. Selena has produced award-winning films which have screened at Outfest Fusion, NewFest, BFI Flare, Tribeca Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
Our detailed festival schedule has been strategically crafted to comply with the strict premiere requirements of renowned festivals, as well as levigating our previous relationship with them. The festivals on our list include: Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Cannes Film Festival, Berlinale, Tribeca Festival, NewFest, HollyShorts, Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and Austin Film Festival.
SISTER CLAIRE is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Film Independent will receive grants for the charitable purposes of SISTER CLAIRE, provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the charitable purposes of SISTER CLAIRE must be made payable to Film Independent and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Support our project
This project is a labor of love, created to expand non-binary storytelling on screen. Every donation brings us closer to making this vision a reality. Your support will help cover essential production costs, from casting to camera equipment, from post-production to the festival circuit, ensuring the highest quality filmmaking and fair wages for our cast and crew. Whether you contribute $25 or $500, your support matters and makes a tangible difference. Click the link below to join our journey and help bring this story to life. Thank you for joining our community of independent filmmaking!
Selena Leoni,
Producer
Lucia Rinaldi,
Cinematographer
Zegan Doyle,
Writer/Director
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