REKOLA STUDIOS

Rekola Studios + The NonDē Film Law Lab is a multi-faceted production company that champions American independent cinema from concept to completion via Business Affairs as a Service (BAaaS) for the Independent Filmmaker.

BURYING DORIS

A Feature Film Package
Official Selection – Cannes Short Film Corner | Rendez Vous Industry 2026

(Watch the 4-Minute Cannes SFC Proof of Concept)

THE LOGLINE:When their beloved grandmother passes away, an estranged New England family is forced to return to their farm to settle her estate—and a lifetime of bitter, hilarious grudges.THE COMPS:Ordinary People meets August Osage County with a dash of the Family Stone.GENRE:Dark Comedy / Family Drama

THE SYNOPSIS:When the formidable Doris Whitman passes away, her fractured family reluctantly descends upon their 72-acre New England farm to prepare it for sale. The goal is simple: pack up, cash out, and finally sever ties with their messy past. But letting go of a lifetime of baggage is never quite that easy.At the center of the chaos is a bitter, lifelong rivalry between the two eldest siblings. Hank, a conservative control freak masking his own domestic failures, instantly clashes with Charlie, a progressive but deeply insecure wreck struggling to keep her own relationship afloat. Forced into close quarters to clear out the property, their passive-aggressive jabs quickly escalate into all-out warfare, threatening to blow up the family for good.The only thing standing between them and mutual destruction is their youngest brother, Quinn, the family peacemaker who is harboring a devastating secret of his own: a terminal cancer diagnosis. As the weekend unravels into an explosive showdown of buried resentments, Quinn’s dying wish forces Hank and Charlie to confront their shared trauma. To honor him, they must do the one thing they swore they never would—figure out how to keep the farm, and each other, intact.

WHY THIS PROJECT IS READY TO SHOOT:This script was engineered for maximum creative impact and minimal production friction.Secured Location: The entire film takes place at a primary New England farm. We have exclusive, secured access to the real-life farm for principal photography, drastically cutting location costs and company moves.Authentic IP: Grounded in true events and real family dynamics, offering a highly authentic, lived-in comedic tone.Contained Scope: A single-location, character-driven ensemble piece designed to attract top-tier acting talent on a highly manageable budget.

ACCESS THE PITCH MATERIALS:

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MEET AT CANNES:We are currently attending the Cannes Marché du Film and are taking meetings for development and financing partners.Meeting Availability: May 17th - 20th, 2026Email: [email protected]Phone / WhatsApp: +1 . 774 . 696 . 7134Screening Info: May 20th, 2026 in Palais F at 9:00 AM

THE FILMMAKERS:MICHAEL REKOLA, DirectorMichael is the a director, producer, and entertainment attorney with a proven track record of getting independent films financed, produced, and distributed. His producing and investment credits include The Beta Test (Hulu / Berlinale / Tribeca), the Goya-nominated The Quiet Maid (Max), and This Land (Tubi). He also serves as Head of Business Development for Brooklyn-based 555Films and Principal at the NonDe Filmmaking Legal Lab. Michael splits his time between NYC, DC, and his family’s Connecticut farm—the secured, real-life shooting location for Burying Doris—which he shares with his wife, three kids, and two entirely undomesticated barn cats.NICK GAMBINO, WriterNick earned his wit and slick sense of humor growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC on a steady diet of movies and Hip-Hop. It’s almost as if he had no choice but to become a screenwriter, which is exactly what he did. Crafting screenplays teeming with his unique brand of humor, Nick has written features for a number of indie production companies and is currently developing several TV and film projects with A-list producers. To further boost his ego, his script “The Fuck-It List” won the Drama Feature award at the 2022 Austin Film Festival.CHRIS HECK, ProducerChris is an Emmy-winning filmmaker who has worked on blockbusters like KNIVES OUT to independent films over the past fifteen years. His industrials have gained over a billion impressions, raised over a million dollars, and have played national landmarks like Times Square. He is currently in production on his dark-fantasy feature film, THE SAVAGE STATE.PAUL COYNE, Executive Producer:GABRIELLE ALMAGOR, EP & Casting Director: