CATS AND HUSBANDS, 7min., USA
Directed by Grace Samson, Barry Samson
We enter the story where two close friends, Fern and Marcie get together at a local coffee shop to celebrate a birthday. Fern has been going through two years of cycles of In Vitro, desperately trying to get pregnant but with no success. Her husband, Nick’s coping mechanism has been dressing up with the family Cat and taking silly pictures. Marcie jokingly suggests that Fern just book a vacation for herself and leave hubby with the cat. All this to help soften the reality that the birthday Fern celebrates today is that of a child she miscarried two years before.

https://instagram.com/catsandhusbands

Get to know filmmaker Grace Samson:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Being a thirty two year old woman, I started to see ads for freezing your eggs. I thought, wow I’m not ready for that yet, but interesting what a pressure it is to have babies as a woman at my age. I wanted to include a woman’s story that others who are in the same position could commiserate with and feel like they are not alone.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
This film took us about half a year to make.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Relatable and Truthful.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Finishing the script. I didn’t know where I wanted to go with the story ending but as I was writing it became clear that I could leave an ending like this and me and other women could connect to the open ended answer which is essentially no answer.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I liked how they said it was a story, story and they haven’t seen that in a while. I also liked how they looked at the cat as a metaphor for the characters trials in their marriage.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
When I was a little girl and I spent countless hours writing stories and acting out those stories with my Barbies and when I realized the private yet impactful way film relays messages.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
I love romantic comedies. Some that I’ve seen a bunch are When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I wouldn’t mind a list of women interested in editor and production collaborations.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I like how FilmFreeway suggests festivals for you to enter.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Burrata, Tomatoes and Basil. I love a good garden party entree.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Yes, I love women centered stories. So I am working on another shirt to come out around Christmas.