Watch the full short film here and on YouTube and Vimeo (23 minutes)
Abigail
2019, Narrative Short
A lonely and elderly widower struggles to come to terms with the loss of his wife and the circumstances surrounding her death. When he visits her grave, he encounters a little girl who shows him the path to healing and fills him with hope.
Inspired by a true story, Abigail addresses the topics of grief, loss and the complicated topic of end-of-life decisions, and the unique challenges it poses on relationships and family dynamics.
Winner of the Audience Award at the 2020 Long Island International Film Expo and Best Film at the 2021 Point Lookout Film Festival, this narrative short was produced as Hechtman's senior thesis film for the completion of his Bachelor's Degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology's Film and Media Program.
Starring Richie Allan (Escape at Dannemora), Elvira Tortora, Lauren Hart and Leilani Marie Vasquez
Directors/Producers: Max Hechtman and Christonikos Tsalikis
Screenplay: Jason K. Allen, Max Hechtman andMeryl Hechtman
Original Story: Jason K. Allen
Executive Producer: Meryl Hechtman
Cinematographers: Joe Daniele and Joe DeFelice
Editor: Max Hechtman
Music: Andrés Soto
A Hechtman Filmworks Presentation
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS AND AWARDS
Watch directors Christonikos Tsalikis and Max Hechtman deliver their statement on the film.
Directors’ Statement
Although we made this back in 2019, we believe that this film is so important because it facilitates the complicated and difficult subjects of illness, grief and loss - topics that are more relevant today than ever before, given the millions of families worldwide who have experienced catastrophic illness and death of loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the endearing relationship of Elmer and his beloved Abigail, we are prompted to ask ourselves important and uncomfortable questions about expressing our wishes regarding medical treatment and end of life, while we’re in a position to do so. Through Elmer’s grieving process, we also discover how the path to acceptance and moving forward, often comes from the memories, traditions and secrets of those who we have lost.
It is our hope that this film opens the door for conversations for anyone facing this adversity in their life.
- Max Hechtman and Christonikos Tsalikis
Trailers
Official Trailer #1
Official Trailer #2
Meet the Cast
Richie Allan (Elmer)
Elvira Tortora (Abigail)
Lauren Hart (Woman at Cemetery)
Leilani Marie Vasquez (The Girl)
Max Hechtman, Christonikos Tsalikis and co-director of photography Joe Daniele set up the shot.
The makeup team applies their work for Elvira Tortora on set.
Co-director of photography Joe Daniele mentors script supervisor Nathan Siegelaub on set.
Production meeting between co-directors Christonikos Tsalikis and Max Hechtman with co-director of photography Joe Daniele.
Max Hechtman, Christonikos Tsalikis and production assistant James Troici monitor the results for a scene.
Co-director of photography Joe Daniele and production assistant Emmanuel Pantelidis set up the camera crane for the cemetery scene.
Co-director of photography Joe DeFelice, assistant director of photography Alberto Innella and Christonikos Tsalikis set up a shot for the cemetery scene.
Co-director of photography Joe DeFelice, Christonikos Tsalikis, Max Hechtman and assistant director of photography Alberto Innella film a shot of Richie Allan during the cemetery scene.
Max Hechtman and co-director of photography Joe Daniele set up a shot.
Max Hechtman and Christonikos Tsalikis monitor the filming of the cemetery scene.
The cast and crew of "Abigail."
Max Hechtman and Christonikos Tsalikis on set after the last day of filming.