Zachary Kazepis’ debut short film 20 Minutes for Michelle (produced by Vagrant Screen) follows Ryan on the night he has decided will be his last—the anniversary of his wife Michelle’s death. As he meticulously prepares his bathroom to be the altar for his suicide, with a carefully chosen soundtrack, he is suddenly interrupted when his brother-in-law Matthew hijacks the shared Spotify account. We watch the slow but steady unraveling of Ryan's grand plan as he tries in vain to convince the clueless but good-natured Matthew to stay off the account.

Beginning as a dark comedy, the film captures Ryan's desperate attempts to stay on his chosen path. A final phone call with Matthew propels the story towards a deeply moving finale. Through honest storytelling that is equal parts absurd and visceral, 20 Minutes for Michelle meditates on the fragile and fleeting nature of life and questions whether life can persist in the shadow of grief and loss.

20 Minutes for Michelle will embark on the international film festival circuit in 2025

20 Minutes for Michelle was supported by The Film Fund, and produced in association with Taymanari Productions