An upcoming feature film by award-winning Director Janice Engel
Filming in 2025
Oh gosh. I read your script in one breathless go, and loved it!!!
–Ann M (author of six works of biography and memoir)
I can’t imagine reading anything more beautiful and touching. I can see the story touching everyone in a very personal way. Can’t wait to see this script come to life on screen.
–Kamal N (husband, father, business leader)
The Story
…inspired by the untold tales of fearless women who helped shape our nation and our future.
Logline
A sharp-tongued widow and ex-CIA spy strikes up an unexpected friendship with her new neighbor igniting tensions that push his relationship with his partner to the breaking point.
Synopsis
Lillian Wallingford Blanton, a confident and independent Southern matriarch, possesses a take-no-prisoners wit that leaves others laughing or furious, and often craving more.
Her secret life as a CIA spy is hard to leave behind. Lillian shrewdly takes inventory of everything and uses off-color witty malaprops to keep others off-guard.
It’s a fall afternoon when Lillian spies two men moving into her Arlington neighborhood just outside Washington, D.C.
Jason has difficulty living openly as gay, and upon meeting Lillian, attempts to portray Aaron as a roommate. Over time, Lillian cultivates an unlikely friendship with Jason and he is drawn into the mystery of who she is. Aaron, on the other hand, is not so sure – he distrusts her.
Jason is an unlikely but worthy target of Lillian’s frequent cross-examinations. Each encounter is a calculated test to determine if he can fulfill the role she ultimately intends for him: to serve as her health care agent and executor of her estate. It’s a race against time as she faces her own mortality.
Together they must find a way forward, redefining family and connection across generations.
Why This Film Now?
This is a story relevant today as we see families and communities divided by perceived differences and fear. In today’s challenging environment, it is essential that we advocate, expand and uplift our shared humanity through our actions. People intuitively want that human connection to each other, and films provide a way in.
In Lillian, Next Door, each character navigates family, relationships, the lies they live, and the deeply personal struggles many of us have when we are not true to ourselves.
What makes us seek out those that might understand? Survival mechanisms perhaps, but it’s finding those who truly allow you to be you.
These intergenerational friends challenge stereotypes. The seeming differences in their lives of secrets and lies actually provides shared experiences. In their common ground, they find the possibility for redemption, self-acceptance and the recognition that love is hard. But it’s still love.
The Filmmakers
Meet the award-winning team behind Lillian, Next Door
Updates
Getting the Details Right
Phyllis Housen Joins Lillian Team
Lillian Casting Underway
Get Involved
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Your tax-deductible donation will help make this film, and you’ll be listed in the closing credits! Below is a summary of donation opportunities.
Please note: after we receive your donation, we will confirm with you if, and how, you would like your name to appear in closing credits and/or the website.
Lillian, Next Door is a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a non-profit independent media arts organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of making Lillian, Next Door must be made to Film Independent and are 100% tax-deductible as permitted by law.
Thank You, Supporters!
In addition to generous investors, Lillian, Next Door is a fiscally sponsored project of FiLM iNDEPENDENT, a non-profit media arts organization and producers of the acclaimed Spirit Awards. These are the generous donors who are supporting the making of Lillian, Next Door via their tax-deductible contributions.
LILLIAN’S WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
ANNA HOGAN
JASON’S WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
TERRY BICKHAM
AARON’S WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
JEFF & BRENDA KANG
SUPPORTING CAST WARDROBE MADE POSSIBLE BY
TRACEY SCHMALER & TOM ATKIN
FILM CREW MEALS MADE POSSIBLE BY
REBECCA McHALE
CRAFT SERVICES MADE POSSIBLE BY
JONATHAN ADKINS & BEN ROBERTS
FILM CHAMPIONS
LISA FESTA AND CHRISTINE FESTA • JANE SCHULTZ
MARK SENTNER AND MOSAIC EXPRESS • SUZANNE & KEEGAN STROUP
FILM PARTNERS
JANET BETH ABRAMS • TERRY ATKIN ROWE • ROBERT CAVE
MEGAN GOLDEN & PETER NEIMAN • DIANA & PIOTR KAPISZEWSKI
MICHAEL LUSTIG • JILL & JEFF PURDY
FILM BFFs
KATHY ADAMS • REBECCA BAILEY • DIANE BAKER & FRANCIS COLLINS • LYN BRADFORD
EMILY & RICHARD CRESPIN • RENNY & PAT DiPENTIMA • THE EDDY FAMILY
GAZELLE HASHEMIAN & SASSAN KIMIAVI • PATRICE & TOM HUTTON
PETER IOVINO • ANNIE & DAVE KEFFER • LILY LADD & JAMES WILSON
MINDY & DAVID LANDAU • TAMARA & BOB McKENNA • BOB McDONALD & DAVID INSINGA
ERICA MOHR & PETE MEYER • JULIE NEAR & JASON BASS • MARLA & PAUL NEDZBALA
MARK J. RAABE • THERESA URBAN • NITIN VERMA & KURT BERSANI
FILM SUPER FANS
MARY ELLEN CONDON • JOHN DANKOWSKI • MARGIE & STUART DAVIS
CHRIS DAY & CANDACE WALTERS • KAY & JEFF DEFFINBAUGH
HANS DREYER • STEVE ELLIS • SCOT EVANS & HOLLY PEPPE • DANNY & JENNIFER GUENTHER
KITTY HIGGINS • STUART KOPPERMAN & CHRISTOPHER GRIEDER
MICKEY LEVITAN • ERICA LEWIS & DAVE WYNN • ELLYN & JOHN METCALF • SHELLEY & MARK MICALI
EILEEN & DAVID PICKEI • ALEXANDER SUN & SCOTT SHAY • JENNY & TIM TOMLINSON
KATHY & ED VIEIRA • SUSAN ZAMPERINI
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS
FRANCESCA ASTER • KIM & PAUL BREWER • LISA & TRACY BURNETT• ART & PAGE COLEMAN
ED DEMUZZIO • DAVE & CARA DeSMIDT• ANNE FLAMMANG • DESIREE GESSLER
LAURA & JON HELLER • SHERYN & CHRIS HENDRICKS • McCAIN HIGHFILL & NATHAN PORTLOCK
BOB & KRIS HILBORN • LAYNE JACKSON • ERIC C. JONES • BETHANY & ERICH KLEIN
GENA KOMRADA • MARCIE & STUART KRAMER • KEVIN REHAC & ANDY RAVENNA
RYAN ROSLONEK • TANYA & DOUG SCHNEIDER • GARY SPENIK
ANITA J. STOLAROW • JUDITH TEITELMAN & AARON PALEY • SHANNON WEADER
Invest in the Journey!
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Contact US
If you’re interested in investing in our film or have other questions, please fill out the form below!