Veronika's Birthday, 39 min, DV, 2003.
MFA thesis film for the School of Visual Arts
SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR DIRECTION AND PERFORMANCE Arizona International Film Festival
BEST STUDENT FILM New Jersey International Film Festival
BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY The Fall Short Film Screening Series

Jessica Sue Burstein as Veronika, Brooke Witherington as Lizzie on location in Fort Meyers, Florida.

WRITTEN, DIRECTED, EDITED & PRODUCED by Jessica Sue Burstein
STARRING Jessica Sue Burstein, Carol Kramer, Brooke Witherington, Richard Willis, Geena Goodwin, Morgan Mikulaschek, Patricia Bannan, Julie Goff, Christos Klapsis, Heather Mckenna, Florence Clutch
CINEMATOGRAPHY by Mark Astrom ORIGINAL SCORE by Takumi Ozawa
SOUND DESIGN by Zach Williamson TITLES & GRAPHIC DESIGN by Heather Mckenna
IMDB

To watch VERONIKA'S BIRTHDAY the entire film click here.

In this dysfunctional family comedy, a New York City party girl visits her Jewish grandmother in her Florida retirement home.

PRESS
"Scathing dialogue that drips from her characters' mouths and leaves enough unanswered to make (us) wish her camera followed Veronika out of this film's final frame." — THE CHARLOTTE WEEKLY

"It cuts deep emotionally." "Burstein gives a fearless performance." — THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

"The kind of cringe-worthy intensity that made Todd Solondz and Paul Thomas Anderson famous." — TUCSON WEEKLY

Carol Kramer as Grandma Gloria on set in Long Island, NY.

Jessica Sue Burstein as Veronika on set in Brooklyn, NY.

FESTIVALS
New Jersey International Film Festival 2005 June- July New Brunswick, NJ
The Method Fest 2004, April 4, 6 Burbank, CA
Reel to Real Film Festival 2004, July 24 Kings Mountain, NC
Arizona International Film Festival 2004, April 18, 19 Tucson, AZ
The Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival 2004 November 14 Rehoboth Beach, DE
The Jewish Women's Film Festival 2004, November 14 NYC
The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival 2004 October-November Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Magnolia Independent Film Festival 2005 February 19 Starkville, Mississippi
The Big Bear Lake International Film Festival 2004, September 18, Big Bear Lake, CA
The Tambay Film Festival 2004 April 24 Tampa, FF
Festival du Film de Strasbourg
IFP Buzz Cuts 2004, March 9 NYC
The Fall Short Film Screening Series 2004 October 18 NYC
Cinewomen NY Screening Series 2005 January 25, NYC
Inaugural Jewish Film Night 2005, April 17 Charlotte, NC
March Movie Marathon 2005 March 27, NYC