By Lynn Venhaus

First-time filmmakers Danielle Herrera Boivin and Michelle Bucci poured their hearts and souls into their inaugural narrative short, “Forget Me Not,” a psychological sci-fi thriller, with the hopes of it starting necessary dialogues afterwards.

“The film explores trauma, survival, identity and the courage it takes to reclaim your voice,” Boivin said. “We hope it sparks conversations around healing, connection, and representation.”

Boivin, a Belleville native who now lives in New York City, said she and Bucci premiered the film at the Big Apple Film Festival this past spring and at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival in early June, where it received an award for best visual effects.

Accepted into the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, the short 11-minute film will screen at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Hi-Pointe Theatre in St. Louis. Both filmmakers will be on hand to talk about the movie.

Presented by Cinema St. Louis, the 2026 Showcase features 69 films across 14 curated programs—each written, directed, edited, or produced by local St. Louis filmmakers or artists with strong ties to the community. They are among the 15 films by first-time directors.

According to their synopsis, the genre-bending short film of surrealist sci-fi meets intimate psychological drama follows Delphine and Sofia, multiverse variants of the same soul navigating dystopian parallel realities shaped by misogyny, abuse, exploitation, trauma, and the pressures of performative femininity.

They play a guarded go-go dancer and a spirited cocktail waitress between realities. As they find themselves being glitched into a liminal garden, they must reclaim their identities while discovering the transformative power of friendship, liberation, and the courage to face one’s authentic self.

The pair said the film’s emotional core comes from lived experiences.

“As best friends working in nightlife, surviving predatory environments, mental health and healing from trauma, we set out to tell a story from our own voices. At its heart, ‘Forget Me Not’ explores the expansion that becomes possible when we reclaim ownership of our lives, support one another, and transform survival into resistance and purpose,” Boivin said.

“We had a desire to create a story where survivors are seen not through the lens of what they have endured, but through their resilience, complexity, and humanity,” Bucci said.

They expressed gratitude for the reactions to date. “The feedback from the audience and other filmmakers has been so humbling, and to connect with other artists has been a great experience,” Boivin said.

“We’re hearing from different people from all walks of life. They’ve said they feel seen, so that’s been really gratifying. We made this as women, for women, and they are meant to be heard. The feedback has been beautiful,” Bucci said.

Admittingly an ambitious undertaking, but the women were up for the challenge. They created, wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film.

“It was quite the journey. There’s a lot we had to learn. We give a darn about the message we want to see projected,” Boivin said. “We had to say yes to ourselves.”

She said that in the film, a fictional app called Unalive2Thrive has monopolized access to mental health resources, forcing people to rely solely on it for support during their most vulnerable moments.

“While that dystopian world is fictional, it stands in stark contrast to the real-life organizations that provide care, safety, advocacy, and hope to those who need it most,” she said.

“We wanted to give a shout-out to some of the remarkable St. Louis organizations doing this work, including Safe Connections, Women’s Safe House, and ALIVE. Their commitment to supporting survivors and strengthening the community reflects many of the themes that inspired the film in the first place,” Boivin said.

She noted that they would like to connect with other organizations that serve individuals affected by mental health challenges, trauma, domestic abuse and gender-based violence.

While they were passionate about their material, they had to assemble a team, scout locations and raise funds. Remarkably, things fell into place, they connected with skilled professionals, and their Elle Belle Productions was formed. They filmed it in May 2024, with post-production the following year.

They were able to use four distinct locations for the shoot — in the city, in Queens, and the Untermyer Gardens Conservatory in Yonkers. was a rare find. “It was this magical serene space, it had this ethereal spirit. For the characters, they could feel free and peaceful,” Bucci said..

In Bucci’s Queens neighborhood, the “Rabbit Hole” allowed them to shoot there, lending their club scenes an authenticity. “It had the exact aesthetic we were looking for,” Bucci said, noting a two-story nightclub, with a speakeasy vibe upstairs and a bookshelf, and then neon and a big disco ball for another look.

Their team — and an angel investor — helped them go from dream to reality. “They believed in our dream,” Bucci noted.

“We were able to get these resources, and the crew executed, and were innovative. We had 30 extras show up outside the club. We got these diverse locations and people cared so much. This has been such a rewarding experience. It’s been our baby in so many ways,” Boivin said.

Tommy Simpson recorded original music for the score. He has worked with Trent Reznor, Bucci said. Both said the score resonated with them and builds the movie’s theme beautifully.

The women hope to develop a series based on the short film. “We are actively looking to get it out in the world,” Bucci said.

Next up is a short absurdist rom-com adventure film: “The Sun, the Moon, and the Beguiling Puppet Goon.” The description: “Luna, a nerdy artist, navigates an unsettling encounter until Soleil, a vibrant puppeteer, turns puppetry into an act of resistance in this absurdist comedy.”

The pair became good friends while both living in New York City, going for their dreams as performers. Bucci said she did some off-Broadway productions, but since the pandemic, working in other jobs was necessary. They knew the hurdles of living in the city and co-wrote the script as a catharsis.

Boivin, who graduated from Belleville West High School in 2010, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical performance at University of Michigan before moving to NYC.

 She has been part of the New York Fringe Festival, been in work at the Nylon Fusion Theatre Company, SheNYC Arts Festival, and Lyracle Opera Music Org. She has also been in commercials, television episodes and a music video by Minor Soul.

Both she and Bucci have performed cabaret variety acts regularly at the iconic Stonewall Inn.

Bucci hails from North Carolina and earned a degree in theatre and psychology from Appalachian State University. Some of her favorite professional work thus far is performing in a nine-month run Off-Broadway at New World Stages in the immersive musical “The Imbible,” playing Squeaky Fromme in Sondheim’s “Assassins,” and starring as Roxie in “Chicago.” She’s appeared in “Homicide City” on TV. She is also a teaching artist.

Boivin is looking forward to introducing Bucci to Belleville and St. Louis. “Belleville helped shape my formative years as an artist, performer and actress. It’s a community that nurtures creativity, celebrates the arts, full of my family and old friends, and will always hold a special place in my heart,” Boivin said.

“It’s surreal screening our film here now as a ‘grown-up’ filmmaker, who moved to NYC for the dream. I can’t wait to come back for this special event and introduce Michelle to the Midwest and this lovely community!”

Now in its 26th year, the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase shines a spotlight on the talent, imagination, and resilience of the region’s filmmaking community. This year’s theme, “A SHARED LIGHT,” reflects the collective spirit that continues to fuel St. Louis filmmakers and their remarkable work.

The festival wraps with the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, July 27, 6:30 pm at the Hi-Pointe, followed by the film, “Gangland,” starring Lou Diamond Phillips, and produced by St. Louis filmmaker Cole Payne.

Cinema St. Louis will present jury prizes, including the $1,000 Essy Award for Best Showcase Film, and announce which selections will screen at the 35th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival this November.

For more information and for tickets, visit: https://festivals.cinemastlouis.org/showcase2026/

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