Table of Contents
Jenny Lee-Gilmore is a British/Chinese Canadian filmmaker based in Vancouver whose work spans narrative, television, and documentary. Her short With Time β which won Best Writing at the Toronto Reelworld Film Festival and now makes its American premiere at HollyShorts β grew out of a deeply personal question: what happens to the work of caregiving when the love that usually powers it was never there to begin with?
That question becomes Alice, a woman caught between her fading mother and her young daughter, Emma. As her estranged mother's memory disappears, so does any chance of reckoning with their shared history, leaving Alice to carry it alone. Made by an all-female cast and key creative team, With Time dances between warmth, sadness, and hope, insisting that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have.
Key Takeaways
- With Time grew from Lee-Gilmore's experience caring for her grandfather through dementia, then inverted it: what if the bond was never formed?
- The blocking places Alice physically between her mother and daughter, mirroring the emotional weight of the "sandwich generation."
- An all-female cast and creative team built the film on trust, shared vision, and the belief that the process matters as much as the result.
Below, Lee-Gilmore speaks about the film's origins, its most personal details, and what it means to bring this story to Hollywood Boulevard.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
With Time was born from my experience helping care for my grandfather. As his dementia progressed, he became more dependent on family and caregivers. It felt like we were losing him bit by bit, not just the man we loved but the memories that connected us. There were moments of frustration and exhaustion, especially when he no longer recognized me or knew my name. Despite this, the love and care I felt for him never wavered. He shaped so much of my childhood that it was second nature to offer him the same devotion in his time of need.
This journey sparked a thought: what if that love wasn't there? What if the bond was never formed in the first place? This question led to the creation of Alice, the lead character. Alice is faced with caring for her estranged mother, a woman who never showed her love or affection. Now, as her mother's memory fades, she can't even recall the painful history between them, leaving Alice alone to carry their painful past.
I wanted to explore the dynamics between three generations of women and show that at the end of the day, we're all just doing the best we can with what we have. We may show our love in different ways. The physical blocking in the film was intentionally crafted to reflect Alice's position in the "sandwich generation," often captured physically between her mother and daughter, mirroring her emotional burden. I hope With Time resonates with anyone who has found themselves caught between the past and the future, grappling with the ways in which love, memory, and duty shape our lives.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
I always like to leave the audience with a feeling of hope. Even though the film explores some heavier themes, I feel it dances between warmth, sadness, and hopefulness, which is something I like to do in all my work.
A small detail that I feel is very accurate to my lived experience is the production design of the grandmother's room. Anyone who has had a loved one receive hospice care or health care in their home may see familiar details. Seeing it on set brought back memories of my grandfather's room. It's small details like the adult sippy cup, grab bar attached to the bed, and stacks of medication bottles that make the set feel very real.
What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
That everyone is doing their best with the tools and capacity they have.
What is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into it on this project?
The greatest strength about indie filmmaking is you get to pick your collaborators. Since none of us are making money, people are usually involved because they share the same passion for filmmaking or the story you want to tell. Pick people you trust, who share the same vision for the story but also the same values on how you want to treat your fellow crew. The process is equally as important as the end product.
How has this film shaped or shifted the kinds of stories you want to tell next?
I really enjoy heartfelt, emotional, and intimate stories about human relationships, but I also want to explore other genres outside drama. I want my next story to keep the core story elements that I like but in a thriller or horror space.
What does it mean to have your film selected for HollyShorts, one of the world's premier short film festivals?
As someone who grew up in a village in rural England, Hollywood felt like a world away. To have my film play at the iconic TCL on Hollywood Blvd is a dream come true. I'm most excited to watch other films and connect with the amazing filmmakers behind the films. Thank you HollyShorts for making this happen!
Complete the sentence: "At the core of all my work is a desire to ______."
At the core of all my work is a desire to feel seen, to connect, and to represent experiences and people from my community on screen.
Main Cast & Crew
- Jennifer Khoe β Cast
- Avery Chan β Cast
- Yayoi Hirano β Cast
- Jenny Lee-Gilmore β Writer/Director
- Rachel Chen β Cinematographer
- Eloise Cameron-Smith β Producer
- Kristyn Stilling β Producer, Instilling Entertainment
Filmmaker Opportunities
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