ILY, BYE
2024 · 13m · USA
Directed by Taylor James
Genres: comedy
Tones: absurdist, tender, tense
An unemployed woman named Siobhan gets a life-changing job interview through her best friend Gary, but when her confirmation call goes to voicemail, she spirals into increasingly chaotic attempts to fix the situation.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
Meg Stalter spiraling on a voicemail with Rainn Wilson and Benito Skinner — this is exactly the kind of comedy ensemble that either crackles or curdles. Stalter alone earns the spin.
James assembles a comedic ensemble (Stalter, Wilson, Skinner) for what reads as a Lena Dunham-adjacent voicemail farce. Capably orchestrated but tonally familiar.
13:28 voicemail-spiral comedy with Meg Stalter, Kanoa Goo, Rainn Wilson, and Benito Skinner — that ensemble alone signals the comic timing has been sculpted at a professional level. Cascading-phone-call structure lives or dies on edit rhythm; Schwartz cutting suggests it does.
Reviews
Taylor James meticulously crafts a sharp and fast-paced comedy that is just as chaotic as it is hilarious, while remaining deeply relatable and grounded in universal experiences.
Megan Stalter delivers a powerhouse performance exceeding all expectations, keeping her performance consistent throughout the film and grounding its absurdity in authenticity.
Festivals
- Sonoma International Film Festival 2024, Grand Jury Prize
- Palm Springs International ShortFest 2024
- Inside Out Film Festival 2024
- Frameline Film Festival 2024
- NewFest 2024, Best First Time Filmmaker (Vimeo + NewFest)
- Hawai'i International Film Festival 2024