Witness a narrative of control, trauma and empathy
Discover the horror of ‘Always and Forever,’ a film that transcends black and white thinking and stirs internal reflection. This is a story you’ll be talking about for a long while.
A Journey Through the Psyche
‘Always and Forever’ follows the mental unraveling of Sarah, a bipolar teenager with PTSD, as she’s slowly forced to accept the consequences of a life defined by a lack of control over herself.
Braking Cycles
An obsessive, controlling teenager kidnaps her boyfriend to play a bizarre, self-destructive game. But things become complicated when the boy demands a stop. The film comments on how trauma if not confronted and resolved will lead to co-dependent and potentially destructive results, while providing enough empathy toward accountability.
Themes of accountability, empathy, guilt, and breaking generational trauma are at the core in this psychologically horrific, yet darkly humorous film. Audiences will find themselves being critical yet understanding.
Meet the Creative Minds Behind the Film
The Crew
Johnny Thames
Director
Johnny is a Director-Actor-Writer from Chicago whose work focuses on social commentary and genre films.
Meliha Calisir
Producer
Meliha is a film student at Columbia with an interest at in directing. Even though directing is her end goal, she likes producing and doing location sound. She is interested in animation, music and all kinds of art.
Emmanuel Garcia
Co-Writer
Emmanuel is a Columbia college Chicago student majoring in acting but has dipped his toes in other avenues such as writing and production design.
Graham Ried
Director of Photography
Graham is a bilingual (English & French) freelance cinematographer and photographer local to Chicago and also dabbles in writing and directing from time to time.
Delaney Sulzer
First A.D.
Delaney Sulzer is a senior at DePaul University studying film and television with a concentration in directing. From Naperville, Illinois, she grew up around the creative media industry in Chicago.
Julia Ravelo
Production Designer
Julia is a Senior at Columbia College Chicago in the Film and Television Program with a concentration in Production Design. Her other works include: Johnny Thames’s Tomorrow Nevermore, Finn Scully’s Solitudes Embrace, and Sam Powers’s Shot Dead.
Patrick Tran
Location Sound/Boom Operator
Patrick Tran is a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago from Streamwood, IL. He has knowledge and experience in sound recording, propmaking and directing as well.
Will Feeney
Co-Editor/Co-Composer
Will is a composer, editor, musician, and sound designer based in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Oberlin College & Conservatory, where he studied jazz composition, cinema, and TIMARA (technology in music and related arts).
Jose Mercado
Grip
Jose is a cinematographer and visual storyteller recognized for his cinematic eye and emotionally charged imagery. His work spans narrative, documentary, and commercial projects, capturing stories with striking composition, atmosphere, and depth.
Leah Williams
2nd AD
Leah is a filmmaker from the Chicagoland area with an expertise in camera work and assistant directing. Her career goals come from her passion. Her other works include Dig Deep, When It Happens, and Leave A Message After.
The Cast
Jennifer Baffour
Janice
An Illinois native and actor, based in the Chicagoland area Jennifer has performed in theater, film, commercial, and web series. She has participated in a variety of acting workshops, play readings, and an extensive scene study course. Jennifer continues to train with several different private coaches. Currently she is auditioning for independent on-camera projects as well as theater. When not acting, she loves being active, researching true crime, and dabbling in the arts.
Tori DeLaney
Sarah
Tori is an actor and artist based in Chicago. Since 2019, she has been seen on stages all across the Midwest. In 2022, she began film acting, where she has since won three awards for her performances. Her work also spans commercials, viral internet comedy, music videos, and improv comedy performances. She is best known for her lighthearted comedic work and intense thrillers.
Christopher Kahlor
Peter
Christopher Kahler is a Chicago based filmmaker and character actor. He co-founded The Short Bus to Insanity Short Film Festival with Claire “Fluff” Llewellyn as a platform for all independent artists to get their work recognized without exclusion. He also co-hosts the popular podcast The 42nd Street Drive-In with longtime collaborator Shawn Hunt, has won several awards for his work, and is often cast as “bikers, bums, junkies, or Jesus”.
Kat Kelli
Young Sarah
Kat is an actor based in Chicago, IL. Her passion for acting began at a young age when she started theatre. Other than her role in Always and Forever, Kat is the lead in an upcoming feature film called “The Spirit of Hilda”. She brings such emotional range and dedication to every role. Kat cannot wait to see where her acting journey takes her next!
Jarrod Langwinski
Jacob
Based in the Midwest, Jarrod began acting in college. After earning a theatre degree and entering the professional theater scene, Jarrod worked across Wisconsin and Illinois, most notably performing a one-person Hamlet with Door Shakespeare and working with Renaissance Theaterworks for the world premiere of the play Annie Jump.
Saskia Larking
Jane
Saskia is a British London based actress. She started her acting journey in middle school. Since 2016 she has been acting across stage and screen, she started her film career in 2022 working with Luna Carmoon as an extra on her film “Hoard”. Since then, she has appeared in multiple student-led short films and played a variety of roles. When not acting Saskia is a competitive Irish dancer who has won several awards and titles.