Tom Koch’s "Olive" Explores Memory and Love at HollyShorts Film Festival

"Olive" immerses audiences in the tender, fractured world of dementia, blending memory, love, and loss at HollyShorts.

, and Seren Calloway

August 6, 2025 . 9:09 AM

4 min read

Key Takeaways

Olive explores dementia through a fractured lens, immersing the audience in the protagonist's mind.
French music bridges memories and emotions, becoming a cornerstone of the film.
Collaboration and finding the right team are essential in independent filmmaking.

Tom Koch, a French actor, writer, and director, brings his second film, Olive, to the prestigious HollyShorts Film Festival.

Koch, who trained in theater and later studied directing at Yale, is known for his work in Petit Louis and Jacked.

Olive, a psychological drama that delves into the complexities of dementia, has already won the Silver Screen at the Young Director Award in Cannes 2025.

The film is supported by an impressive crew, including Executive Producer Andrew Carlberg, actresses Lesley Ann Warren and Marie Louise Boisnier, and Producer Astrid Lark.

What drew you to make Olive?

The idea for Olive came to me in a quiet moment at a museum, watching a grandmother and her grandson discuss a painting. It was such a tender scene, yet it left me wondering: Do I spend enough time with my grandmother? Those questions became the heart of Olive. I wanted to immerse the audience in Sam’s mind and explore the disorientation of living with Alzheimer’s.

"I was making a film about aging, this universal act that touches us all."

What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time?

In the editing room, I uncovered another layer to the story: Grandma’s quiet but profound choice to live in Sam’s world as much as her own. Her willingness to step into his delusions spoke volumes about love and sacrifice. It made me realize I wasn’t just making a film about dementia.

Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you?

There’s a flashback where Sam’s hand reaches slowly for Marie’s necklace. It’s not a literal memory, but a wishful one—born from Marie’s longing for intimacy and Sam’s desperate wish to recall it. This moment, half‑real, half‑imagined, is a fragment of the love they’re trying to hold on to.

What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?

I wrote a whole sequence of montage where the character of Old Sam was doing what Sam is doing at the beginning of the film. I had to cut it due to a lack of time and money! But it still lives somewhere on a draft!

"I hope they can empathize with people living with dementia and want to spend more time with the ones they love."

How has Olive shaped the kind of stories you want to tell next?

There’s a certain intricacy in making a socially conscious film, but the real reward is working with people whose lives have been touched by the condition. Going forward, I hope every project I take on carries that same sense of meaning.

What tool or resource really helped you during production?

Guillermo's Alexa was my first time using this camera; it's a gift! And we used AVID to edit, which I was new to as well. Love it!

"It's about finding the right artists and letting them express themselves fully."

What does it mean to you to have your film selected for HollyShorts?

I danced in my apartment when I read the email. I am thrilled. It's an honor, plus I get to spend time with Guillermo, Andrew, and Lesley Ann, who are all based in LA! It's a win-win. Thank you, HollyShorts!

Where do you see this film going next?

Very grateful that Olive is already playing in two other U.S. festivals. My hope is to open it up to a worldwide release, online, and get it seen by as many people as humanly possible!