“When party girl April wakes up after a rowdy New Year’s eve with a lot more than just a hangover, she calls her partner in crime, Lola, to try to fill in the blanks. But the truth is uglier than April bargained for, and she is forced to confront her demons.”
AWARDS
Independent Short Awards
Platinum: Best Women's Short
Gold: Best actress
Silver: Best First Time Director (Female)
Venice Shorts
Best First Time Director
IndieX Film Fest
Outstanding Achievement award (First Time Director- female)
Best Actress
Tokyo International Short Film Festival
Best Actress
Best Female Director
New York Tri-State International Film Festival
Best Actress
Best Score
Seattle Film Festival
Outstanding Performance in a Short Film
Best Seattle Short Filmmaker
Moody Crab Film Festival
Best Directorial Debut
Best Women's Short
Roma Short Film Festival
Best Director
Phoenix International Short Film Festival
Best Composer
New York Istanbul Festival
Best Costume Design
Hollywood International Golden Age Festival
Best Actor
Best Poster
Seoul International Short Film Festival
Best Actress
Night Of Drama Shorts
Best Actor
LA Indies
Best Composer
Best Narrative Short
Best Actress
Film Today Festival
Best Director
Kalakari Film Festival
Best Actress
Vegas Movie Awards
Best First Time Director
Best First Time Screenwriter
Best Duo
Best Global Shorts - Season 7
Best Debut Director
Best Actor Female
War of Films
Best Actress
BlackCat Film Festival
Best Makeup
Best Production Design
LA Independent Women Film Festival
Best Short Director
Best LA Filmmaker
SYNOPSIS
What are our responsibilities to our friends- especially on a wild night out?
After a rowdy New Year’s Eve in Hollywood, party girl April wakes up and realizes she’s been assaulted. Spiraling and unclear on what happened, she does her best to hide it from her sober, responsible boyfriend Grant until she can call her fair weather friend Lola to fill in the blanks.
But superficial, dismissive Lola wasn’t looking out for April in the way that girlfriends “should”—and Lola snaps after April questions her character and integrity. In a nasty argument, Lola cites April’s promiscuous past as evidence that April was, in fact, asking for it.
Devastated by Lola’s slut-shaming, April faces a difficult question: Was this really her fault? This problematic thought prompts April to finally join Grant at an AA meeting to start the year off right for a change.
April Kills The Vibe is a film that poses timely questions about how women hold themselves accountable to one another—and to themselves.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
April Kills The Vibe is based on the true story of my own sexual assault and the slut shaming, victim blaming conversation with a fair weather friend that followed on that miserable morning after.
I wanted to take an unwavering look at the inherent dangers of being female while intoxicated, and explore the complicated dynamics between two women pointing the finger everywhere except where it belongs- at the perpetrator.
I chose to play both characters because I, like so many women, have been on both sides of this disgustingly familiar conversation. I’ve been the reckless drunk girl with dire consequences playing the blame game, and I’ve been the defensive friend that failed her. And while no survivor of assault is to blame, nor are her careless friends, I wanted to pose the question— what responsibilities do we as women have to protect each other, and where is the line drawn? What part did my own alcoholism play in the circumstances that lead me to this life altering event? The morning this film is based on was the first day I attended an AA meeting, and I graciously celebrated 8 years of sobriety this year.
After a successful career as a Grammy nominated pop songwriter and singer, I am excited to step into the film world and expand on my passion for storytelling.
DIRECTOR’S BIO
Bonnie McKee made a name for herself as a pop songwriter, writing 10 #1 hit songs for the chart topping stars of the past decade, and for her own career as an indie pop artist. After years of packing big emotional stories into tidy 3 1/2 minute songs and creating her own colorful music videos, she is finally expanding into a new realm of story telling. April Kills The Vibe is Bonnie’s screenwriting and directing debut.
CAST & CREDITS