Bench Seats
The Story:
At heart, Bench Seats is about how the patterns of the past echo into the present and how we reflect the stories of our parents.
We open on a SUV navigating a twisting country road. Inside, Dani and her wife, Erin, both in their late 30’s, are in the middle of an argument they’ve clearly had before. When a frustrated Dani turns up the radio to end the argument, she hears a song that sends her spiraling back to the summer of 1989, riding shotgun in her mom’s oversized Buick in the wake of her parents’ divorce.
Through a series of nostalgic vignettes, we see young Dani’s world unfold and transform as she grapples with change, independence, and the weight of unspoken worries.
Cast
Arielle Goldman
Dan Lauria
Neil Vincent Smith
Aiden Sierra
Sarah Steele
Annie Braverman
Shavanna Calder
Jordan Baker
Mélisa Breiner-Sanders
The Team
Courtney DeStefano
Writer, Director, Editor
Melisa Breiner-Sanders
Producer
Liza Gipsova
Cinematographer
T.V. Alexander
Production Designer
Marcy Robinson
Colorist
Kristina James
Composer
The Shoot
Festival Dates
Festival Dates
Catch Bench Seats on the festival circuit
San Francisco Queer Film Festival
8/24/25
Roxie Theater, San Fransisco, CA
Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival
9/11/25
Look Dine In Cinema, New York, NY
New Faces, New Voices
9/23/25
Regal Essex Cinema, New York, NY
Lady Filmmaker’s Festival
9/28/25
Fine Arts Theater, Beverly Hills, CA
Atlanta Women’s Film Festival
9/24/25 - 9/28/25
7 Stages Theater, Atlanta, GA
The screenplay presents a touching exploration of the complexities within mother-daughter relationships. It skillfully weaves between past and present, allowing the audience to witness the profound impact of Dani's childhood experiences on her adult life.
- Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards
“‘Bench Seats’ is a really special screenplay. There are wonderfully human moments throughout the script and attention to detail that absolutely captures our attention. We empathize with Dani and with Susan and the final scene where Susan is alone in the Buick is an absolute gut punch.”
- Slamdance
“The combination of unique, specific details, well-orchestrated moments of conflict, and overall thematic connection gives this script a real sense of narrative weight and heft despite the ethereal, vignette-driven nature of the plot.”
-WeScreenplay Short Script Lab
