After party
a film by jonah koslofsky

Three pairs of twenty-somethings navigate awkward situations at the first Halloween party after COVID.

director’s statement

In October, 2020 – the height of the pandemic – I briefly met up with my old friend, Esther. That day, she told me the story of how she and her girlfriend Elise started dating. I was transfixed. About two years later, I approached Esther and Elise and asked if I could make a movie about this experience. They had a few questions, but graciously agreed – the result became After Party.

After interviewing my friends, I found myself at a crossroads. The story Esther and Elise told me of their friendship turning into their romantic relationship spanned almost a year – I knew that I did not have the resources to capture each significant moment they had articulated. I felt that the more interesting approach would be to focus on the specific moment when their mutual subconscious desire bubbled over into clear, conscious attraction. This would allow me to be respectful to my friends and their privacy while also providing the space to construct a narrative that could introduce an audience to these people and the context they exist within.

Who is After Party for? Is it too corny to say “romantics”? Anyone with a passing interest in contemporary young people? I think that if you’re someone who likes to examine how people interact (at parties or in general) After Party is a movie for you. If you like sincere explorations of confusion, After Party is for you. If you like to see liberation and connection triumph over repression and self delusion, After Party is a movie for you. If you have 21 minutes and you like talky, naturalistic comedies, After Party is a movie for you.

-Jonah Koslofsky, Writer & Director of After Party

TONIGHT IS MY NIGHT!

TONIGHT IS MY NIGHT!

about the filmmakers

Writer/Director Jonah Koslofsky is an up-and-coming independent filmmaker interested in cinema as means of exploring everyday lives. His 2022 short "In You I'm Lost," was awarded Best Illinois Short Film at Aladerri International Film Festival. With "After Party," Jonah explores the realities of young people and relationships under the circumstances of the 2020s.

Producer Kat Williams has over 5 years of experience in independent filmmaking spanning music videos, short films, and feature length projects. After graduating from the University of Illinois with Honors in 2022, she quickly became involved in Chicago's independent film scene. Her collaborations with Jonah and Ella date back to high school, where they shared a stage in Uni High theatre productions and made a short film together!

Director of Photography Ella Lubienski is on her second cinematic collaboration with Jonah - or third if you count a film made during their Uni High days.  Currently, she works as a Local 600 2nd Assistant Camera on film and television in Chicago, with credits such as Showtime's 'Work in Progress,' the NBC 'One Chicago' shows, and more.  

Jonah Koslofsky
Writer/Director

Kat Williams
Producer

Ella Lubienski
Director of Photography

about the CAST

Ashley Leake as Ellie
Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Ashley earned her BFA in Musical Theater from Chicago College of Performing Arts, and has enjoyed making Chicago her new home. Some of her favorite past performances include Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit) and Miscilliance (Hypatia). Since graduation she has had the opportunity to further her education at Actors Studio as well as perform in several short films across the city.

Julianne Cozette as Olivia
Julianne is a Chicago based actor, writer, and Pisces. Recent credits include world premiere of The Creators (Three Brothers Theatre), and short films Be Well (Top Shorts Best Screenplay, Best Indie Actress), Just Friends (SF Queer Film Fest), and White Elephant. She is currently performing at Disney World. Julianne is truly honored and so grateful to have worked with all the incredible artists of After Party

Harrison Dachel as Ben
Harrison is an acting BFA student at Columbia College Chicago. Stage experience includes Hide and Seek, Space Bar, and Gruesome Playground injuries (Columbia). Film credits include Ratz, Nuclear, Le Trou (Columbia) and others.

Quinn Nehr as Matt
SB Ribot as Jess
Perry Letourneau as Noah
Zoe Curzi as Natalie
Sutter Nolan as Maya
Colin Dowda as Nick
CJ Inguagiato as Jake