A rookie front desk agent begins her shift at a Santa Fe inn, only to face bizarre guest requests, unexpected language barriers, and escalating travel drama — all in a day’s work inside The Travel Zone, where hospitality requires survival skills.
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.
Karen Sisneros is a Santa Fe–based actress, writer, and emerging director. She has performed in numerous stage and screen productions, bringing a blend of clarity, wit, and emotional depth to her work. The Travel Zone marks her directorial debut, inspired by her own experiences in hospitality and customer service. The screenplay was a runner-up in the Santa Fe Indie Film Club’s Screenwriting Competition and was selected for production through the club’s filmmaker incubator. Karen continues to create and perform in projects that highlight human connection, subtle absurdity, and the humor found in everyday life.
