I’LL BE GONE IN JUNE, the debut feature film by Katharina Rivilis, will premiere as an official selection of the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.

The American Cinematheque is pleased to present a selection of short films this Mother’s Day. “Before You” by Lauren Melinda will screen alongside three other shorts exploring themes surrounding motherhood, love and close relationships.

Blue Heron was an official selection of the 78th Locarno Film Festival, and director Sophy Romvari received the Swatch First Feature Award.

Leonardo Goi from Filmmaker Magazine noted: “Without resorting to big moments or treacly statements, Romvari crafts a shattering story of personal and artistic catharsis; I can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with next.” More reviews on our Press page.

Before You was featured in the Emotional Marinade shorts section at the 27th annual Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, AL. This is one of the best, most filmmaker-friendly festivals out there!

In addition to a screening of Before You, Simbelle Productions co-hosted a panel with the Sidewalk Film Festival, featuring local advocates from Planned Parenthood, Yellowhammer Fund, SIECUS and two practicing OBGYNS. The panel focused on how we can change the narrative on reproductive healthcare through film and beyond.

Familiar Touch opened in select theaters on June 20th, receiving rave reviews across the board, including by Vanity Fair, Vulture, Variety and the Washington Post

Simbelle Productions provided Companion Tickets to ensure that older adults and their caregivers had the chance to see FAMILIAR TOUCH in theaters together.

We had a successful screening of Before You with local Idaho Planned Parenthood representatives join us for the Q&A! The festival had a tremendously talented line up - so honored to have been included in this unique weekend.

Before You had its LA premiere alongside other incredible filmmakers.

NFMLA organized industry talks during the week leading up to the screening, and Danny De Lillo interviewed writer/director Lauren Melinda. Watch the full interview here.

Before You screened at Santa Fe Film Festival! What a true joy to be a part of this incredible line up.

An official selection of CIFF, Before You received positive reviews across the board.

Rachael Sinclair from Film & Television Business said: “Through its heartfelt storytelling and nuanced performances, “Before You” stands as a significant cinematic piece that invites viewers to empathize with and reflect upon the intricate realities faced by many women.​” Read the full review here.

Before You screened at the Cordillera International Film Festival, and was considered for Best Female Focus film.

Center at West Park

We were honored to sponsor this screening of ‘Diane Von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge’ and conversation with co-director Trish Dalton, producer Tracy Aftergood, and cinematographer Michelle McCabe.

Our short film, Before You, screened as an official selection of the St. Louis International Film Festival. We organized a panel after the screening, with the filmmakers Lauren Melinda, Nancy Boyd and Bonnie Gross, alongside local reproductive health advocates from Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and Abortion Action Missouri.

We officially launched Simbelle Productions at Sundance Film Festival this year! Our founder, Lauren Melinda, participated on a panel with Breaking Through the Lens, and we hosted a dinner with Planned Parenthood. We met incredible filmmakers and still feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to introduce the industry to our non-profit organization.

We presented the Simbelle Impact Award in partnership with Breaking Through the Lens. This is a $10,000 unrestricted grant awarded to one of BTTL’s Action Grant finalists whose vision deeply resonates with Simbelle’s mission.

At the event, Kristin Stewart and Kim Gordon spoke about the challenges they faced to bring their film,The Chronology of Water, to life. Read the full story in Variety.

Our very own Director of Development, Helena Sardinha, was honored at Film Independent’s Artist Showcase for her work as a producer on Before You.

Sardinha was part of Film Independent’s Fast Track in 2024, and was featured alongside seven other filmmakers at the showcase. The annual Changemaker Awards were given in tandem to Andrew Ahn, Aaron T. Edmonds and Jomo Fray. More information on the evening can be found here.

‘Before You’ was nominated for Best U.S. Short at the 15th Catalina Film Festival.

We brought a little Simbelle magic to Berlin for the International Film Festival! We hosted an intimate gathering to celebrate our first year, surrounded by collaborators and new friends from around the world. Thank you Briefmarken Weine for the wonderful hospitality! 

The Vibe: Good wine, great conversations, and a room full of people who care deeply about storytelling.

We celebrated International Women's Day the right way: brunch, good company, and a conversation worth having.

At The Park Club in Costa Mesa, our founder Lauren Melinda sat down with Alex Burunova, the filmmaker behind Satisfaction, for a candid fireside chat about her journey from script to screen. The room was full of women from the Orange County Community who care deeply about female storytelling — and made their enthusiasm felt.

Parenting and filmmaking are both all-encompassing pursuits. In this panel, a variety of film workers who are also parents come together to share and discuss the joys and challenges of containing these two demanding identities simultaneously.

Presented by Simbelle Productions. Open to LAFM Pass Holders.

Join Vanderbilt’s Generation Action and Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood for a special screening of the award-winning short film Before You.

Featuring a powerhouse panel of filmmakers, frontline physicians, and state legislators, we will explore how cinematic storytelling can dismantle stigma and give voice to the journeys that too often remain unspoken.

Simbelle Productions is a proud sponsor of the 2026 Los Angeles Festival of Movies.