An Anniversary
A Film By Stephen George
that follows the Phillips family on a road trip to celebrate the parents’ engagement anniversary. The family struggles to connect, understand one another, and confront the trauma and mental health challenges that have shaped their lives.
The Phillips Family
Character Background
Patricia "Trish" Phillips is the emotionally fragile mother in "An Anniversary," hiding her struggles with a mental condition and dependence on medication. She is overly protective of Sam, often coddling him, which creates tension with her daughter Mason.
David Phillips is avoidant, struggling with emotional repression, guilt, and poor judgment. His misguided detachment and parenting worsens the family’s dysfunction, culminating in emotional collapse after Mason’s avoidable tragedy.
Sam Phillips is quiet and introverted. He is observant, but struggles to express himself, often retreating into silence. Sam’s unsettling behavior and lack of communication highlight his apparent emotional confusion and psychological issues. He is the focal point of his mother’s overprotective tendencies, creating tension with his sister Mason and exacerbating the family’s dysfunction.
Mason Phillips is rebellious and outspoken. She feels neglected and unloved, which fuels her resentment and emotional outbursts. Asserting independence clashes with her family’s dysfunction. The one-sided sibling rivalry, emotional neglect, and the search for identity is palpable.
An Anniversary feature film combines the unsettling tension of Hereditary and The Babadook with the philosophical dread of The Killing of a Sacred Deer. It takes themes of generational trauma, mental illness and the emotional volatility of a family. It is crafted to provoke thought and conversation, while delivering strong potential returns for its investment backers and an abundance of pride for our donation supporters.
Benefactors aren’t just helping to make a film—they’re investing in artists and authentic storytelling and will help establish Northern Nevada as an up-and-coming hub for filmmaking. Investing and donating are both noble ways to contribute to the arts in general and will be equally valuable to this production. The team is comprised of passionate, award-winning filmmakers that know how to execute and deliver premium production value on an indie budget. Films like this—emotional, elevated, and daring—continue to punch above their weight in terms of returns and audience engagement.
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Our Storytelling Approach
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Stephen George
WRITER/DIRECTOR
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Sandra Pullara
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
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Marc Oakley
CO-PRODUCER
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Bryon Evans
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
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Shannon Balazs
PROUCTION DESIGNER
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Melody Ricketts
COSTUME DESIGNER
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Arianne Zucker
TRISH PHILLIPS / CO-PRODUCER
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Shawn Christian
DAVID PHILLIPS / CO-PRODUCER
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Sadie Dorst
MASON PHILLIPS
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Maverick Van Roo
SAM PHILLIPS
The Leads
Emmy-nominated Arianne Zucker, will lead the cast as the emotionally fragile matriarch, Trish Phillips.
Shawn Christian — A veteran of television and film, will transform into the avoidant patriarch struggling with emotional repression, guilt, and poor judgment.
Crew Press Coverage
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In October 2025, Reno-based Storyled Productions announced its inaugural project, an upcoming film titled An Anniversary. Written by filmmaker Stephen George, the psychological thriller will be shot and produced in Northern Nevada.
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Ready for our close-up: The grassroots efforts to grow a Nevada film scene
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Nevada Film Industry Boosted by New Production Company
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An Anniversary Preparing to Film in Northern Nevada
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