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