Aspen Film Screens Academy Award Qualifying Comedy

What's it like to go from making a comedy about menstruation set in the Jane Austen world to becoming an Academy Award-qualifying film? Julia Aks and Steve Pinder, the directors of "Jane Austen's Period Drama," are about to share their journey with the community at Aspen Film Isis Theatre on April 8. The film, which won the Jury Award for Comedy at Aspen Shortsfest in 2025, will screen at 2 p.m., followed by an onstage conversation moderated by Programming Director Jason Anderson.

As locals, we're no strangers to the allure of Aspen's film scene, but the story of how "Jane Austen's Period Drama" made it to the big leagues is one for the books. Aks and Pinder's collaboration began in 2016, when they worked together on a parody project, discovering their shared comedic sensibility. Years later, when Aks drafted a longer piece about menstruation set in the Jane Austen world, Pinder encouraged her to "think bigger," and they began co-writing a feature. But it wasn't until the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike that they pivoted, changing their project to a standalone short film, which took about four months to develop.

"We are not your typical Oscar nominee — a comedy — a straight comedy, not even a dark comedy about periods; is unexpected," Aks said, reflecting on the film's unexpected journey. "You have to work pretty hard to get this level of attention, specifically for comedies." The pair's hard work paid off, with the film beginning to click on the first day of shooting. "It was midmorning after we had been shooting a little bit. Everybody was there in costume. The cast showed up prepared and were nailing it and the cinematography was looking beautiful," Aks recalled. "It was unspoken, but there was this electricity in the air."

As the film made its way through the festival circuit, Aks and Pinder had to balance momentum with screening status, premiering at festivals like the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Cleveland International Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival. They originally hadn't factored in the qualification process for the Academy Awards, because, at first, it didn't seem realistic for a comedy. But it was the director of Programming at the Cleveland International Film Festival who notified them of the possibility, and Aspen Shortsfest became a crucial stop on their journey. "Had we known what we know now, we would have pursued Aspen a year earlier than we did," Pinder said. "We didn’t know at the time that Aspen’s Shortsfest has the only qualifying comedy award in the world."

Aspen was intended to be the last festival of their entire festival run, but it ended up being a turning point. "It has an incredible reputation that precedes it. So we were very excited just to be included in the high level of programming," Aks said. "And it was loaded for us because we thought it was our last chance to see if we could make something bigger happen for this film." The film's success is a direct result of Aks and Pinder's perseverance and creative vision, and their journey is one that will resonate with folks around here who are passionate about storytelling and the arts. The duo's experience serves as a prime example of what can be achieved when determination and creativity come together, ultimately leading to their film's Academy Award qualification.

The event on April 8 is a unique opportunity for the community to learn from Aks and Pinder's experiences and gain insight into the filmmaking process. As the directors share their story, it's clear that the legacy of their project extends beyond its comedic value. Aks and Pinder's film has become a symbol of unexpected success, and as the audience laughs and learns, they'll be reminded that, sometimes, the most unlikely stories can lead to the most extraordinary outcomes. The lights are about to go up at the Aspen Film Isis Theatre, and the story of Aks and Pinder's journey with their award-winning film is one that will leave a lasting impression on all who attend.