Soon after Jimmy loses his job and finalizes his divorce, he learns he
has inherited a rundown bar in Southwest Florida from a father who
abandoned him at birth. As the obstacles of selling a bar pile up, he
slowly gets to know the father that was never there through the bars
dysfunctional staff. And, slowly finds out the life he really never
thought of was the one he needed the most.
D
irector Statement:
Hi, my name is Mas Bouzidi, I’m a Canadian-Algerian writer/director from Upstate New York based in Brooklyn. I’ve been working at various theaters in New York since I was sixteen. Some of my most formative years were spent snapping tickets and serving popcorn while arguing with my friends about movies. In the past few years, watching so many theaters close their doors forever was like living in a nightmare. I felt a call to action. A drive to do something that would remind everyone why these community staples have been so magical for so many. The film mixes those personal experiences with many of the films that shaped and influenced me as an artist, like the dialogue driven works of Richard Linklater, Whit Stillman, and Eric Rohmer, as well as the ensemble films of Robert Altman.
Concessions is about the universal experience of going to the movies. It’s about the people working the concession stands, running the projection booth, taking your tickets, cleaning the bathrooms, and changing the marquees. It’s also about the everyday people who walk through those doors go to the movies, partaking in one of our greatest communal traditions. Concessions could be a eulogy to a bygone way of watching movies, but with some help, we could make it a wake up call. A true independent film about our favorite place in the world. I hope we can bring this film to audiences worldwide, and see a brighter day in a darkened room.
Biography
WRITERS AND CREATOR:
Jeff Frey has always been intrigued by different genres of tv movies to spark creativity. After high school, Jeff joined the U.S. Army, traveling the world while always trying to keep a high moral by entertaining his fellow soldiers. He has been involved in stand-up comedy, which led to his real passion of screenwriting. He spent the better part of three years learning the craft. In that time, he wrote his first screenplay called “A Summer to Remember,” which is based on childhood memories of summer camp. He has been in various roles, learning many different aspects of film. He has written and been a part of award-winning short films, including The Last Laugh (2024 Finalist) and Thank You For Being A Friend (2022 Best Short Film Bonita Springs Short Film Festival).
WRITER 2:
Stephan Schonberg, a technologist at heart, has been interested and involved in video production and filmmaking for many years, starting with television production in high school. Stephan has written, filmed, edited, and directed award-winning short films. In partnership with the Fort Myers-based United Film and Television Artists, Stephan has also been a crew member on numerous local productions over the past decade. Some films include The Last Laugh (2024), Father Nose Best (2024), That's What Friends Are For (2023), and Passing By (2023).
WRITER 3:
Marilu Garbi is a Venezuelan-born filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, journalist, and essayist.
She has acted in, produced, or directed several short films, including Thinking Out Loud (2017), Roses Are Blind (2018), In Tango (2019), Father Nose Best (2024), Oblivious (2024), Dine and Dash (2024), the documentary Artists Speak (2025), the sitcom Jimmy on the Rocks (2025), and Whisper of Joy (2026). She serves on the board of UFTA (United Film and Television Artists), a non-profit that has supported performers, writers, models, and filmmakers in Southwest Florida for more than two decades.
She holds a Bachelor's in Journalism from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and an Associate of Applied Science in Film and TV Production. After two decades running G&H Printing in Southwest Florida, she returned full-time to her first training in journalism, now deepened by her passion for filmmaking.