Name of Film: It's Time for Tea

Director: Matthew J. Kaplan

Director’s Bio: Matthew J. Kaplan is a Brooklyn, NY-based writer, filmmaker, musician and actor. He wrote, produced and directed the award-winning, internationally-screened short film IT'S TIME FOR TEA. Matthew has produced one-act plays for The Chain Theatre and Emerging Artist's Theatre in 2022, and The Secret Theatre and the Players Theatre in 2023. He is a playwright with NYC's The PlayGround Experiment and Brooklyn’s Flatbush Community Theater. Matthew is a songwriter and bass player with indie-rock band THE BRIGHT SPOTS.

Director of Photography: Jake Horgan

Screenwriter: Matthew J. Kaplan

Short Synopsis: After the death of their young daughter, all that remains in Rebecca and Allen’s home is an extensive toy collection and profound grief. Both are attempting to process their loss: Rebecca chooses to repress her pain, while Allen regresses to their child's age to replace her. When an unconventional therapist visits with them, he assures Rebecca he can bring her husband back. But first, she must enter into Allen’s land of make-believe.

Why did you choose to explore this topic? I consider myself a storyteller first but not every story should be told through the same medium. I wanted to make a short film and I felt that "It's Time for Tea" would be the perfect story to tell through that medium. It's the right length for a short and it's a great representation for my brand of hearty dark humor. So while I have never experienced the extreme grief that my characters are dealt, I do feel that sometimes we need to take less conventional paths to overcome our challenges.

Where has it screened:
Big Apple Film Festival (NY, USA)
First Contact Film Festival (NJ, USA)
Long Island International Film Festival (NY, USA)
Long Beach Film Festival (NY, USA)
Mountain Tales Film Festival (AL, USA)
VOB Film Festival (NY, USA)
Festival of Cinema (NY, USA)
Foggy Isle Film Festival (Vancouver, CAN)
Chicago Southland International Film Festival (IL, USA)
Berkshire Short Film Festival (MA, USA)
The Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival (MA, USA)
Killer Valley Comedy (OR, USA)
Entholigy Film Screening Series (NY, USA)
The Cecil County Independent Film Festival (MD, USA)
New York Short Film Festival (NY, USA)
The Shmoovies! Film Festival (NY, USA)
Hudson Valley Film Festival (NY, USA)
The NY Indie Theatre Film Festival (NY, USA)
Oregon Short Film Festival (OR, USA)
QueensWorld Film Festival (NY, USA)
Believe Psychology Film Festival (CA, USA)
Swindon Independent Film Festival (Swindon, UK)
Astoria Film Festival (NY, USA)
Roosevelt Island Film Festival (NY, USA)
Raindance New York Open Shorts Night (NY, USA)


Your Youtube Channel/Social Media Links:
IG/FB/X: @MatthewJKapan - @ItsTimeForTeaFilm