Festival of Cinema NYC to Host Filmmaker Elyssa Nicole Trust

Forest Hills is a magnet for culture, art, architecture, and history, with iconic sites such as the Art Moderne Midway Theatre, home of the 10^th annual Festival of Cinema NYC. Over 100 independent feature and short-length films spanning diverse genres, as well as music videos and web and TV episodic projects will be in the spotlight from August 7 to August 16. Additionally, Forest Hills Library will be the setting of complimentary film workshops and seminars, further engaging attendees. The mastermind behind Queens’ growing tradition is Jayson Simba, who was born in Woodside and raised in Forest Hills. The festival even earned a spot in Monopoly Queens Edition.

“What makes us unique is our effort to really connect with our community and our dedication to helping artists and filmmakers further their aspirations,” said Simba. “While other film festivals focus on the glitz and glamour of what they offer and who they are, Festival of Cinema NYC makes it a point to seek out and partner with other organizations that can offer opportunities beyond our capabilities.”

Narrow in on Forest Hills’-own Elyssa Nicole Trust, a 30-plus-year-old professional actress, playwright, screenwriter, voiceover artist, and children’s book author, who is employed by an ad agency. She attended Binghamton University, where she pursued English and Spanish with a concentration in journalism. Her indie TV pilot “Observance” is nominated for Best Episodic and Best Cinematography. She is not only the writer and producer, but stars in this distinctive work of art, which screens Saturday, August 8 at 3 PM at the Midway Theatre. “It feels amazing to be part of the Festival of Cinema NYC. It is incredibly special to share the pilot in my home city, and this time right here in Queens, where we shot most of it,” she said. Additionally, portions were filmed in Long Island, where she was raised.

“Screening in my own neighborhood at my local movie theater makes the experience especially meaningful. Every festival selection, award nomination, connection, and opportunity to show the pilot moves the project and my career forward, and I am ecstatic,” she continued. After spending seven years in Manhattan and five years in Brooklyn, she planted roots in Forest Hills over a year ago. She resides with her family, which includes her preschool-aged daughter and a Maltipoo.

“Observance” follows Gabby, a hard-partying secular Jew, whose life takes an unanticipated turn after a profound loss. “As she navigates grief and questions of identity, she embarks upon a transformative journey of self-discovery and spiritual renewal, ultimately becoming a Ba’alat Teshuvah, a previously non-observant Jewish woman who newly embraces a traditionally observant life,” said Trust.

“My hope is that the pilot resonates with audiences today and for generations to come,” said Trust, referencing “Observance” that offers a nuanced portrayal of the Jewish experience and humanizes Jewish people spanning all backgrounds. The timing of its release is most significant, and it aims to shed a “Let there be light” experience. Trust explained, “The film takes an empathetic approach to observant and secular Judaism, and signifies the vital role that women play in Jewish life. The script is intentionally sympathetic toward observant Jews at a time when religious Jewish communities are often depicted negatively in film and literature. There are significantly more stories about people looking to leave religious communities than stories about those choosing to join them, and we frequently see heartbreaking portrayals of intolerable behavior within these communities, particularly toward women. ‘Observance’ offers a favorable portrayal of Judaism in all forms and explores why a woman might find meaning, healing, and joy in becoming more observant.”

Trust, who along with her team engaged their heart on creating “Observance,” feels that being nominated is incredibly validating. The original stage rendition of “Observance” was the recipient of several award nominations. Earlier this summer, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Wyoming International Film Festival, which she views as super exciting. In reference to this season’s Festival of Cinema NYC, she said, “Seeing the work recognized in front of and behind the camera is truly humbling.”

Stepping behind the scenes, Trust was proud to share her film’s incredibly rewarding and challenging experience. She explained, “We assembled an amazing cast, and bringing this story of Jewish joy and identity to life with an all-Jewish cast and a Jewish female-led creative team was truly special. We created an ambitious, professional pilot on a crowdfunded independent budget, which required an enormous amount of resourcefulness. We also faced one obstacle after another, such as a Covid outbreak on set causing us to lose our entire art department for the final shoot day. After we wrapped, we discovered that footage from a memory card was accidentally recorded over, so we organized an additional pickup day and reshot seven scenes.”

The production process demanded consistent problem-solving, adaptability, and determination. “Audiences view the finished pilot, but may not realize how much persistence goes into creating independent work at this level. I developed the script over three years, and continued refining it almost daily in the months leading up to production,” she continued.

The Midway Theatre, which opened in 1942, was named after WWII’s Battle of Midway and designed by America’s foremost theater architect Thomas Lamb, along with consulting architect S. Charles Lee. “The festival has such a warm, community-centered ambiance, and it feels incredibly special to screen ‘Observance’ at the historic Midway Theatre, Thomas Lamb’s final theater, and such a meaningful Queens landmark,” said Trust. “Knowing that we’ll be sharing the film in one of the few surviving examples of his Art Moderne work gives the screening an added sense of occasion.”

“Observance” is a screen project that she expresses the greatest pride in, and values as the culmination of years of writing, development, producing, and performance. She is also proud of her web series based on her college a cappella group, as well as two short films she wrote and filmed last year. Her body of work also consists of several plays, including the original stage version of “Observance,” and her children’s book, “Daisy Moves to America.” “I take pride in creating across mediums and finding the form that best serves each story,” said Trust.

Elyssa Nicole Trust with her book, Daisy Moves to America, Photo by Mari Uchida.

Backtracking, Trust has been a storyteller for as long as she can recall, and “Observance” consolidates what she values as one; layered Jewish representation, complex female characters, and an exploration of grief, growth, and identity. She reminisced, “I caught the acting bug at eight when I performed in a camp production of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ and I grew up pursuing musical theater. I’ve also been writing since age six. I wrote my first book in the first grade, so studying English in college was a natural choice.” After college graduation, she pursued freelance journalism and acting, but felt increasingly drawn to creative writing. That was when she began writing plays and screenplays to share the stories within her heart, and to create meaningful roles for her theater community and on a personal level. “I studied playwriting and screenwriting with brilliant teachers in New York City, and built a strong creative community along the way,” she proudly recalled.

She then explained, “Producing became a natural extension of my work as a writer and actor. I wanted to take artistic ownership of my projects, and make sure the stories I wrote actually made it from the page to the stage and screen. To me, film production is about a group of passionate, creative people bringing their individual talents together in service of a meaningful story. I love being on set, just as I love being onstage. It’s where I feel most like myself by being free, present, and alive!”

Trust owes much gratitude to her professional influences, who helped shape her career path. They include female showrunners and creators such as Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Shonda Rhimes, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Issa Rae. “I am especially inspired by Catherine Reitman, who created, executive produced, and starred in ‘Workin’ Moms.’ She built an entire series around women juggling love, careers, identity, and parenthood,” she said.

Rachel Bloom is also a major inspiration. “As a Jewish writer and performer who co-created, executive produced, and starred in ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,’ she created a role and a world that were funny, specific, emotionally complex, and entirely her own.”

She considers Lena Dunham a genius. “She is only a little older than I am, and when I was in college, I saw what she was doing with ‘Girls,’ and realized it was possible to write, act in, and shape your own work.” Inspiration is also drawn from playwrights such as Bess Wohl, Lynn Nottage, and Lauren Gunderson.

Trust explained, “The throughline for me is women who create complex female characters, generate opportunities for themselves and other artists, and use writing as a vehicle for their other creative gifts. Their careers showed me that I did not have to choose between being an actor, writer, and creator, but I could build a career that included all three.”

Trust offered advice for younger generations hoping to cultivate their talents and pursue her career path. “Call yourself what you are. If you write, you are a writer, not an aspiring writer. If you play music, you are a musician, not an aspiring musician. Words matter. Tell the story that is in your heart, and don’t wait for permission from gatekeepers. Share your work, find artistic communities, and if you don’t have a support system, build one. It is really difficult to build a career in the entertainment industry without support.”

She also encourages young artists to think practically about building a sustainable career. “Creative careers can take many forms, and income can fluctuate, particularly as you are building momentum. Having multiple income streams can give you the stability and freedom to continue producing the work you care about,” said Trust.

Observance still, Elyssa Nicole Trust as Gabby, Geoffrey Greene as Jim, Carol Brooks as Tracey.

In the short-term, she and her team plan to continue screening “Observance” at festivals to engage new audiences. As for the long-term, they aim to produce the full series and sell it to a streaming platform. Additionally, she plans to continue expanding her body of work as an actress, writer, and producer, while developing other original projects for the stage and screen.

“Observance” is only the beginning of Trust’s vision, since she intends to follow her heart by continuing her production journey through works that celebrate Jewish identity without apology, center women with agency, and offer audiences perspectives they may not have encountered. “As antisemitism continues to rise, and many Jewish people feel pressured to hide parts of themselves, I believe it is more important than ever to tell stories that present Jewish identity as a source of joy, connection, meaning, and pride,” said Trust.